Would you like to know the truth? When was the last time you brushed your Golden’s teeth?
I asked myself that same question, as I almost passed out when my dog Koda breathed directly into my face one morning. He had that same Dragon breath. It was bad.
Now, I really wanted to try and fix it. Store bought dog toothpaste, however, was out of the question, as it seemed to me to be made of funny ingredients and was sold in plastic tubes that would only pile up in my recycling bin. I also wasn’t sure Koda liked the taste of them.
And that’s how I started making my own. And boy, did that change my life.
No more guilt, no more gagging (me or him) and a routine that actually works (and costs very little).
These 14 homemade dog toothpaste recipes are exactly what you and your best friend need to make teeth-brushing something to look forward to.
#1: Coconut Oil & Baking Soda Dog Toothpaste
you know that moment when you go to give your golden a kiss on the forehead and you are hit with that smell that is her breath… yuck.
While I have a few other paste recipes that I like to make, this one is the one I always come back to. Coconut oil is antibacterial and my dogs love the taste. I use baking soda to do the scrubbing and break down the plaque along the gumline (where you see it when you pull back those lips).
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil, softened
2. 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
Mix the two ingredients together in a small bowl, then apply a pea-sized amount to a soft-bristled finger brush and apply in small circles to the outer teeth first. Work your way around, and let your dog get comfortable before moving towards the back molars.
Store in a small glass jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Coconut oil softens the paste so that it sticks to the toothbrush but not enough that it drips which means less mess on your hands and more toothbrush in contact with your teeth.
Prep Time: 2 min | Setting Time: 5 min | Yield: ~10 uses
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @circleoffluff
#2: Sensodyne-Inspired Whitening Dog Toothpaste
We all know the feeling when our sweet golden retriever gives us the biggest smile, and you notice that those teeth aren’t so pearly white anymore, don’t we? Mine does the same thing, and I used to avoid thinking about it.
This recipe is inspired by an actual whitening toothpaste. We’re talking about something like Sensodyne Pronamel energy but for dogs.
Prep Time: 5 min | Cook Time: None | Serves: 15–20 brushing sessions
Ingredients:
1. 3 tablespoons coconut oil
2. 1 tablespoon baking soda
3. ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
4. 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
5. 2 drops peppermint-free vanilla extract
Instructions
Mix the coconut oil and baking soda first (baking soda gently scrubs surface stains – whiter teeth) then stir in turmeric and parsley until you get a pale yellow paste. Add the vanilla last.
Store in a small glass jar with a lid for up to 3 weeks.
I’ve never used actual mint in this recipe as it tends to irritate the stomachs of dogs, but I use vanilla to make it smell really yummy.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @cavalierpixel
#3: PlaqueOff Bone-Inspired Homemade Dog Toothpaste Chew Paste
You know when your dog just stares at you with that look with their mouth wide open and you can feel their breath hit your face? My cousin’s dog did that to me last thanksgiving and I almost fell off my chair.
This recipe is inspired by PlaqueOff dental chews (like the one in the photo!). It’s the same plaque-fighting idea, but homemade!
Ingredients:
1. 2 tbsp coconut oil
2. 1 tsp baking soda
3. 1 tbsp plain peanut butter (xylitol-free)
4. ½ tsp dried parsley
Instructions
Mix together the coconut oil and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in the baking soda and parsley. Freeze in a bone mold for 2 hours or more.
coconut oil helps to break down plaque. a fresher breath without taking a trip to the vet’s office sounds pretty good to me.
You can store it in the freezer up to two weeks.
Prep Time: 5 min | Freeze Time: 2 hrs | Serving Size: 1 chew
If your pup loves peanut butter, these homemade peanut dog treats are sure to be a hit.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @cottonignacio
#4: Minty Green Dental Chew Bars Your Golden Will Beg For
Your golden is probably sitting like this right now, isn’t she? That focused look. The little twitch of her nose as she waits for you to give her the goods.
These are homemade dental chews and are similar to a Greenies chew. You control everything that goes in them.
