Nearly four in five dogs over age 3 suffer from periodontal disease — yet most of their owners have no idea. That gap between clinical reality and pet parent perception is where Mars Pet Nutrition has focused significant R&D energy, developing a portfolio of oral care products and digital tools designed to shift pet health management from reactive to proactive.
Elisabetta Pierangelo, global vice president R&D at Mars Pet Nutrition, oversees innovation across some of the industry’s largest global brands, serving 440 million pet parents worldwide. She said the company’s approach to oral health starts with a foundational commitment to both science and the real-world needs of pets and their owners.
“Our research and development process is grounded in pet and pet parent insights, nutritional science and advanced technologies,” Pierangelo said. “These insights shape every aspect of our products, from how we formulate recipes to how we process for texture.”
According to Pierangelo, the stakes are significant. If left unmanaged, periodontal disease can cause gum inflammation, bleeding, bad breath and ultimately tooth loss. Poor oral health is also associated with heart, liver and kidney disease. Despite that, 72% of pet parents believe their dog has good or perfect oral health, even as 80% of dogs show signs of oral health issues by age 3.
“By increasing awareness, promoting preventative care and equipping owners with the right knowledge and tools, we can help reduce pets’ suffering, pain and tooth loss, and improve quality of life,” Pierangelo said.
Formulation grounded in microbiome science
Foundational research from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute underpins much of Mars’ oral health formulation work. The institute has focused on the oral microbiome and its role in gum disease and overall systemic health in cats and dogs.
That science translates directly into product design, noted Pierangelo. Kibble and treat geometry, for example, are deliberately engineered. Whiskas Dentabites for cats feature tiny grooves and a lower density that allows teeth to sink into the treat rather than shatter it, creating gentler cleaning action during chewing.
Palatability and efficacy are co-equal design requirements, Pierangelo said. Crafting an optimal recipe requires carefully balancing aroma, flavor and texture to ensure pets will consume and enjoy oral care products consistently. Species, size, lifestyle and owner preference all factor into those decisions.
PEDIGREE Dentastix Light delivers the same mechanical cleaning as the original Dentastix formulation but with 30% fewer calories — a response to data showing 40% of adult dogs are overweight. Mars achieved this by applying advanced processing technology to aerate the chew and switching the protein source to lean turkey. The product was also sized for dogs as small as 3 kilograms, where many competing chews start at 5 kilograms.
Bad breath drove a different formulation approach. PEDIGREE Dentastix Daily Fresh contains a blend of green tea extract and eucalyptus oil, both of which have documented antimicrobial properties, to target the volatile sulfur compounds produced by odor-causing bacteria.
For cats, GREENIES Dental Treats are available in a wide variety of flavors. “Aroma is a key indicator of performance in cat products as smell is the first sensory experience, followed by taste and texture,” Pierangelo said.
All products undergo rigorous performance testing to ensure they meet pets’ nutritional, feeding and efficacy needs, as well as the expectations of pet parents, for whom factors such as smell and texture also shape the feeding experience, she added.
Postbiotics: The next frontier
While mechanical abrasion remains the dominant mechanism in most dental solutions, Pierangelo said the most significant frontier in pet oral care lies in the oral microbiome itself.
“There is a growing body of evidence focused on active ingredients that can remove harmful bacteria by directly influencing the oral microbiome,” she said. “The majority of dental solutions focus on mechanical abrasion to control plaque and tartar buildup, however there are other approaches.”
Postbiotics, in both feline and canine oral care, represent one of the most promising. Postbiotics are the components or metabolites that remain after heat-treating probiotics — the bacteria become inactivated, but beneficial properties are preserved. Pierangelo said research suggests postbiotics may be able to rebalance the bacterial environment in a pet’s mouth, slowing the growth of disease-associated bacteria while supporting beneficial strains.
“It’s an emerging field that requires more scientific research and technological development, but its potential to create meaningful impact for pets and pet parents is significant,” she said.
AI tools scale early detection
Beyond formulation, Mars has invested in digital tools to help close the awareness gap among pet owners. Last year, the company launched GREENIES Canine Dental Check in the U.S., an AI-powered tool that allows owners to scan their dog’s teeth and gums via smartphone photo. The tool assesses signs of tartar buildup and gum irritation within seconds and delivers results with actionable recommendations, including access to a free virtual consultation with a veterinary technician if needed.
This year, Mars extended the technology through PEDIGREE Toothscan, bringing AI-assisted dental monitoring to pet parents across Europe.
“AI gives us the ability to scale that education, personalize support and intervene earlier — shifting from reactive treatment to proactive care,” Pierangelo said. “This empowers pet parents to feel confident at recognizing early signs of gum disease so that action can be taken sooner rather than later.”
