Dental disease is the most common thing vets find in adult dogs and cats, and the reason is no mystery: almost nobody manages to brush their pet's teeth every day. A mousse you can pump onto the gumline is not as good as a brush and bristles, but it is a great deal better than the nothing that most pets actually receive.

The formula pairs tea polyphenols with an enzyme complex, working on the soft film of plaque at the gum margin rather than simply masking the smell the way a flavoured water additive does. It goes on as a foam, which helps it stay where you put it long enough to do something instead of running off the tooth and being swallowed. Applying it takes seconds: lift the lip, pump along the gumline on both sides, and let your pet's own licking spread it around. The bottle holds 60ml.

• 60ml pump bottle of foaming dental mousse
• Tea polyphenols and an enzyme complex
• No brushing required
• Applies along the gumline in seconds
• Suitable for dogs and cats
• Helps freshen breath

Be clear about the limits. Nothing sprayed on will remove tartar that has already hardened onto a tooth, and no product reverses gum disease. This helps with the soft plaque that forms daily. If your pet has brown build-up at the gumline, red gums, a bad smell or is chewing on one side, they need a proper scale and polish under anaesthetic first.

Who it's for: owners of pets who will not tolerate a toothbrush, as part of a routine that still includes vet dental checks.