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
2. ½ cup fresh mint leaves
3. 2 tablespoons coconut oil
4. ¼ cup plain greek yogurt
5. 1½ cups whole wheat flour
6. 1 egg
Instructions
I like to mix my parsley and mint with melted coconut oil first, as this releases the natural oils that are antibacterial. Stir in the yogurt and egg, then add the flour until a firm dough forms. Roll the dough out to just under ½-inch thick logs and score two ridges along the top with a knife (as I have in the picture), then bake in a 325°F oven for 25 minutes.
I like the ridges because they feel nice against my teeth and help to scrape some of the plaque off while she’s chewing. I don’t have to worry about brushing her teeth anymore!
Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
Prep Time: 10 min | Bake Time: 25 min | Yield: 12 chews
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @goldenandmainecoon
#5: Petosan Dental Kit — The Easiest Way to Start Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
You know that feeling when your dog gives you the kiss right on the mouth and you’re just… oh no.
That breath. It hits different.
I wish I had the Petosan Dental Kit for Puppies and Toy Dogs from day one. It comes with a dual-headed toothbrush, a finger cloth oral cleaner (that little white mitten thing is genius), and toothpaste all packed inside an adorable dog-shaped container.
Homemade Toothpaste Recipe to Use With This Kit:
Prep Time: 5 min | Cook Time: None | Yield: ~15 uses
1. 2 tbsp coconut oil
2. 1 tsp baking soda
3. 1 tsp poultry or beef broth (low sodium)
4. ½ tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
I mix the coconut oil and the baking soda first, then slowly whisk in the broth to make it more creamy. I add the parsley last. Store in a small glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
I also like that the kit includes a small piece of white finger cloth to work the paste into your dog’s gum line without scaring them with a brush on day one.
Parsley helps fight bacteria at the source, and baking soda works to break down plaque. Coconut oil leaves teeth coated with natural antimicrobial, so your doggie’s kisses go from 😬 to 😍.
I do refrigerate it in between uses so it will stay firm and easy to scoop.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dierenkliniekdepijp
#6: Activated Charcoal & Coconut Oil Toothpaste for Dogs with Sensitive Gums
The first thing that hits me is his breath. He is hugging me and I am turning my head away because I don’t want to smell his breath (you know what I am talking about). Dogs. It’s all dogs.
this black paste looks pretty dramatic, but is actually quite gentle. The activated charcoal will help pull out surface stains and bacteria on the teeth, while the coconut oil will help soothe any irritated gum tissue. This is my recipe made specifically for my old dogs!
Ingredients:
1. 1 tablespoon activated charcoal powder
2. 2 tablespoons coconut oil (solid)
3. ½ teaspoon baking soda
4. 3 drops peppermint-free flavor (chicken or beef broth powder works)
Instructions
Melt a bit of the coconut oil until soft, but not liquid. Add the activated charcoal and baking soda and stir until a paste forms that is all dark. Add your broth powder last. Store in a small glass jar at room temperature.
The best part: charcoal binds odor causing bacteria–cleaner teeth, zero chemical aftertaste, happier cuddles.
Prep Time: 5 min | Chill Time: 10 min | Yield: ~20 uses
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @fairfordroadvet_
#7: Waterless Dog Shampoo — The No-Bath Clean Your Golden Actually Deserves
You know that feeling when your furry friend comes bounding into the house, her paws caked in mud, and heads straight for the cream couch you spent hours styling for the perfect Pinterest picture?
Yeah. That moment.
But I actually started keeping a bottle of Nilaqua Pets Towel-Off Pet Shampoo by the back door after my cousin’s dog did exactly that at my place. No water, no drama.
Also available in three different colors (red, green or blue) you can choose from the waterless pet shampoo Nilaqua Waterless Pet Shampoo, the peppermint formula which can be used as a natural flea repellent, or the coconut towel-off shampoo for spot cleaning those specific trouble spots (muddy paws and drool chin).
You just apply, massage, towel off. That’s it.
I like the peppermint scent it keeps her smelling clean without that wet dog smell hanging over your living room for hours.
Keep this in mind: The coconut formula works best on small patches, so I save it for touch-ups between full grooms.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @hekkigram
#8: The Fennel & Herb Rice Paste — A Natural Breath Freshener Your Dog Will Actually Let You Use
You’ve no doubt experienced the moment when your golden rolls over for belly rubs, and then that smell hits you. Yeah, we’ve all been there.
