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  5. Equine tartar and plaque control

Equine Tartar and Plaque Control: Top 5 Options in the USA for 2025 — Trusted Products and Vet-Friendly Protocols to Protect Your Horse's Oral Health

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

Products and protocols designed to reduce tartar and plaque buildup in horses—including enzymatic cleaners, seaweed-derived supplements and chelating agents—support routine maintenance and long-term oral health management. American horse owners value safety, ease of use, vet endorsement, and products that fit barn routines; that drives demand for affordable gels and supplements that can be applied by handlers, complement regular floating and professional dental care, and withstand seasonal shipping and storage conditions across states. This category brings together targeted topical formulas, oral-care supplements, and enzymatic toothpastes that reduce bacterial biofilm, slow calculus formation and help maintain comfort, feed efficiency and performance.

Top Picks Summary

1. Best Freshening Gel

2. Best Enzyme Gel Supplement

3. Best Natural Supplement

4. Best Vet Enzymatic Toothpaste

5. Best Mechanical Chew (not equine-labelled)

Top Picks Summary

  1. TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses
  2. Petzlife Oral Care Gel
  3. ProDen PlaqueOff Animal
  4. Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothpaste
  5. Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Control
1
BEST FRESHENING GEL

TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses

Tropiclean
🏠 Local Product

TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses is a horse-specific topical gel that balances palatability with gentle plaque-dissolving ingredients, making it easy for owners to apply during routine grooming. Its clear advantage in the equine list is species-targeted formulation and broad retail availability at a mid-range price, offering faster, observable breath and surface-plaque improvements than systemic options like ProDen while being less clinical (and generally less costly) than veterinary enzymatic pastes such as Enzadent.

4.2
★★★★☆
  • Quick gel application

  • Fresh breath boost

  • Quick gel application

  • Fresh breath boost

Review Summary

82%

"Users report TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses freshens breath quickly and is easy to apply, though many note it reduces plaque modestly and needs consistent use for best results."

  • Tropical mint zing

  • Designed for direct application to horse teeth and gums with an applicator syringe.

  • Tropical mint zing

  • Designed for direct application to horse teeth and gums with an applicator syringe.

Time-Saving Convenience

Increased Safety & Security

TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses is a horse-specific topical gel that balances palatability with gentle plaque-dissolving ingredients, making it easy for owners to apply during routine grooming. Its clear advantage in the equine list is species-targeted formulation and broad retail availability at a mid-range price, offering faster, observable breath and surface-plaque improvements than systemic options like ProDen while being less clinical (and generally less costly) than veterinary enzymatic pastes such as Enzadent.

  • Quick gel application

  • Fresh breath boost

  • Tropical mint zing

  • Designed for direct application to horse teeth and gums with an applicator syringe.

  • Helps reduce plaque buildup and freshen breath with a non-foaming, palatable formula.

  • Quick gel application

  • Fresh breath boost

  • Tropical mint zing

  • Designed for direct application to horse teeth and gums with an applicator syringe.

  • Helps reduce plaque buildup and freshen breath with a non-foaming, palatable formula.

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$25-45 USD

2
BEST ENZYME GEL SUPPLEMENT

Petzlife Oral Care Gel

PetzLife
🏠 Local Product

PetzLife Oral Care Gel is a budget-friendly, multi-species oral gel that emphasizes enzymatic and non-abrasive activity to reduce plaque buildup; its low cost and simple application make it attractive for barn managers treating multiple animals. Compared with the horse-tailored TropiClean it is less specialized, and while it is cheaper than Vetoquinol’s veterinary-line toothpaste, it typically offers more modest clinical evidence than ProDen’s systemic supplement for herd-level tartar management.

4
★★★★☆
  • Enzyme action

  • No-rinse convenience

  • Enzyme action

  • No-rinse convenience

Review Summary

78%

"PetzLife Oral Care Gel is praised for being gentle and improving breath and gum health over time, but some users find results on heavy tartar to be limited and slow to appear."

  • Mild apple wink

  • Enzyme-rich gel formulated to help break down plaque and control tartar.

  • Mild apple wink

  • Enzyme-rich gel formulated to help break down plaque and control tartar.

