Superb Dog EditorMost pet parents know that exercise, proper nutrition, and plenty of affection are crucial components of a happy life, regardless of the animal. But dental health shouldn’t be overlooked, especially when it comes to dogs. But do you need to brush your dog’s teeth to keep them clean?
To clean your dog’s teeth without brushing, use teeth-friendly snacks, toys, bones, and water additives. There are dozens of products to choose from, and their effectiveness varies. It’s also essential to schedule regular appointments with your pup’s veterinarian to ensure proper dental health.
Dogs might require plenty of dental care, but they’re not likely to sit calmly for brushing and flossing each night. While it is crucial to care for your pup’s pearly whites, you can encourage better tooth and gum health by using smart dental snacks, toys, bones, and drinks. Let’s find out how pet owners can use these products to their dogs’ advantage.
Do Dogs Require Dental Care?
Let’s face it — dogs can get into some truly nasty things. Man’s best friend has been known to wolf down bowls of kibble, but they’re also no stranger to poop, entrails, rotten eggs, and just about anything else they can fit down their throat!
You may have heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth, but both contain roughly the same amount of bacteria. And when you consider the kinds of things your dog might be putting into its mouth throughout the day, it should become pretty clear that dogs require the occasional dental cleaning.
Avoiding excess plaque and gum disease requires consistent effort. But it could mean the difference of several years when it comes to your dog’s lifespan. Poor dental health is associated with several conditions, including heart disease.
Potential Consequences of Poor Dental Health
In life, everything you do and don’t do comes down to a decision. Should you decide to neglect your dog’s dental health by avoiding regular tooth cleaning appointments and failing to utilize helpful dental products, your dog could suffer serious consequences.
Some of the most common ailments and symptoms associated with lackluster dental health include:
- Bleeding, swollen gums
- Foul breath
- Slow or painful chewing
- Excessive drooling
- Consistent sneezing or coughing
- Rotten teeth
- Heart disease
- Immune-related illnesses
When a tooth becomes infected, the infection can spread from the jaw to the rest of the body. Your pup could become very ill as a result of this infection. Sadly, most dogs hide signs of pain unless the pain is so intense that they cannot conceal it.
In the wild, a sick or injured pack member is likely to be left behind for dead, and many dogs still exhibit this kind of mentality. As such, pet parents could be completely unaware that their dog is suffering, especially if they’re not familiar with the above symptoms or scheduling regular dental checkups.
Benefits of Excellent Canine Dental Health
Fortunately, modern veterinary science has come a long way. Most dogs can receive beneficial dental treatments to improve their quality of life, no matter the extent of the tooth and gum damage. Of course, quick action can make a significant difference.
The sooner a dog can receive proper dental care and treatment, the sooner it’ll recover. Equally, painful diseases that develop over time may not have the chance to take hold if a dog is eating healthy dental snacks, chewing on gum-stimulating toys, and drinking plaque-fighting beverages.
If you’re determined to maintain the best possible health for your pup, you’ll want to invest in regular cleanings and teeth-friendly products. Exceptional dental care could also help make your pup’s drool-forward kisses a little less stinky and a little more lovable.
Let’s review some of the most notable benefits of proper canine dental health. For example, dogs with clean teeth and gums tend to:
- Enjoy longer and healthier lives
- Avoid painful tooth decay and loss
- Have a lowered risk for heart disease
- Resist falling ill very often
- Produce better-smelling breath than other dogs
As you can see, providing doggie dental care is crucial. Without it, you could suffer through years of awful-smelling morning kisses. More importantly, your dog could fall victim to the many painful problems associated with rotting teeth, excess plaque, and gingivitis.
But brushing your dog’s teeth can be a challenging activity, even with the most well-behaved pups. Many pet parents might be wondering, “Do I need to brush my dog’s teeth to keep them clean? Or is there another way?” Let’s answer those questions.
Do I Need to Brush My Dog’s Teeth?
While some owners may decide to perform regular at-home brushings, it is possible to keep your dog’s teeth clean without going through this process. Brushing your dog’s teeth is certainly an option and is actually not too difficult once your dog gets used to it. But for many dogs, that can take a long time, if ever.
Regular professional cleanings at your local veterinarian’s office are a must, but pet owners can also include tooth-friendly water additives, snacks, bones, and toys into their dog’s routine.
There are dozens of potential alternatives to daily brushing. (Keep in mind that you’ll want to reserve these alternatives for the pups and not yourself!). After all, when it comes to human teeth, twice-a-day brushing and flossing is still crucial to proper gum and dental health. Luckily, for your pup, the right toy or snack could do the trick.
Alternative Ways To Clean Your Dog’s Teeth Without Brushing
Sitting down with your ungainly St. Bernard or tiny Chihuahua and brushing their teeth can be a messy, stressful, and unproductive task. Rather than forcing yourself and your dog to go through this ordeal every week, why not incorporate some teeth-friendly alternatives?
Generally, non-brush-and-paste dental care for dogs falls into one of three categories. These categories are:
- Snacks
- Chew toys
- Bones
- Water additives
Let’s explore what types of products you might find within these categories and how they could help your dog’s teeth shine with radiant health! First, we’ll address some of the most wholesome and helpful dental snacks for dogs.
Snacks
Veterinarians and dental hygienists often recommend canine dental chews. While it might seem odd to suggest snacks for clean teeth, most dental snacks are uniquely designed to help scrape away tartar, kill bacteria, and remove plaque.
