Nearly every dog and cat over the age of three has some degree of gum disease, and almost none of them will accept a toothbrush without a fight. The realistic question is therefore not what cleans best in theory, but what you will genuinely do every day. A wipe over your finger takes about twenty seconds and asks nothing of your pet beyond opening their mouth for a moment.

Each wipe is pre-moistened and textured, and the texture is what does the actual work, giving the surface something to abrade plaque with as you run your finger along the gum line where tartar starts. Plaque hardens into tartar within days, and once it has, nothing you do at home will shift it, so a wipe is entirely a preventative tool rather than a corrective one. Fifty in a tub means daily use is realistic rather than something you find yourself rationing.

• A tub of 50 pre-moistened dental wipes
• Textured surface lifts plaque and food residue at the gum line
• Slips over a finger, so no toothbrush is needed
• Suits dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens
• Quick enough to become a genuine daily habit
• Freshens breath as it cleans

What wipes can and cannot do. They remove soft plaque before it hardens. They do not remove tartar that has already formed, and they cannot reach below the gum line, which is where painful disease actually lives, and neither can a toothbrush. Persistent bad breath, red gums or a pet chewing on one side needs a vet rather than a wipe. Use one wipe per pet and never share between animals.

Who it's for: Owners starting a dental routine with a pet who will not tolerate a brush, and anyone wanting to slow tartar between professional cleans.