Time-Saving Convenience

Increased Safety & Security

PetzLife Oral Care Gel is a budget-friendly, multi-species oral gel that emphasizes enzymatic and non-abrasive activity to reduce plaque buildup; its low cost and simple application make it attractive for barn managers treating multiple animals. Compared with the horse-tailored TropiClean it is less specialized, and while it is cheaper than Vetoquinol’s veterinary-line toothpaste, it typically offers more modest clinical evidence than ProDen’s systemic supplement for herd-level tartar management.

  • Enzyme action

  • No-rinse convenience

  • Mild apple wink

  • Enzyme-rich gel formulated to help break down plaque and control tartar.

  • Applied topically to teeth and gums and safe if swallowed for routine use.

  • Enzyme action

  • No-rinse convenience

  • Mild apple wink

  • Enzyme-rich gel formulated to help break down plaque and control tartar.

  • Applied topically to teeth and gums and safe if swallowed for routine use.

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$20-35 USD

3
BEST NATURAL SUPPLEMENT

ProDen PlaqueOff Animal

ProDen PlaqueOff

ProDen PlaqueOff Animal is a kelp-based dietary supplement that targets the oral biofilm from the inside out, delivering a scalable and cost-effective approach for long-term tartar and plaque control across multiple equids. Its technical advantage is systemic action and low per-head cost for herd use, but it generally works more slowly than topical gels (TropiClean, PetzLife) and is best considered complementary to mechanical or enzymatic topical treatments such as Enzadent.

4.3
★★★★☆
  • Seaweed-based

  • Plaque reduction

  • Seaweed-based

  • Plaque reduction

Review Summary

85%

"ProDen PlaqueOff Animal is widely regarded as effective at reducing plaque and improving dental health with regular use, though a minority report only minor changes or need for longer treatment periods."

  • Ocean secret

  • Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)-based powder shown to reduce tartar and improve breath.

  • Ocean secret

  • Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)-based powder shown to reduce tartar and improve breath.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

ProDen PlaqueOff Animal is a kelp-based dietary supplement that targets the oral biofilm from the inside out, delivering a scalable and cost-effective approach for long-term tartar and plaque control across multiple equids. Its technical advantage is systemic action and low per-head cost for herd use, but it generally works more slowly than topical gels (TropiClean, PetzLife) and is best considered complementary to mechanical or enzymatic topical treatments such as Enzadent.

  • Seaweed-based

  • Plaque reduction

  • Ocean secret

  • Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)-based powder shown to reduce tartar and improve breath.

  • Easy to mix into feed for daily, long-term plaque control in horses.

  • Seaweed-based

  • Plaque reduction

  • Ocean secret

  • Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)-based powder shown to reduce tartar and improve breath.

  • Easy to mix into feed for daily, long-term plaque control in horses.

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$40-80 USD

4
BEST VET ENZYMATIC TOOTHPASTE

Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothpaste

Vetoquinol Enzadent

Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothpaste is a veterinary-grade enzymatic formulation designed for use with routine brushing, providing strong, clinically oriented plaque and calculus reduction when applied properly. It is the most clinically focused product in the list—often showing the most consistent results in controlled care settings—but it is also higher cost and more labor-intensive than simple gels or oral supplements, making it ideal for targeted cases rather than broad herd application.

4.4
★★★★☆
  • Enzymatic foam

  • Vet-formulated

  • Enzymatic foam

  • Vet-formulated

Review Summary

87%

"Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothpaste receives strong marks for palatability and measurable plaque control when used routinely, with many owners noting noticeable improvement in breath and tartar management."

  • Bubble-powered clean

  • Enzymatic toothpaste formulation that helps break down plaque biofilm.

  • Bubble-powered clean

  • Enzymatic toothpaste formulation that helps break down plaque biofilm.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothpaste is a veterinary-grade enzymatic formulation designed for use with routine brushing, providing strong, clinically oriented plaque and calculus reduction when applied properly. It is the most clinically focused product in the list—often showing the most consistent results in controlled care settings—but it is also higher cost and more labor-intensive than simple gels or oral supplements, making it ideal for targeted cases rather than broad herd application.

  • Enzymatic foam

  • Vet-formulated

  • Bubble-powered clean

  • Enzymatic toothpaste formulation that helps break down plaque biofilm.

  • Veterinary-grade product designed to be palatable and safe if swallowed.

  • Enzymatic foam

  • Vet-formulated

  • Bubble-powered clean

  • Enzymatic toothpaste formulation that helps break down plaque biofilm.

