08/22/2026
๐ฆท๐พ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
If you've ever had your dog's teeth brushed during a grooming appointment, you may have noticed the little tube of ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐.๐.๐. ๐๐ง๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ we use.
I've been recommending and using C.E.T. since my years working in veterinary dentistry, and there's actually some pretty cool history behind this toothpaste.
๐.๐.๐. ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐. That's when Virbac's first evolution of C.E.T. toothpaste entered the veterinary profession. Veterinary dentistry has been using this system for decades.
The really neat part is what's happening in the toothpaste itself.
C.E.T. uses a ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ-๐๐ง๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ that works with components naturally found in saliva. Without getting too deep into the chemistry, the enzymes help create an environment that makes it harder for some of the bacteria involved in plaque to thrive.
But the toothpaste isn't doing all the work.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ. Brushing physically disrupts the sticky bacterial film that forms on the teeth, called plaque. The toothpaste helps support that process, while the actual brushing removes and disrupts the biofilm.
And this is an important distinction:
๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง'๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ .
Plaque is the soft bacterial film that develops on the teeth. If it isn't regularly disrupted, it can mineralize and become calculus, or tartar. Once that hard calculus is firmly attached to the tooth, toothpaste isn't going to dissolve it away. That's where professional veterinary dental care comes in.
That's why I think of home brushing as ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, not a replacement for veterinary dentistry.
There are also a few reasons we use a veterinary-specific toothpaste rather than a human-grade toothpaste. Dogs don't brush, rinse and spit the way we do, so C.E.T. is formulated to be safely swallowed and doesn't contain the foaming agents found in many human toothpastes.
And while brushing is wonderful preventative care, there are times when we shouldn't just keep brushing through a problem. Very inflamed gums, loose or broken teeth, swelling, significant bleeding, or obvious discomfort while eating or brushing can indicate an underlying dental problem that needs to be evaluated by your veterinarian. A lot of dental disease is actually happening below the gumline where we can't see it just by looking at the teeth.
When we include toothbrushing in your dog's grooming appointment, we're helping disrupt plaque and support their everyday oral health between veterinary dental visits.
A little tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush, and regular brushing can go a surprisingly long way toward keeping plaque under control. ๐ถ๐ฆท
Educational information only. Regular home dental care does not replace veterinary dental examinations or professional dental treatment when needed.
