Freshies dog dental powder research: The science behind

We picked every ingredient for a reason. Here's the reason, the dog studies behind it, and links to read them yourself.

Formulated by veterinary nutritionist Davide Stefanutti, DVM, PhD.

Last updated October 2026

Overview

Freshies is a daily dental powder for dogs. Each 1.5 g stick holds four actives with four jobs: brown seaweed for plaque and tartar, a postbiotic and green tea for breath, and pomegranate for the bacteria that start it all. And Freshies tastes like beef liver.

Every result on this page comes from published studies of Freshies' ingredients. Results for Freshies itself will be added here as they come in.

  1. Step 1: Bacteria get out of balance

    Every dog's mouth has bacteria. Trouble starts when the kinds that build plaque and make smells take over.

  2. Step 2: They build plaque

    Those bacteria team up in a soft, sticky film on the teeth.

  3. Step 3: Plaque hardens into tartar

    Plaque picks up minerals and hardens into crusty tartar that takes a vet cleaning to remove.

  4. Step 4: Breath goes bad

    Mouth bacteria give off sulfur compounds. That's the smell when your dog yawns.

Fig. 1 How bad breath happens, and which ingredients work on each step. Simplified: in a real mouth the steps overlap.
Davide Stefanutti, veterinary nutritionist

Davide StefanuttiDVM, PhD, veterinary nutritionist

Covering up the smell is easy. Dr. Stefanutti went after where it starts: he traced the path from mouth bacteria to bad breath and matched each step with an ingredient that's been studied in dogs.

Formulation

One 1.5 g stick. Every active amount is on the label, with no proprietary blend.

What's in one Freshies stick
Ingredient Specification Per stick
Tasco® brown seaweedAscophyllum nodosum 100% Ascophyllum nodosum, hand-harvested and sun-dried. Certificate of analysis on every lot. 600 mg
Canine Oral Health PostbioticPediococcus pentosaceus + Bacillus subtilis Dried Pediococcus pentosaceus and Bacillus subtilis fermentation products on a maltodextrin carrier. Inactivated, so nothing has to stay alive. 250 mg
Pomegranate peel extractPunica granatum Standardized to 15% polyphenols. No added phosphates anywhere in the formula. 150 mg
Sunphenon® 90D green tea extractCamellia sinensis Decaffeinated. At least 80% catechins and 45% EGCG. 80 mg
Beef liverFor flavor The reason your dog says yes. A daily habit only works if dinner is worth showing up for. 250 mg

Tasco® is a registered trademark of Acadian Seaplants Limited. Sunphenon® is a registered trademark of Taiyo International, Inc.

How to serve

Once a day, by your dog's weight, mixed into food. Wet, dry or homemade all work.

  • ½ stick a day Under 22 lb
  • 1 stick a day 22–55 lb
  • 2 sticks a day Over 55 lb
Fig. 2 Daily serving by weight.

Tear open a stick and sprinkle it on dinner, or stir it in. Daily use is what counts: breath moves first, plaque and tartar take weeks.

What the studies found

Not everything works on the same schedule. Breath shifted in the first week of the studies, and plaque and tartar took longer, which is why Freshies is a daily habit.

  • 27%

    fewer bad-breath compounds than placebo by day 7

    Postbiotic study in 24 dogs [3]

  • Day 30

    less tartar than placebo, at the first check

    Brown seaweed study in 60 dogs [1]

  • Day 90

    less plaque than placebo

    Brown seaweed study in 60 dogs [1]

These results come from studies of Freshies' ingredients.

Ingredient notes

Why each active is in Freshies and what its studies showed.

Tasco® brown seaweed

Ascophyllum nodosum 600 mg per stick

Plaque and tartar

The workhorse of the formula. Researchers think compounds from this seaweed reach your dog's saliva, where they make it harder for plaque to stick and harden into tartar. No chewing required.

We chose Tasco® for control and traceability: one species from one producer, with a certificate of analysis on every lot.

  • Dog study, 90 days [1]

    Double-blind and placebo-controlled, in 60 dogs

    60 small-breed dogs, starting right after a professional cleaning. Half got daily treats with A. nodosum; half got look-alike treats without it.

    Less tartar than the placebo group at every check from day 30 on, and less plaque by day 90. Breath readings were better from day 60, too.

    Good to know: The treats used a different brand of the same seaweed. Tasco® is the same species, and published patent data put its key compounds (alginic acid, mannitol and laminarin) in overlapping ranges.

    Gawor et al., Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2018 (opens in a new tab)

  • Review [2]

    What the research adds up to

    A review of the published A. nodosum research in dogs and cats, including studies of powders.

