Everything to Know on the 14 Best Dental Chews for Dogs

Any good dog owner knows that dog health is important, from the tip of their tail to their adorable snoot and everything in between. This especially applies to their teeth. And keeping their pearly whites, well, pearly, isn’t always an easy task, but is important.

Fighting tartar and plaque is crucial to keeping your pup’s mouth clean and healthy and, by extension, their whole health. Often, you will hear about the benefit of dog dental chews to keep oral care in check. But why do they help? And what do you need to know about them before you try them out for your own pup? Plus, what can they really do, and what’s just hype?

Have no fear–we’re here to help you become the chewsy kind of pet owner your sweet furball deserves by learning all about dental chews for dogs. And if you’re looking for some recommendations, stick around for our top 14 picks for the best dental chews for dogs.

What Are Dental Chews for Dogs?

When you’re looking into ways to get a handle on your pup’s oral hygiene (aka, you’re getting just a little grossed out by stinky dog breath), you may have stumbled across a product called dog dental chews.

Dog dental chews are specially crafted treats that promote oral health and satisfy your pup's natural urge to chew.

They're not only delicious but also serve as a tool for dental care, helping to:

• Reduce tartar buildup
• Mechanically scrape plaque off the teeth
• Freshen breath

For puppies and senior dogs, softer options are available, while larger breeds or dogs with a more vigorous chewing habit may benefit from sturdier, long-lasting chews. Regardless of which one you choose, you’re giving your dog a tasty treat and contributing to their overall dental hygiene and well-being.

Looking to take a bite out of your pup’s dental care? Check out our dog dental care guide for top tips and advice on building a healthy dental care routine.

Dental chews for dogs can play an important role in your dog’s overall oral hygiene. Like humans, dogs can suffer from dental issues such as plaque buildup, tartar accumulation, and gum disease. Dog dental chews provide a convenient and enjoyable way to address these concerns by promoting chewing, which helps to remove plaque and tartar from teeth mechanically. Additionally, many dental chews are formulated with ingredients supporting dental hygiene, such as enzymes to break down plaque or abrasives to help scrub teeth.

So, what does it all boil down to? By incorporating the best dental chews for dogs into your furball’s routine, you're not only preventing potential dental problems but also promoting fresh breath and a happy, healthy smile for your furry friend.

What to Consider When Looking for the Best Dog Dental Chews

You love your pooch, and that means only the best dog dental chews will do.

So when shopping for dog dental chews, what should make the list of the top ingredients and features?

When choosing dog dental chews (say that ten times fast!), quality should be first and foremost. Opting for high-quality chews ensures that your furry companion receives the maximum dental benefits while minimizing potential risks. Look for reputable brands that are committed to quality ingredients and adhere to good manufacturing practices. Quality dental chews are formulated with ingredients specifically chosen for their dental health benefits. These include enzymes to break down plaque and tartar or abrasive textures to help scrub teeth clean.

Aside from quality, there are many other considerations to consider when looking for the best dog dental chews. Consult the table below for more key considerations about dog dental chews.

Remember—investing in premium dental chews may come with a slightly higher price tag, but the long-term benefits for your dog's oral health and overall well-being make it worthwhile. Always remember that quality should never be compromised when it comes to your dog's dental care.

The 14 Best Dental Chews for Dogs

Picture this: You’re scrolling through your local pet store’s website to find the best dog dental chews for your sweet pup. You see dozens of options with flavours and textures of every kind. Sound overwhelming? We get it.

That’s why we’re here with the 14 best dental chews for dogs. Whether your pups need a sensitive stomach formulation or have one in their golden years still looking to chew, there’s something here for them. By considering price, ingredients, and ratings from pet pawrents, we have compiled a list of the best dog dental chews on the market today—so keep reading to find out more!

Best Natural Dental Chews For Dogs

Is your dog an eu naturale kinda pup? Maybe they are on a raw food diet for dogs or another specialty dog diet and demand a certain kind of dog chew—a natural one.

Natural features and ingredients to look for in dog dental chews include:

• Single-ingredient options such as elk antlers
• Natural proteins
• Free from artificial additives
• Grain-free

With that in mind, let’s look at our picks for the best natural dog dental chews.

Crumps’ Naturals Plaque Busters Advanced Double Fresh Dental Sticks

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Why We Love It: Tasty sweet potatoes combined with finely crushed oyster shells help eliminate the accumulation of plaque and tartar that may adhere to dogs' teeth.

Natural Dog Company Dental Treats

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Why We Love It: These dental treats' natural ingredients make for effective plaque removal, promoting healthier gums and fresher breath for your furry friend without the fillers and additives.

Best Dental Chews For Large Dogs

Big dogs need big dental chews! Between their larger mouth, larger teeth, and stronger biting power, large and giant breeds need the right dental chews to get their teeth clean and their brain stimulated.

Generally, large breed dogs need dog dental chews to be:

• Durable
• Non-splintering (like some bones can be)
• Ridged or bumpy texture for optimal plaque removal

With that background in mind, let’s check out our picks for the best dental chews for large dogs.

