Taking care of your dog’s teeth is an important part of its overall hygiene health. While brushing your pup’s teeth daily is a proactive approach to maintaining your pooch’s oral hygiene, you can also give your dog dental chews, which are made to get rid of plaque and tartar. I give them to my dogs daily. If you ignore your pup’s oral health, it can lead to mouth pain, bad breath, and gum disease, all of which can cause them to lose teeth.
Chewing is a natural reflex that aids in the removal of plaque and tartar. As such, you can find dental chews that last long enough to stimulate chewing without being so hard that the dog risks breaking a tooth. I’ve rated and reviewed some of the top-rated dental chews for dogs of 2025 to help you choose the most suitable one for your pup’s chewing habits.
The Pet Health Pros Dental Chews for Dogs provide an effective and delicious way to keep your dog’s teeth and oral hygiene healthy. Unlike traditional toothbrushes which are difficult to use, these chews are designed to encourage your dog’s natural chewing instincts while eliminating bad breath and removing plaque and tartar buildup. The proprietary blend of enzymes in the chew is designed to freshen breath, while the rawhide ingredients provide a tasty way to keep teeth clean and healthy. These dental chews are formulated for large breed dogs specifically. They also work best when used in conjunction with Pet Health Pros Dental Wipes and Dental Rinse for optimal dental and oral health. I like that these dental chews contain no artificial flavors or colors, making them a safe and natural choice for your beloved canine companion. I chose this as overall because of its use of rawhide ingredients while also avoiding artificial flavors.
The Zesty Paws Dental Chews for Small Dogs are an exciting and unique way to ensure your pet’s oral health. Not only do they provide periodontal health and fresh breath, but they also aid in the control of tartar and plaque. Crafted with your canine’s health in mind, these bones contain several beneficial ingredients. The ridged texture cleans your dog’s teeth while the cinnamon flavor adds extra appeal. Specially formulated for dental health, these dental bones include EpiCor Pets for digestive and immune system support plus omega-3 (EPA and DHA). Calcium likewise helps promote healthy bones, hips, and joints. Plus, the fatty acids in each bone — omega-6 and omega-3 — help promote healthy skin and coats for your pet. I love how these chews not only support tooth and gum healthy but also provide many other health benefits. Designed specifically for small dogs from 12 to 25 pounds, these long-lasting bones are a fun way to ensure your furry friend stays healthy and happy.
Made for dogs weighing between 15 to 25 pounds, the Greenies Dental Chews for Dogs are a great choice if you plan to prioritize your pup’s oral health from an early age. These chews are made using all-natural ingredients and are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other healthy ingredients.
These treats won’t break after a few bites; instead, they bend and retain their texture to clean down the gumline and break tartar and plaque buildup. Another great thing about these dental chews is that they double as a breath freshener to fight against bad breath. My dogs love them too! They get just as if not more excited for these as any other treat.
Pedigree’s Dental Chews for Dogs have a triple-action formula that is thoughtfully formulated to clean any bacterial buildup and harmful germs to maintain your dog’s dental hygiene. The clinically proven formula helps with eliminating tartar and plaque buildup, giving your pooch pearly white teeth.
The unique X-shape design of these dog treats is easy to chew on and cleanses your dog’s teeth thoroughly. These chews are made for adult dogs of large breeds and come in a range of flavors, so you can choose the one that satisfies your canine’s taste buds. My dogs also love the small version of these. Plus, the chewy texture of these treats scrapes away tartar and gets to those hard-to-reach areas.
The Milk-Bone Dental Chews for Dogs is another effective option if you’re looking for something that can double up as training treats. These are available in three different sizes — large, medium, and small — so you can choose according to your pooch’s age and weight. I also apprecitat that these dental chews are also VOHC-approved so we know that they prevent tartar and plaque buildup.
These dental chews have an irresistible taste that your four-legged companion is sure to love and munch on. In addition, they’re made with pet-friendly ingredients and don’t contain any artificial flavors. Best of all, these chews are fortified with 12 essential vitamins to protect your pooch’s gumline.
If your dog doesn’t like potatoes or has a gluten allergy, the Merrick Dental Chews for Dogs are for you. These chews are available in three different flavors and help to decrease plaque and tartar buildup while maintaining cleaner teeth and healthy gums. By adding these chews to your pup’s regular oral care routine, you can snuggle up with your pup without having to worry about bad breath.
