Why is it important to clean your dog's teeth for dog's dental health?

Dog tartar

First of all, let's cover why it's important to keep your dog's teeth nice and clean.

Dogs do not get cavities but can develop problems like plaque & tartar buildup and gingivitis.

If your dog's teeth are left unclean for too long then it can result in more serious dental problems like gum disease.

Dental disease in dogs is common so it is best to be proactive instead of reactive in regards to keeping your dog's teeth clean.

What is dental disease?

Dog with dental disease

Dental disease is a condition that affects the dental area in your dog's mouth i.e. the gums & teeth.

Initially, it starts as a result of poor dental hygiene and plaque buildup. This plaque buildup contains bacteria that if left for long enough turns into tartar which can be hidden under the gums and on the teeth.

If this isn't cleaned properly then it can eventually result in inflammation and ultimately infection.

At this stage, a dog will need professional teeth cleaning and treatment as it can be very painful if not looked at by a professional.

Dental problems are much more common when you have a senior dog so if your dog is on the older side then you need to take even more care to ensure that your pet's teeth sees regular dental cleanings.

5 methods to clean your dogs teeth without brushing.

After extensive research, we have discovered the top 5 best ways to keep your dog's teeth clean without having to brush them.

This ranges from utilizing chew toys to giving them dental treats and even utilizing raw bones.

Dental Treats

dog bones, puppy, pet

You might have seen brands like Greenies or similar dental treat brands that have been specifically created to help keep dog teeth clean.

Every brand is different in how they have developed its product so it's best to look for a reputable one that has been developed alongside veterinarians or canine hygiene experts to get the best results.

Some reputable brands that meet these criteria are Greenies dental treats which is recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

Be careful when you are picking which brand to use as some dental chew toys use chemicals to help it be more effective.

This doesn't mean it's harmful for your dog but it's good to know what your are putting in your dogs body regardless.

How do they clean dog teeth?

Dental treats help keep dog's teeth clean by removing the plaque and tartar buildup using a process called mechanical abrasion.

When a dog chews a dental treat the unique texture allows the teeth to sink in which increases the amount of surface area contact with the tooth and the treat.

As a result of the contact, it causes a scrubbing-like effect on the tooth's surface similar to that of using a toothbrush.

How effective is this method?

Again, this depends on the brand but if we are looking at the Greenies example then recent independent studies (1) show that dogs eating one Greenies Dental Chew per day results in 60 percent less tarter buildup and 33 percent less plaque buildup up in 28 days compared to dogs eating dry dog food alone.

Considering this doesn't involve any brushing at all those results are a strong indicator of how effective this method is!

Bare in mind that this only works if your dog chews on both sides of their mouth reaching all the teeth.

Dental Water Additive

chihuahua, dog, chiwawa

Similar to dental treats dental water additives are specially formulated to help reduce plaque and tartar buildup on your dog's teeth.

All you need to do is add the recommended amount to your dog's water bowl and it will act the same way as mouthwash does except it's safe for your dog to swallow it!

TropiClean Fresh Breath Dental Health Solution for Dogs is accepted by the VOHC and NASC and most importantly does not contain Xylitol as some other brands do.

How do they clean dog teeth?

They use a custom formulation of ingredients that have shown they can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup in a dog's mouth.

When your dog drinks its normal water it covers its teeth in the formula which helps combat bad breath and promotes good oral hygiene.

How effective is this method?

Dental water additives are more commonly used as a way to reduce bad dog breath and are not as effective as treating plaque and tartar buildup on your dog's teeth.

Water additives won't reverse the dental disease that your dog already has but they can help to slow the growth of bacteria.

Another thing to note is that they change the taste of your dogs water which means your dog might drink less than normal which is bad for your dogs health.

Dental Chew Toys

dog, nelly, toy

One of the easiest ways to promote better dog dental health is to get some chew toys specifically designed to help clean dog's teeth.

There are a range of brands to choose from and each one is specifically designed to be filled with treats or food so that your dog will love chewing on it for hours (or as long as the food lasts!)

You want to get one that is textured or ribbed and is advertised as being good for dogs teeth. The smooth chews won't be able to scrub the surface as well and are not as effective at teeth cleaning.

How do they clean dog teeth?

Chew toys work in a similar way to dental treats in that they are specifically designed to scrub away the plaque and tartar that is built up on the dog's teeth.

In order to encourage this behavior in your dog you will need to cover them in something tasty like peanut butter or some cheese otherwise they might just ignore it.

How effective is this method?

This method works well for dental health but is slightly less effective than the dental treats as the plastic is usually a lot harder so doesn't get into the deeper gum areas as well as the dog treats do.

Again, the same problem arises if your dog only chews on one side of its mouth meaning you need to use this alongside some other methods to get all areas properly cleaned.

However, they are long-lasting so as long as your chew toys are covered in something tasty then you could potentially get your dog chewing on them for hours helping to clean your dog's teeth.

One thing to note is as there is no special formulation involved and the toys are usually made of plastic they probably won't help your dog's bad breath as much as the water additive.

Dental Care Dog Food Diet

dog food, dog bowl, dog kibble

A dental care dog food diet can be both prescribed by your vet or bought off the shelf. They are specifically designed to clean dogs teeth without brushing and as an accompaniment to the other methods listed above.

Speak to your vet to see which one will work best as this can differ based on your dog's age and dental health.

How do they clean dog teeth?

In general, they have a unique kibble texture that helps remove plaque and tartar as your dog chews.

How effective is this method?

They can be quite effective compared to the chew toys and treats mentioned above as usually, a dog will eat food in a different manner than how they chew.

Meaning that when they eat they use both sides of their mouth as opposed to only using one side to chew.

This means that as a result, it should be easier to clean your dog's teeth as there won't be any that are missed out.

A dental dog food diet won't necessarily help bad breath as much as the other solutions listed either so if this is a problem then consider using the water additive.

All Natural Hard Chews

dog, bone, ostrich

Raw bones and all-natural chews like Yak Chews and Antlers are a great natural alternative that is effective at improving dogs' dental health.

Not only are they good for your dogs teeth but they have a range of other health benefits from using them.

Chewing helps dogs relieve stress and antlers or yaks are far less likely to splinter than a raw bone alongside being 100% natural and full of important nutrients like calcium.

Raw bones and all-natural chews like Yak Chews and Antlers are a great natural alternative that is effective at improving dog's dental health.

Not only are they good for teeth but they have a range of other health benefits from using them.

Chewing helps dogs relieve stress and antlers or yaks are far less likely to splinter than a raw bone alongside being 100% natural and full of important nutrients like calcium.

How do they clean dog teeth?

They scrape your dog's teeth as they chew which acts the same as a toothbrush.

How effective is this method?

As they are long-lasting they are more effective than shorter-lasting treats however, sometimes your dog can get bored with chewing them for prolonged periods of time.

If this happens you can cover your yaks' milk stick or antler ears with some peanut butter to increase the flavor or soak it in a natural bone broth.

Another tip if using antler ears is to use split antlers as it's easier for your dog to reach the tasty bone marrow keeping them entertained for longer.

How to clean dog teeth without brushing - Conclusion

In this article, we have covered why it is so important to keep your dog's dental health at a high level, especially as they get older.

Instead of only relying on brushing we have discussed some alternative teeth cleaning methods that should help reduce plaque buildup and hopefully keeps smelly dog breath in check!

Most of the products listed are available from pet stores and are easy to purchase. Just ask someone working there and they will guide you in the right direction.

Although these methods can help clean your dog's teeth it is recommended by most vets to get professional dental cleaning at least once per year.

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