Dog Dental Care

Dog dental care splits into two jobs that do not substitute for each other. Mechanical cleaning — brushing, or chewing something abrasive enough to scrape the tooth surface — physically removes plaque. Chemical control — an enzymatic paste, a plaque-binding powder, a coating — slows what the bacteria in the mouth can do. Most households end up running one of each.

Brushing, and what to use when brushing is not going to happen

Brushing every day or two is the single most effective thing you can do, which is why the Nylabone and All for Paws kits pair a paste with a brush or a finger brush. The enzymatic paste is the working part, not the flavour. Human toothpaste is not an alternative — fluoride and xylitol are not safe for a dog to swallow. If your dog will not tolerate a brush at all, the same paste smeared onto a chew or a gauze-wrapped finger still gets the enzyme into the mouth, which beats doing nothing.

Chews, and how to read the claims on the pack

Dental chews do the mechanical work while the dog is occupied, which is why they are the habit most people actually keep. The Veterinary Oral Health Council seal is the only claim on a pack that has been tested against a published standard — Whimzees Toothbrush and Brushzees shapes carry it, and OraVet chews carry it for plaque as well as for breath. Everything else printed on a pack is the manufacturer's own claim. Size matters more than shape: a chew the dog can swallow whole cleans nothing, so buy to the weight range on the box rather than to what looks manageable.

What none of it does

Nothing here removes tartar once plaque has hardened onto the tooth — that is a scale and polish under anaesthetic at your vet. The point of a home routine is to push that appointment further away, and it works best started before there is anything visible to worry about.

• Dog dental chews and dental sticks
• Dental care for dogs and cats
• Cat dental treats
• All dog treats
• Dog grooming supplies