This paste is made with fennel seeds, mixed wild rice, fresh mint, parsley, dill, and a creamy tahini base. You can see all the ingredients in the photo above. The fennel neutralizes odor, freshens breath, and the dog doesn’t clear the room anymore.
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 0 min | Serving Size: 2 weeks of daily brushing
Ingredients:
1. 2 tbsp tahini
2. 1 tsp ground fennel seeds
3. 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
4. 1 tsp fresh mint leaves
5. ½ tsp fresh dill
Instructions
To make the paste, smooth the tahini with the ground fennel in a bowl. Blend the herbs in by hand using a small wooden spoon inside a glass jar. Store covered in the fridge. Apply a pea-sized amount on your dog’s teeth 3x weekly.
Tip: Freeze the jar for a 10 minutes before use, the paste is cold and sticks to the bristles of the toothbrush.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dash_and_furrious
#9: Bull Terrier-Approved Coconut & Baking Soda Toothpaste
Y’all know the one; your dog comes running up at you, mouth wide open, tail going crazy and that smell hits you like a wall? Well, Nele is smiling at us and giving us the biggest most proudest grin and quite frankly those teeth deserve some love.
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoons coconut oil (solid or melted)
2. 1 teaspoon baking soda
3. ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
4. 3 drops peppermint-free beef or chicken broth (for flavor)
Instructions
Heat coconut oil until it is just scoopable (not liquid). Stir in baking soda until all lumps are gone. Add parsley flakes. Add broth a drop at a time until well mixed. Store in a small glass jar in the refrigerator.
Prep Time: 5 min | Setting Time: 15 min | Yield: ~10 uses
Coconut oil is a natural plaque fighter and baking soda neutralizes odor-causing bacteria, which means your dog will actually let you brush her teeth, and less vet dental cleanings.
Real talk: skipping anything mint-flavored. It’s toxic to dogs.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @minibullterrier_nele
#10: Denti-Care Toothpaste Paste (Vet-Approved Style, Made at Home)
You know that moment when your golden dog gives you a kiss right on the mouth and you pull back in disgust, wondering, “What’s that smell?”
This one works like the formula in the Animilo Denti-Care Toothpaste shown in the image below (that yellow-and-white tube sitting pretty in the grass).
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoons coconut oil
2. 1 tablespoon baking soda
3. 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
4. ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
5. 2–3 drops peppermint-free dog-safe flavoring (chicken or vanilla)
Instructions
Melt coconut oil. Add baking soda and turmeric (helps to fight plaque and stain) and parsley (helps with breath). Add flavoring last so your dog tolerates the brushing. Store in a small glass jar.
Coconut oil keeps my paste smooth, so my brush slides more easily. No as many battles with the brush, clean teeth.
The hot flavor seems to override any other flavor, like chicken. Dogs don’t like the taste of peppermint so this may not be a good thing.
Prep Time: 5 min | Chill Time: 10 min | Yield: ~20 uses
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @mrzacktheredtriaussie
#11: Skout’s Honor-Inspired Brushless Oral Gel (Peanut Butter & Bacon)
Your golden just breathed in your face again. You know that warm, sort of sour smell that makes you crinkle your nose when he breathes in your face? That.
I made a DIY version of the brushless oral gel you see in the orange bottle in your feed, but with kitchen staples.
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
2. 1 teaspoon bacon fat (cooled)
3. 1 teaspoon coconut oil
4. ¼ teaspoon baking soda
5. 2–3 drops peppermint-free parsley water
Instructions
Melt the coconut oil in the microwave. Stir in the peanut butter and cooled bacon fat until well combined. Add baking soda, the plaque fighter that helps to prevent tartar build up and your dog’s vet visits won’t make you feel like you’re apologizing. Mix in parsley water last. Transfer into a 4 oz squeeze bottle.
Apply directly onto the gums with your finger. No brush required.
