diff --git a/src/material/tabs/_tabs-common.scss b/src/material/tabs/_tabs-common.scss
index 8d3e4063b437..241c7a2a28a7 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/_tabs-common.scss
+++ b/src/material/tabs/_tabs-common.scss
@@ -300,10 +300,7 @@ $mat-tab-animation-duration: 500ms !default;
     -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
     touch-action: none;
     box-sizing: content-box;
-    background: none;
-    border: none;
     outline: 0;
-    padding: 0;
 
     &::-moz-focus-inner {
       border: 0;
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-header.html b/src/material/tabs/tab-header.html
index 4c2e5772999e..ac58ae838d36 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-header.html
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-header.html
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-<button class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-before"
+<!--
+ Note that this intentionally uses a `div` instead of a `button`, because it's not part of
+ the regular tabs flow and is only here to support mouse users. It should also not be focusable.
+-->
+<div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-before"
      #previousPaginator
-     aria-hidden="true"
-     type="button"
      mat-ripple
-     tabindex="-1"
      [matRippleDisabled]="_disableScrollBefore || disableRipple"
      [class.mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-disabled]="_disableScrollBefore"
-     [disabled]="_disableScrollBefore || null"
      (click)="_handlePaginatorClick('before')"
      (mousedown)="_handlePaginatorPress('before', $event)"
      (touchend)="_stopInterval()">
   <div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-chevron"></div>
-</button>
+</div>
 
 <div
   class="mat-mdc-tab-label-container"
@@ -31,17 +31,13 @@
   </div>
 </div>
 
-<button class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-after"
+<div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-after"
      #nextPaginator
-     aria-hidden="true"
-     type="button"
      mat-ripple
      [matRippleDisabled]="_disableScrollAfter || disableRipple"
      [class.mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-disabled]="_disableScrollAfter"
-     [disabled]="_disableScrollAfter || null"
-     tabindex="-1"
      (mousedown)="_handlePaginatorPress('after', $event)"
      (click)="_handlePaginatorClick('after')"
      (touchend)="_stopInterval()">
   <div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-chevron"></div>
-</button>
+</div>
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.html b/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.html
index 6f509253e3c1..d8f0fb02ca0a 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.html
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.html
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-<button class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-before"
+<!--
+ Note that this intentionally uses a `div` instead of a `button`, because it's not part of
+ the regular tabs flow and is only here to support mouse users. It should also not be focusable.
+-->
+<div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-before"
      #previousPaginator
-     aria-hidden="true"
-     type="button"
      mat-ripple
-     tabindex="-1"
      [matRippleDisabled]="_disableScrollBefore || disableRipple"
      [class.mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-disabled]="_disableScrollBefore"
-     [disabled]="_disableScrollBefore || null"
      (click)="_handlePaginatorClick('before')"
      (mousedown)="_handlePaginatorPress('before', $event)"
      (touchend)="_stopInterval()">
   <div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-chevron"></div>
-</button>
+</div>
 
 <div class="mat-mdc-tab-link-container" #tabListContainer (keydown)="_handleKeydown($event)">
   <div class="mat-mdc-tab-list" #tabList (cdkObserveContent)="_onContentChanges()">
@@ -21,17 +21,13 @@
   </div>
 </div>
 
-<button class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-after"
+<div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-after"
      #nextPaginator
-     aria-hidden="true"
-     type="button"
      mat-ripple
      [matRippleDisabled]="_disableScrollAfter || disableRipple"
      [class.mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-disabled]="_disableScrollAfter"
-     [disabled]="_disableScrollAfter || null"
-     tabindex="-1"
      (mousedown)="_handlePaginatorPress('after', $event)"
      (click)="_handlePaginatorClick('after')"
      (touchend)="_stopInterval()">
   <div class="mat-mdc-tab-header-pagination-chevron"></div>
-</button>
+</div>