    Supports A. nodosum for slowing the return of plaque and tartar after a dental cleaning. Of the forms reviewed, powder showed the strongest preventive effect.

    Gawor & Jank, Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 2023 (opens in a new tab)

Canine Oral Health Postbiotic

Pediococcus pentosaceus + Bacillus subtilis 250 mg per stick

Bad breath

The fast one. It works on the mouth bacteria behind the sulfur compounds that make dog breath smell, and it's why breath can start freshening up in the first week.

It's a postbiotic, not a probiotic, so nothing in the stick has to stay alive. It's shelf-stable, no fridge needed.

Pomegranate peel extract

Punica granatum, standardized to 15% polyphenols 150 mg per stick

Tartar and mouth bacteria

Pomegranate backs up the brown seaweed on two fronts. It works against a plaque-forming mouth bacterium, and in a dog study it reduced tartar about as well as the phosphate used in many dental chews. That second result is why Freshies has no added phosphates. Here's why we skipped them.

  • Dog study, 28 days [6]

    Pomegranate vs. a classic dental phosphate

    40 dogs, randomized to five biscuit recipes for 28 days.

    Tartar coverage dropped 27% with pomegranate peel extract and 29% with sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), a phosphate found in many dental chews. The gap between them wasn't statistically significant.

    Santos et al., Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2021 (opens in a new tab)

  • Lab study [7]

    Against a common plaque bacterium

    Biofilms of five kinds of bacteria from dogs' mouths, grown in the lab.

    Pomegranate extract cut the survival of Porphyromonas gulae biofilm by 39%. P. gulae is a bacterium commonly found in dog plaque.

    Stephen et al., Veterinary World, 2022 (opens in a new tab)

Sunphenon® 90D green tea extract

Camellia sinensis, decaffeinated 80 mg per stick

Fresher breath

Green tea catechins back up the postbiotic on breath. We use Sunphenon® 90D so you know exactly what's in the stick: a named, specified extract with at least 80% catechins and 45% EGCG, not an unnamed "green tea."

Benefits and the studies behind them

Each benefit, the ingredients behind it, and where to read the research. Numbers match the reference list.

Benefits and the studies behind them
Benefit Studies
Fresher breath
Less tartar buildup
Less plaque buildup
Balanced mouth bacteria

Where the evidence stops

Good research is honest about its limits. Here are ours.

  • It slows new buildup. It doesn't remove old tartar.

    Tartar that's already there takes a professional cleaning. Freshies helps keep new plaque and tartar from piling back up.

  • Every dog is different.

    Results vary with age, breed, diet and the mouth your dog starts with. Daily use is what counts.

  • It's not a substitute for your vet.

    Brushing and regular dental checkups are still the gold standard. Freshies is the easiest daily habit to add on top.

What we left out, and why

We weighed the ingredients other dental products use. The four that made it into Freshies each have a job, and each has been studied in dogs eating it. Here's what didn't make the cut, and why.

  • Egg-yolk antibodies (IgY)

    The dog feeding research we found on egg-yolk antibodies was one small pilot study, with five dogs per group, and it didn't test any of the IgY powders sold today. Interesting science, but too early to build a daily product on.

  • Nano-hydroxyapatite (NHAP)

    It's meant to strengthen enamel where it touches the tooth, and most of its evidence comes from human toothpaste. The dog research we found was a gel placed in tooth sockets after extractions to help bone heal, not daily feeding. We found no controlled dog study showing it reduces plaque, tartar or bad breath from a powder or a chew.

  • Other postbiotics

    Not all postbiotics are equal. A heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum sold for pet oral care didn't beat placebo in its main dog trial. The postbiotic in Freshies lowered bad-breath compounds against placebo in two separate trials [3] [4].

  • Skullcap and acacia extract

    A botanical blend used in some dental chews and powders. In its 12-week dog trial, the plaque difference against the control group wasn't significant, and the amounts studied were several times higher than what a pet product we checked provides.

  • Added phosphates

    Sodium hexametaphosphate works, and plenty of dental chews use it. But pomegranate peel did about as well head to head. And a 2021 study found high intakes of some added phosphates raised dogs' blood phosphate [9]. It didn't test dental-chew amounts, but with a plant option that works, we'd rather skip them.

  • Erythritol and inulin

    The dog study we found tested them in a water additive together with pomegranate. Freshies already has pomegranate, so they'd make the label longer without a clear extra job.

  • Zinc and baking soda

    Familiar breath ingredients. We didn't find evidence they'd add anything on top of the four actives already in Freshies.

