Our Final Verdict
We give TEEF for Life a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Effectiveness: 4.7/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Value: 4.7/5
Puppy breath is one thing, but no one likes stinky old dog breath. But the worst part about having a dog with horrible breath is the damage that you can’t smell. I’m talking about heart inflammation, immune suppression, and even behavioral issues.
Yes, poor oral hygiene can lead to all these problems and more in pets.
These are exactly the high stakes TEEF for Life had in mind when they set out to create an easier way to care for pets’ teeth. With their unique Protektin42 water additive, the company claims you can not only improve your dog or cat’s dental health but also their overall health. And all you have to do is add a tiny scoop of this powder to your pet’s water bowl once a day.
Sound too easy? That’s what I thought and why I wanted to put this product to the test. After using it for my senior dogs for over a month, I can tell you it’s not all hype.
Keep reading to find out how this product has helped my uber-stinky-breathed dogs and to see my full TEEF for Life review.
About TEEF for Life
TEEF for Life is a sister company to Daily Dental Health, a human oral hygiene company. Both were started by Dr. Emily Stein, a microbiologist who has been personally affected by the damaging effects of poor oral health.
In 2009, Dr. Stein’s grandmother suffered a stroke after a dental procedure. The bad bacteria in her mouth had gotten into her bloodstream during a tooth extraction and caused damage to her brain. Three years later, Dr. Stein adopted a Cocker Spaniel who suffered a blood infection due to severe periodontal disease.
Both these incidents convinced Dr. Stein to begin researching a better way to control the bacteria load living in both human and animal mouths. From there, she developed Protektin42, a powdered product that helps change the makeup of oral bacteria to reduce inflammation and plaque and support better overall health.
How Does Protektin42 Work?
The powder that makes up TEEF products is based on the concept of selective microbial metabolism regulation technology.
Basically, by saturating bacteria in soluble fiber and certain nutrients, you can turn off the genes that allow them to process carbohydrates and sugar. Because bad oral bacteria need these kinds of food to survive but good oral bacteria don’t, this nutrient bath effectively kills bad bacteria. This allows good bacteria to populate the mouth.
With consistent use, this kind of oral hygiene therapy has been proven to change the bacterial biome makeup of human and animal mouths. This leads to reduced biofilm, less plaque, less odor, and better health.
What Type of Pets Is TEEF for Life best suited for?
TEEF for Life has three different products available. The first is made specifically for dogs, the second is specifically for cats, and the third is suitable for dogs and cats. While each formula targets a specific species, they are all safe for all pets and humans to consume.
As far as which pets will benefit most from this product, the answer really is all of them!
It is much easier to prevent dental disease than fight it once it’s taken hold. This means TEEF products are most effective when started while pets are young, before they have issues. Of course, if your pet already suffers from periodontal disease, Protektin42 from TEEF for Life can help them too.
Overview
Here is an overview of Teef for Life’s Protektin42 products. We’ll look at the ingredients used in these formulas, what you’ll get, how to use them, and what to expect.
Ingredients
All three TEEF for LIfe products contain the same three base ingredients. Each ingredient is included to help shift the makeup of the oral bacterial biome.
The dog-specific product also includes sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda). This compound helps neutralize acids in the mouth, control biofilm development, and remineralize teeth.
The cat-specific formula contains chlorella in place of sodium bicarbonate. This algae soaks up fungal toxins that are common in the mouths of cats suffering from stomatitis.
Neither of these compounds is used in the cat and dog formula. However, the three powerful base ingredients are enough to offer most of the same benefits.
What You’ll Receive
For your first purchase, you’ll want to buy the TEEF for Life Dental Kit. This kit includes pouches of the powder as well as a glass container with desiccant packet and scoop. You can opt for 30, 90, or 180 servings of Protektin42.
Once you receive your kit, pour the packet contents into the glass jar and place the desiccant packet inside. This will keep your powder safe and fresh.
After your first order, you can place additional refill orders for just the powder packets. You can also opt to subscribe to receive additional savings.
How to Use Protektin42
This product could not be easier to use. Simply add one scoop of the powder to your pet’s water bowl each day.
If your pet has multiple water bowls, TEEF for Life recommends filling a pitcher with filtered water and adding a few scoops of Protektin42 to it. Then fill each bowl with the pitcher for the next few days. You can also use the pitcher to top off the bowl between water changes.
Protektin42 can also be added to food. Though, it works best when it has a chance to coat your dog’s mouth multiple times per day.
What to Expect
The results from Protektin42 will be gradual, with noticeable milestones through its use and full results within about 5 weeks.
How well this product works depends largely on consistent use. The easiest way to do this is to ensure your pet drinks only from treated water bowls throughout the day. Wash and refresh these bowls once a day and don’t forget to add more powder each time.
In Summary
Key Features
Backed by Science
The ingredients used in Protektin42 have been highly researched and proven to improve oral health in both humans and animals. In fact, you can easily test the results for yourself by using a microbiome test before starting the product and again after a few weeks. You can check out the science behind this super powder, here.
Targets All Symptoms of Dental Disease
Not only does Protektin42 target stinky breath, but it also takes care of all those other damaging and unsightly symptoms of periodontal disease. It helps break down and remove tartar, eases inflammation, and, most importantly, destroys bad bacteria in the mouth.