Whimzees Stix Dog Chew Large

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Why We Love It: The durable texture and effective teeth-cleaning action provide long-lasting entertainment and oral health benefits for large dogs.

Big Country Raw Beef Marrow Bone

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Why We Love It: These bones are a natural source of essential nutrients and entertainment value, offering a satisfying chewing experience while promoting dental health for your dog.

Best Dental Chews For Small Dogs

Small dogs still have to chew, too! In fact, the littlest of breeds are notorious for their periodontal disease. This is mostly because getting all 42 teeth in such a small mouth is challenging, and crowded spaces make for plaque factories in these little guys’ mouths. Adding an appropriately sized and textured dog dental chew is a key part of any toy or small-breed dog.

Greenies Original Dental Chews Teenie

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Why We Love It: These dental chews have a truly “teenie” size and proven effectiveness in reducing plaque and tartar buildup while freshening breath, perfect for small dogs and mini breeds.

Purina DentaLife Mini Breed Dental Treats

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Why We Love It: Offer a unique porous texture and eight ridges scientifically proven to clean hard-to-reach teeth, ensuring optimal oral health for mini breed dogs.

Best Dental Chews For Senior Dogs

Our old dog companions truly deserve to live their best lives in their golden years. And that means dog dental chews are made especially for seniors. These pups need dental chews that match their needs, which typically means chews that are softer and contain enzymes that break down plaque and tartar.

Here are our picks for the best dog dental chews for senior pups.

NPIC Get Naked Grain-Free Senior Health Dental Chew Dog Treats

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Why We Love It: A grain-free formula and specialized ingredients tailored to promote dental health in aging dogs with a calcium boost, ensuring they enjoy tasty treats and improved oral hygiene.

Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste Dog Dental Chews

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Why We Love It: With an innovative brushless design and natural ingredients like honey, cinnamon, and vanilla for fresh breath, this 4-in-1 chew is enjoyable for dogs while effectively reducing plaque and tartar buildup.

Best Dental Chews For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

If dog gut health is on your mind – or should we say stomach, then choosing dental chews for dogs with sensitive stomachs is likely what you’re searching for. Ingredients that don’t upset your pup’s careful tummy balance are important and can make or break your dog’s ability to enjoy their chew.

Consult the table below for a quick sensitive stomach ingredient 101.

With these ingredients in mind, let’s look at our picks for the best dog dental chews for sensitive stomachs.

Get Naked Digestive Health Small Dog Treats

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Why We Love It: Great gut health benefits, containing natural ingredients like pumpkin and ginger that aid digestion while still being delicious for your small dog.

ProDen PlaqueOff System Mini Dental Care Bones Vegetable Fusion

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Why We Love It: Featuring a vegetable fusion formula and the inclusion of ProDen PlaqueOff, which helps promote oral hygiene and reduce plaque buildup in a tasty and natural way for your dog.

Best Dental Chews For Diabetic Dogs

For diabetic dogs, dental chews serve the dual purpose of promoting oral hygiene and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Look for dental chews with low glycemic index ingredients like sweet potato or green beans to satisfy their chewing instincts without causing spikes in blood sugar.

Just a quick disclaimer, though—doggie diabetes is unique and dependent on an individual dog’s age, history, and condition. Always consult your veterinarian before starting new wellness routines.

Greenies Grain-Free Regular Dental Dog Treats

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Why We Love It: A great grain-free formula and effective teeth-cleaning action, providing essential oral care while catering to dogs with grain sensitivities, ensuring optimal dental health in a delicious, digestible form.

Blue Ridge Naturals Chicken Tenders for Dogs

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Why We Love It: A high-quality, single-ingredient composition, offering a tasty and nutritious treat option that dogs adore, making them ideal for training or simply rewarding your furry companion.

Best Dental Chews For Dogs—Vet-Recommended

When it comes to your dog's dental health, there's no substitute for professional guidance. Vet-recommended dog dental chews, such as those endorsed by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council), are carefully curated to meet your pet's oral care needs and the standards of veterinary professionals. It’s a great way to find the best dog dental chews.

Remember, though: The best recommendation you can receive is one from your veterinarian, who knows your dog’s needs best. So, take these picks as a jumping-off point for your pup's oral hygiene quest.

Purina DentaLife Daily Oral Care Dog Treats

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Why We Love It: Meets the Veterinary Oral Health Council's standards for effectively reducing plaque and tartar buildup, ensuring better oral health for your dog. Also come in a variety of sizes to benefit breeds from a teacup-size through to large breeds.

Milk-Bone Brushing Chews Medium Dog Dental Treats

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Why We Love It: Also VOHC-approved, it's been evaluated and proven effective at reducing plaque and tartar buildup, promoting healthier teeth and gums for your medium-sized dog.

6 Common Myths About Dog Dental Chews

While we love the selection and addition of dog dental chews to your pup’s wellness routine, we want to clear the air on a few common myths about these products.

