08/22/2026
🦷🐾 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
If you've ever had your dog's teeth brushed during a grooming appointment, you may have noticed the little tube of 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜 𝐂.𝐄.𝐓. 𝐄𝐧𝐳𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 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.
𝐂.𝐄.𝐓. 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟕. 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 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐲𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 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.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭. 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:
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.
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 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 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. 🐶🦷
Educational information only. Regular home dental care does not replace veterinary dental examinations or professional dental treatment when needed.