Even better, the innovative double-brush design of these dental chews is deeply cleaning, removing tartar as your pup bites on these chews. These treats are made using natural ingredients and are both grain and potato free, making them an amazing choice for canines who are on a more limited diet. These would be a perfect choice for my dog with a sensitive stomach.
Are you looking for a ridged chew stick with a porous texture to clean your pup’s teeth and maintain oral hygiene? The Purina DentaLife Dental Chews for Dogs are the right choice. They’re available in a delicious chicken flavor and made using corn and wheat, offering a boost of vitamins and minerals to your pooch. These chews are proven to eliminate stubborn tartar buildup by 57% as they have a natural cleaning action to get to the hard-to-reach areas.
The innovative design of these treats has a chewy, porous texture that brings superior scrubbing action to freshen up your pup’s breath by getting rid of harmful, odor-causing bacteria. And, since these chews are made in USA facilities and are VOHC-accepted, you can rest assured about the quality of the ingredients.
Dental chews come in a range of flavors, textures, and sizes, and not every chew is perfect for every dog. As a result, you can easily get overwhelmed by the options available. That’s why I’ve curated this detailed buying guide to help you pick the best dental chews for your dog.
Dental chews for dogs are available in two main types, edible and non-edible. Your pup can munch on edible chews, gulp them, and digest them to get all the benefits of healthy ingredients. Non-edible chews, on the other hand, are just meant to be chewed on just like other chew toys. While edible chews are better and more effective than their non-edible alternatives, they can add up to your pooch’s calorie intake if you give them in large amounts. Non-edible options, however, need proper cleaning after every use and you need to store these chew toys safely to keep harmful germs and bacteria at bay. The downside of non-edible chews is that your pup can accidentally swallow bits of these chew toys, which can be harmful to your pooch’s overall health. That being said, you can also find some premium-quality non-edible dental chews for dogs that won’t break off and will last longer. Personally, I prefer edible choose since they work better. I just adjust my dogs’ diets to accommodate the added calories.
You should choose dental chews for your dog based on its age and breed. For example, if you have a small breed dog, you should give it small-sized treats instead of those made for large breeds, which can be hard for smaller dogs to chew on and swallow. You can also reduce choking risks if you choose the right size dental chew for your dog. Since all my dogs are smaller, for example, I give them dental chews specifically for smaller dogs. Besides this, you also need to think about how long your dog’s chew will last. Dogs with stronger teeth need harder, more abrasive chews, so you might want to choose ones that are bigger and tougher. But the same chews can be harder for smaller breeds to chew, so you should choose softer chews for smaller and younger dogs.
There are many cheap and low-quality alternatives present on the market that can save you a few bucks but at the cost of your pup’s health. Some ingredients in dental chews can be potentially toxic, especially if your pooch is allergic to them. That’s why you must check the ingredients list closely before deciding on a product. It’s better to check if the product you’re considering purchasing is VOHC approved and is made in approved settings.
You should choose options that are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council to be safe to use for dogs. Most dental chews for dogs are made with healthy, low-calorie ingredients to protect your pup’s health. VOHC-approved dog chews are backed by research and expert vets vouch for their benefits, so you can be sure that the ingredients have been well-researched and won’t cause sickness or allergic reactions. The VOHC will give its approval to any treat that reduces plaque by at least 10%. However, there are some chews that can remove up to 70% of plaque.
As long as the dental chews you buy are made from safe ingredients and have been approved by the VOHC, you can be sure that they are safe to eat for your pooch. You should also make sure that the treats aren't too hard for your dog to chew.
Giving your dog dental treats has many benefits, such as getting rid of plaque and tartar on the dog's teeth, getting rid of bad breath, and keeping the gums healthy. Overall, these are great ways to improve your dog's oral health and can cut down on the number of visits for professional dental cleaning.
Since most dental chews have higher calories, they aren't always the ideal choice for dogs that are overweight. You might want to use a toothbrush and toothpaste that are safe for dogs instead to maintain your dog’s oral hygiene. If you decide to give dental chews to an overweight dog, you might need to control the calorie intake to keep their weight under control.
Tartar and plaque are reduced by 15 to 20% when a dog chews a dental treat. When you brush your pup's teeth twice or three times a week with an approved toothbrush and toothpaste, tartar and plaque can be reduced by up to 25 to 30%.
Even though most dental chews should only be given once a day, some treats have low calories and you can give them even twice a day. As a result, it’s better to check the product’s packaging to see if it gives you information about the frequency of use or dosage.
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