You may have heard the following myths about dog dental chews if you’ve been a pet pawrent for a while:

1. You can skip brushing your dog’s teeth entirely by using dog dental chews.
2. You don’t need to visit the pros for a proper cleaning using dog dental chews.
3. Dog treats for bad breath have the same effect as dental chews.
4. All dog chews do the same thing, so it doesn’t matter which kind you buy.
5. You don’t need dog dental chews at all—toys can do the trick.
6. Dog dental chews are for all dogs, life stages, and breeds.

Even if you haven’t heard all of these common misconceptions, it’s important to put the “A” in the “Q&A” for us all as pet parents so we can best understand how to cater to our pets’ health. So, without further ado, let’s debunk some dog dental chew misinformation!

You Can Skip Brushing

Dental chews don’t replace toothbrushing—sorry, folks! We know brushing your pup’s teeth can feel like nothing short of wrestling an alligator into a tutu. While dog dental chews benefit your furry friend's oral health, they should complement, not replace, regular brushing. Just how regular, FYI, is at least three times per week—at minimum. While chews can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, they may not reach all areas of your dog's mouth, especially between teeth and the gumline.

The Facts: Incorporating brushing and dental chews into your dog's routine ensures comprehensive oral care, promoting fresh breath and healthy gums.

No More Doggie Dentist Trips

Sorry dental-phobes, a chew just isn’t going to cut it for your dog’s toothcare. Just like we need to go to the dentist every once in a while for professional care, dogs need to visit the vet every once in a while for the same cleaning. While dental chews can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, they cannot replace professional dental cleanings performed by a veterinarian.

The Facts: Combining routine dental care at home with regular vet visits can help keep your dog's smile bright and their gums healthy.

Treats Aren’t the Same as Chews

We all love to give our furry friends a tasty treat. And if it gives them some fresher breath in the process, so be it (sorry, sweet stinky furballs!). But the difference between regular dog treats and dental chews when addressing bad breath in your dog is about the mechanical action that happens when your dog is chomping away on a dental chew. These chews are formulated to promote oral hygiene, with textured surfaces that help scrub away plaque and tartar while freshening breath.

Treats, generally speaking, are all about a tasty reward that is typically smaller and softer in nature. They can contain ingredients that freshen dog breath, like parsley or mint, that can help solve stinky breath problems temporarily but won’t address the root cause of the smell.

The Facts: Dog treats for bad breath don’t have the same effect as dental chews. Dog dental chews are superior in the oral hygiene department.

All Dog Chews are Created Equal

With dog dental chews, like anything else we buy for our precious pups, not all products are created equal. When selecting the best dental chews for your furry friend, it's essential to consider ingredients, benefits, and sources.

Look for chews made from natural ingredients, free from artificial additives, with textures designed to clean teeth and gums effectively. Functional ingredients, aka those that do a specific job, are often added to dental chews to help achieve even more oral hygiene benefits.

Here are some key functional ingredients in dog dental chews to look out for on dog dental chew packaging.

The Facts: Some dog dental chews, such as those with functional ingredients, are superior to others.

Toys Can Do the Trick Alone

Bones, chew toys, kibble, and tennis balls are not enough to clean a dog's teeth alone. While toys can provide mental stimulation and entertainment for your dog and can be designed to remove some plaque, they're not a substitute for brushing, just like dog dental chews. Dental chews are designed to help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, and toys can have the same textured surfaces necessary for effective cleaning. Just remember these are complementary to each other and to regular tooth brushing!

The Facts: Incorporating dental chews into your dog's oral care routine (in addition to regular brushing) helps ensure they are able to maintain healthy teeth and gums for years to come.

Dental Chews Are Suitable For All Dogs

Not everything is for everyone or every pup at all times. And the same goes for dental chews for dogs. Even the best dental chews for dogs or senior dogs may still be too hard for your dog to enjoy or would be a danger to their sweet little selves for one reason or another. Some dogs may have dietary restrictions or sensitivities that require specific foods. Very young and old dogs may not have the kind of tooth strength to handle dental chews at their stage.

The Facts: Consulting with your veterinarian can help you determine the best dental chews for your furry friend, ensuring they receive optimal oral care tailored to their unique requirements.

Chews-ing the Right Option

We know that you want the best for your dog. We all do when it comes to our pups! And the love and care we need to deliver our pups mean that you pay close attention to their dental needs. Part of a good dental routine, alongside brushing and vet care, is using dog dental chews. These handy (and tasty!) treats are more like a tool to help keep plaque at bay and reduce stinky breath.

Another essential pet wellness routine to consider? One that benefits your dog’s joints. With the help of TRI-ACTA for Pets and TRI-ACTA for Pets H.A., pet owners can take proactive steps to support their furry companions' joint health and overall quality of life with a boost of chondroitin, MSM, and glucosamine for dogs. Whether your furry friend is a sprightly young pup or a seasoned senior, these pet supplements are tailored to meet their unique needs. By incorporating these supplements into their daily routine, pet owners can provide their four-legged friends with the support they need to stay active, agile, and pain-free for years to come.

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