  • Mint, parsley and other "fresh breath" flavors

    They can make breath smell different for a while. We didn't find dog studies showing they do anything about the bacteria making the smell.

  • Generic brown seaweed

    Seaweed isn't one thing. We use one species, from one traceable source, instead of an unnamed brown seaweed or seaweed blend.

  • A big, chewy base

    No bulky chew means very few extra calories, nothing for gulpers to swallow whole, and nothing for seniors to struggle with.

Safety and questions

Freshies is made for daily use in healthy dogs. Read these before you start.

  • Can my dog take Freshies with other supplements?

    Brown seaweed naturally contains iodine. If your dog takes other supplements with iodine, has a thyroid condition, or is pregnant or nursing, ask your vet first.

  • What if my dog is on medication or a prescription diet?

    Check with your vet before starting if your dog is unwell, on medication, eating a prescription diet or being treated for anything.

  • Is it OK for dogs with food allergies?

    Freshies contains beef liver. Skip it if your dog is allergic or sensitive to beef.

  • Can I give more for faster results?

    No. Serve by weight and don't go over the daily amount. Steady daily use is what the studies looked at.

  • Does Freshies replace brushing or vet cleanings?

    No. Brushing and regular dental checkups with your vet are still the gold standard [10]. Freshies helps slow new buildup, but it won't remove tartar that's already there.

  • Is the brown seaweed in Freshies the same as in the studies?

    It's the same species, Ascophyllum nodosum. The main dog study used a different brand, and published patent data show overlapping levels of the seaweed's key compounds.

  • Why a powder instead of a dental chew?

    A chew works partly by scraping, so it only helps if your dog actually chews it. Freshies does its work from the food bowl, so gulpers get the full serving, with far fewer calories than a daily chew.

  • When should I see my vet?

    Bad breath that doesn't go away, mouth pain, bleeding gums, loose teeth or trouble eating all need a vet visit.

Freshies supports daily oral care. It doesn't replace a veterinary dental exam or treatment, and it isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Keep out of reach of children.

Glossary

The words on this page, in plain English.

Plaque
A soft, sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth after eating.
Tartar (calculus)
Plaque that has hardened with minerals from saliva. Brushing can't remove it; a vet cleaning can.
Volatile sulfur compounds
Smelly gases made by mouth bacteria. Researchers measure them to put a number on bad breath.
Biofilm
Bacteria stuck together in a layer on a surface. Plaque is a biofilm.
Postbiotic
An ingredient made from beneficial microbes that have been inactivated, so nothing needs to stay alive.
Placebo-controlled
Some dogs get the real ingredient and others get a look-alike without it, so the difference can be measured fairly.
Double-blind
Neither the people giving the treatment nor the people scoring the results know which dogs got the real thing.
Lab study
Research done with bacteria grown in a dish, not in a dog.
Polyphenols and catechins
Natural plant compounds. Catechins are the main ones in green tea.

Read the studies yourself

Every study on this page. Some are free to read; others may need a journal subscription.

  1. 1. A. nodosum treats and plaque, tartar and breath in 60 dogs over 90 days

    Gawor J, et al. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2018; 5:168.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  2. 2. Review of A. nodosum for oral health in dogs and cats

    Gawor J, Jank M. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 2023; 26(3):511–520.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  3. 3. The postbiotic and bad-breath compounds in 24 dogs over 14 days

    Sordillo A, et al. Animals, 2025; 15(11):1596.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  4. 4. A second trial at 150 mg a day in 24 dogs

    Sordillo A, Turcotte R, Sheth RU. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 2026.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  5. 5. The postbiotic and the dog oral microbiome after 7 days

    Sordillo A, et al. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 2026.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  6. 6. Pomegranate vs. sodium hexametaphosphate biscuits in 40 dogs over 28 days

    Santos et al. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2021; 280:115056.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  7. 7. Pomegranate extract against bacteria from dogs' mouths (lab study)

    Stephen AS, et al. Veterinary World, 2022; 15(7):1714–1718.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  8. 8. Green tea catechins in food, plus lab work on mouth bacteria

    Ohira C, et al. International Immunopharmacology, 2025; 146:113805.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  9. 9. High intakes of eight phosphate sources in dogs

    Dobenecker B, et al. Animals, 2021; 11(12):3456.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

  10. 10. Veterinary guidelines on home dental care and checkups

    American Animal Hospital Association. 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.

    Read the study (opens in a new tab)

Four actives. Zero chewing.

Founding members save 30% on their first order. Free to join, nothing to pay now. Ships January 2027.

Save 30% at launch

30-day money-back guarantee on your first order, even if the box is empty.