Prep Time: 5 min | Setting Time: 10 min | Yield: ~20 applications
The bacon flavor means your dog really wants to chew this.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @ourhowlingadventures
#12: Coconut Oil & Baking Soda Toothpaste for Dogs
You know the feeling when you’re snuggling your golden on the couch, and then you feel that warm breath hit your face like a wall. Yeah, that feeling.
This two-ingredient toothpaste is made with virgin coconut oil and baking soda (the kind that comes in a white chunky form, not powder).
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil (solid, white)
2. ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
I warmed the coconut oil between my fingers until it was a clear liquid, added the baking soda, and stirred until it became a smooth, pale white paste. It coats the bristles on my toothbrush, like you can see on the blue handled brush in the picture below, and carries the baking soda right up against the gum line. I brushed in small circles for 30 seconds per side.
Start by just rubbing the coconut oil on your dog. Let them lick the brush first. Once they associate the coconut oil with the taste of the butter, brushing gets easier.
Prep Time: 2 min | No cooking | Makes: 1 serving
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @tedditheshihtzu
#13: Baking Soda & Coconut Oil Dog Toothpaste
Girl, if your Golden is leaning in for a cuddle and you physically pull away because the breath is so putrid, this Lab mix is doing the same thing and deserves better.
This two-ingredient paste is the one.
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoons coconut oil (solid, room temperature)
2. ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
Pour the coconut oil into a small glass jar. Use a fork to mash the baking soda into the coconut oil until it forms a thick paste. The paste should feel like soft frosting.
Coconut oil is known to break down plaque causing bacteria and baking soda gently buffs away surface stains so your dog will have fresher breath and whiter teeth.
Store the jar in your fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Prep Time: 3 min | No cooking | Makes: 10–12 uses
Starting with a very small pea size amount on the finger before the brush will help the dog to build trust with the taste so that brushing becomes easier.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @vealdentalcare
_#14: The No-Spill Water Bowl Trick That Changed Park Days Forever
My dog would drench every blanket we took to the park, and we always had to have a fresh one. It wouldn’t take ten minutes before it was ruined.
That’s exactly why I’m obsessed with the Prestige Pet Products spill-proof water bowl.
This giant white plastic base sits wide and low in the grass, and the black rubber floating disc on top allows your dog to drink through the center hole so water can’t slosh out. Your golden’s snout fits right through, ensuring no puddles are left on your blanket!
Instructions
Pour water into the bowl. Place the bowl on the grass, then place it on a flat surface so that the floating disc sits flat. Allow your dog to approach and drink through the center ring.
Prep Time: 1 min | Serving Size: One thirsty pup
The disc floats as your dog drinks, so the water stays contained, which means your park blanket actually stays dry.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @scooby.dobie
The One Ingredient Ratio That Actually Makes Homemade Toothpaste Work
Real talk: most of the recipes online get the ratio of coconut oil to baking soda wrong. And that’s why your dog fights the brush.
Too much baking soda will make the paste gritty and harsh. Your pup will be tasting this, and will most likely clamp their mouth shut. I learned this the hard way with my cousin’s golden, Maple, who would back into the corner of the kitchen as soon as she saw the toothbrush.
I would keep baking soda to no more than 10% of the total mixture. I would use coconut oil as a base and then add a flavor, unsweetened bone broth is better as it has less sodium than chicken extract. I would also recommend a softer texture more like a balm, less like a paste.
Also, from a gut health perspective, avoid xylitol completely. Some older DIY blogs list it as a sweetener, but it is toxic to dogs. Skip it.
One more piece of advice most people miss is to only brush the outer teeth in small circles. While dogs can tolerate their inner surfaces brushed to a degree, this is a process that will take a long time to get used to, and forcing it at an early stage of training will turn your dog off brushing completely.
Your Golden’s Mud Season Ends Here
Pick one thing this week. It could be the washable rug or it could be the couch cover, just one thing. You don’t need to overhaul your entire living room to get ahead of the mess.
My cousin did this last fall. She only changed out her entryway rug but said it made such a difference in how she felt walking in the door after work.
Small wins add up quickly. And if you’re wondering where your pup hangs out most, it might be on a dog-friendly sofa built just for them — your sofa will be thankful.
So, what’s the one spot in your home that your golden absolutely wrecks? Let me know down below! 🐾
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