  • Veterinary-grade product designed to be palatable and safe if swallowed.

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$15-30 USD

5
BEST MECHANICAL CHEW (NOT EQUINE-LABELLED)

Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Control

Nylabone
🏠 Local Product

Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Control is a mechanical, chew-based solution that reduces plaque by abrasion and is priced competitively on a per-use basis for animals that will safely engage with dental chews. While highly effective as a mechanical adjunct for dogs and certain small equids, it is less practical for adult horses due to size and chewing mechanics; its primary advantage in this list is low ongoing cost and a chemistry-free approach compared with enzymatic or supplement strategies.

4.1
★★★★☆
  • Chew-designed

  • Tartar control

  • Chew-designed

  • Tartar control

Review Summary

80%

"Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Control chews are liked for mechanical tartar reduction and durability, but effectiveness varies by animal and aggressive chewers may wear them down quickly."

  • Boredom-busting chew

  • Textured nylon chew designed to mechanically scrape plaque and control tartar in dogs.

  • Boredom-busting chew

  • Textured nylon chew designed to mechanically scrape plaque and control tartar in dogs.

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Increased Safety & Security

Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Control is a mechanical, chew-based solution that reduces plaque by abrasion and is priced competitively on a per-use basis for animals that will safely engage with dental chews. While highly effective as a mechanical adjunct for dogs and certain small equids, it is less practical for adult horses due to size and chewing mechanics; its primary advantage in this list is low ongoing cost and a chemistry-free approach compared with enzymatic or supplement strategies.

  • Chew-designed

  • Tartar control

  • Boredom-busting chew

  • Textured nylon chew designed to mechanically scrape plaque and control tartar in dogs.

  • Not specifically labeled for horses—use on small equids only under veterinary guidance.

  • Chew-designed

  • Tartar control

  • Boredom-busting chew

  • Textured nylon chew designed to mechanically scrape plaque and control tartar in dogs.

  • Not specifically labeled for horses—use on small equids only under veterinary guidance.

Order Now

$15-30 USD

What the Research Says — Simple science behind plaque, tartar and how these products help

Scientific research into animal oral care shows that plaque is a bacterial biofilm that, if left unchecked, mineralizes into tartar (calculus) and increases the risk of gingival inflammation and periodontal disease. Approaches used in the products listed here rely on two main strategies: disrupting or preventing biofilm formation (enzymes, seaweed-derived actives, brushing) and removing or chelating mineral deposits (mechanical action and abrasive or chelating formulations). Regular mechanical care combined with adjunct products offers the strongest evidence for reducing plaque and gingivitis over time.

Enzymatic systems (for example, lactoperoxidase-based formulations and related enzyme blends) support natural antimicrobial activity in the mouth by slowing bacterial growth and reducing biofilm formation; several veterinary studies report reduced plaque scores when enzymes are used alongside brushing.

Seaweed-derived supplements (Ascophyllum nodosum formulations like those used in some Pet and animal products) have been investigated in controlled trials in companion animals and shown to reduce plaque and calculus formation over weeks to months when used as directed.

Topical gels and toothpastes provide direct, localized action; their benefits depend on contact time and frequency—products designed for horses make application easier for handlers and help maintain daily or several-times-weekly care.

Mechanical removal (brushing or professional scaling during dental exams) remains the cornerstone of tartar removal; adjuncts are best used for prevention and maintenance rather than as a standalone cure for heavy calculus.

Veterinary dental assessment and a regular schedule for floating and professional care are supported by the literature as essential for long-term oral health; adjunct products are most effective when integrated into a broader dental plan.

In USA, equine owners can choose from topical gels, enzymatic pastes and oral supplements that complement routine veterinary care. The five products reviewed here—TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses, Petzlife Oral Care Gel, ProDen PlaqueOff Animal, Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothpaste, and Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Control—cover a mix of horse-targeted gels, enzyme-based pastes and supplement approaches. For most American horse owners seeking a practical, widely available maintenance option, TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Horses is the best general-choice due to its horse-focused formulation and ease of application; Petzlife, ProDen PlaqueOff, Vetoquinol Enzadent and Nylabone each have strengths depending on your routine, vet guidance and budget. I hope you found what you were looking for — use the search to refine by product type, budget or veterinary recommendations to expand or narrow results.

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