This bacteria is responsible not only for damage to teeth and gums but also for damage inside your pet’s body. High bacterial loads in the mouth are associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, stroke, behavioral changes, kidney disease, blood infection, and more.1
So Easy to Use
Brushing pets’ teeth is at best time-consuming and at worst a wrestling match. TEEF for Life makes the process of dental care for pets so much simpler. Even if you can’t brush your dog or cat’s teeth, you can still help fight or prevent periodontal disease.
And all it takes is adding a tiny scoop of powder to their water dish once a day.
Is TEEF for Life a Good Value?
Compared to a doggy toothbrush and pet toothpaste, TEEF for Life Protektin42 will cost you a little more. But if you consider all the extra support this product offers compared to traditional pet oral care, I’d say it’s definitely worth the cost.
For a 30-day starter kit, you’ll pay about $28. You can save quite a bit of money per dose by opting for the 180-day kit and subscribing, which will save you an additional 5%.
Each refill packet, which contains 30 servings, costs about $24. But you can save up to 25% by getting 6 packets at a time and subscribing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the daily dose of Protektin42?
Each new kit comes with a dosing spoon that is 1/32 of a teaspoon in size. This amount can be mixed with up to half a gallon of water. It doesn’t take much Protektin42 to get results.
Are there any side effects of Protektin42?
In some animals that have a vitamin B6 deficiency, you may notice looser stools when you start this product. This should go away after a few days as the body adjusts to more normal B6 levels. Beyond this, there are no common side effects to this product.
What if my pet won’t drink the water after the product is added?
If your pet won’t drink water with Protektin42 added, lower the dose and try again. If they still refuse, you can add the product to their food, treats, or licky mat throughout the day instead. This is a rare occurrence, as most pets do not seem to notice the addition of the product in their water.
How long should I use TEEF for Life?
In order to maintain a healthy bacteria balance in the mouth, Protektin42 needs to be consumed daily. For best results, it should be used for life. You can start the product as soon as your puppy or kitten is weaned.
Why are there three different formulas?
Each formula is made to maximize the benefits for the targeted species. The sodium bicarbonate in the dog formula helps neutralize acids caused by the varied diet most dogs eat, while the chlorella in the cat formula is extra helpful for fighting cat stomatitis. Most cats and dogs can take either species-specific formula, while the cat and dog formula is best for pets with sensitive systems or kidney disease.
Our Experience With TEEF for Life
I’ve been searching for an easier way to care for my senior dogs’ teeth for years.
My thirteen-year-old Dalmatian mix, Ragz, has severe periodontal disease. She’s already had over half her teeth pulled. But a genetic predisposition to gum pockets makes it impossible to stay on top of her oral health even with daily brushing and water piking.
My fifteen-year-old Chihuahua, Papyrus, has less severe issues, but his Chihuahua teeth have gotten overrun with plaque and he has bad old man breath.
I decided to give TEEF for Life a try mostly because it looked so easy. I didn’t realize how it worked or even the extent to which dental disease can affect the body until after I started them on the product.
Once I began my research, I only became more convinced that Protektin42 is a necessary addition to my dogs’ daily routine.
I started adding the product to my pets’ water bowl about five weeks ago. Both my dogs and my cat use the water bowl. My cat is under a year old and has great dental health, so I chose to use the dog-specific product, though I know he still gets most of the benefits.
None of my pets had any reservations about drinking out of the water bowl after the Protektin42 was added. Which meant it truly was as easy as advertised to start this therapy.
After about fifteen days, I noticed Papyrus’ bad breath had improved quite a bit. After another week, the inflammation in Ragz’s mouth had noticeably decreased.
After five weeks on the product, we are just reaching the stage where the plaque is starting to respond. It hasn’t decreased yet, but it is noticeably softer. For the first time in months, I was able to scrape some of it off Papyrus’ molars with a dental hook.
Ragz’s breath has improved a little on Protektin42 but her severe issues are likely going to take longer to see really noticeable results. Despite this, I’m eager to keep her on the product. After researching how damaging bad oral bacteria can be for other bodily systems, I realized brushing is never going to be enough for her.
The only thing that’s going to prevent organ damage or worse is changing the biome balance in her mouth. And, as far as I can tell, TEEF for Life is one of the few products out there that has been proven to have a significant impact on bad bacteria in the mouth.
Reviews from other users have me very excited about the long-term possibilities of Protektin42. Once I get through the 90-day supply that came with my starter kit, I plan to sign up for the subscription and continue using the product for both dogs for the rest of their lives. Which hopefully, with Protektin42’s help, will be many more years to come.
Conclusion
Whether you have a brand new puppy with shiny white puppy teeth or an ancient feline battling stomatitis, I highly recommend getting them on TEEF for Life’s Protektin42 as soon as possible. This scientifically backed product does more than brushing ever will. It protects not just teeth, but your pet’s whole body thanks to its bacteria biome balancing abilities.
I’ve already seen results using the product on my two senior dogs and I’m hopeful it will continue to improve Ragz’s periodontal disease. It’s so easy to use and well worth the cost, I don’t see any reason not to make this part of every pet’s dental care routine. My only regret is that I didn’t find it sooner.