There are quite a few dental snacks to choose from. But we’ll take this opportunity to address a small handful of our most recommended tooth-friendly doggie treats. The gift of choice is a beautiful thing, but too many options can be overwhelming.
Let’s take a quick look at:
- Greenies Dental Treats
- Whimzees Natural Dog Treats
- SmartBones Mini Bones
Not all dental snacks are made equally, though many do provide at least minimal oral benefits. Still, if you’re serious about providing outstanding dental care and keeping your dog’s mouth clean and healthy, you’ll want to take the time to compare and contrast these tasty treats.
While one might work well for smaller dogs, others might be better for larger breeds. Additionally, some dental chews are grain-free and gluten-free, ensuring that dogs with allergies can enjoy these dental snacks. Naturally, if your pup doesn’t require a gluten-free treat, it might not be worthwhile to invest in those.
The Greenies brand consistently ranks highly among pet parents and veterinarians. These dental treats come in various flavors (Original, Blueberry, Fresh) and sizes (Large, Regular, Petite, Teenie).
Unlike other brittle dog chews, Greenies treats tend to bend. This allows them to scrub and massage your dog’s teeth and gums as they do their best to chow down. Overall, they’re an excellent option for pet parents looking for a straightforward, trustworthy dental dog chew.
However, some pet parents don’t care for this brand due to choking hazards associated with the treats. Choosing the right-sized option is crucial to avoid this issue, so owners should consult the Greenies sizing guide before purchasing.
It’s also wise to keep an eye on your dog while they’re eating their treat, though this might not be necessary after obtaining the correctly-sized snacks.
If you’re looking for a natural dental dog chew with minimal ingredients but lots of flavors, then Whimzees Natural Dog Treats could be a great buy. These alligator-shaped treats only contain between nine and ten ingredients (the larger sizes contain calcium carbonate, similar to baking soda).
These treats are hollow, and they’re designed to flex slightly for long-lasting chewing and pleasure. The nubs on the backs of these alligators aren’t just for show—They’re made for massaging. These natural, vegetarian dental chews could be an excellent treat for your dog.
Though rawhide treats have been a longtime favorite of dog owners, they’ve become less popular in recent years due to choking hazards and digestive concerns. Still, finding a tough and tooth-friendly treat with the same consistency as rawhide can be a challenge.
Fortunately, these tiny bones made by SmartBones taste like peanut butter, are as tough as rawhide and are made of natural meat and veggies. While some pet parents might feel concerned about their origin (not USA-produced), these treats are an outstanding, tooth-friendly alternative to traditional rawhide.
Toys
Mouthwatering dental chews aren’t the only route to a clean canine mouth. There are also tons of gum-friendly and hygienic toys that your dog might love. Some popular examples include:
- Hartz Chew ‘n Clean Dog Chew Toy
- Arm & Hammer Dental Toys
- PetSafe Bristle Bone
Let’s explore these toys in greater detail to determine if any of them might be right for your dog.
Hartz Chew ‘n Clean Dog Chew Toy
Dogs love bacon. It’s rare to find a pup that doesn’t go wild for the smell, taste, and experience of hearty, salty bacon. Hartz seems to understand this, and that’s why they’ve made their Chew ‘n Clean toy bacon flavored.
Thanks to an alluring, porky scent and bone shape, dogs are sure to gravitate toward this chew toy. The hard nubs can help break apart hardened bits of plaque while also providing a nice massage to your pup’s gumline.
Still, this toy does contain a yellow dye, which may contribute to tooth discoloration, especially over time. When you’re ready to clean your dog’s teeth and keep them white at the same time, it might be time to upgrade to a baking soda chew toy.
Arm & Hammer is known for its selection of baking-soda-based products. Baking soda can absorb odors and moisture, repel insects, and whiten surfaces. Unsurprisingly, baking soda is a common additive to toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other dental hygiene products.
As such, it makes sense that Arm & Hammer would branch out and try their hand at dental dog toys. After all, if baking soda can make a positive change in humans’ mouths, it might do the same for canines.
This Large Gorilla treat dispenser/chew toy has plenty of neat grooves and bumps to help dislodge old bits of food and keep the gums healthy. It’s also infused with baking soda to help fight stinky breath and keep your puppy’s teeth looking great.
In addition to this tough gorilla, there’s also the T–Bone Toy. This peanut-butter-flavored plaything is infused with baking soda to help neutralize bad breath. It’s shaped like the remainders of a t-bone steak to encourage interest. This toy is also covered in small nubs that can stimulate blood flow in the gums.
Thanks to some smart planning and design creation, either option could help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. However, the next option is uniquely suited to get rid of plaque, which is excellent news for pet owners.
Many dental dog chew toys are made of hardened rubber and plastic, but not much else. As such, the variety of surfaces that come into contact with your pet’s teeth are often limited. The most outstanding feature of the PetSafe Bristle Bone is that it breaks this trend.
It’s partially made of impact-resistant rubber and partly made of durable nylon bristles. There’s also room for circular treats to keep pups engaged and interested in this self-brushing toy. While most dog chew toys are great for the gums, it’s nearly impossible to find one that actively brushes your puppy’s teeth while they play.
This toy can be somewhat dangerous for larger breeds with stronger jaws, primarily because it breaks apart for additional treat loading. However, it’s a unique product that could help keep your four-legged friend’s teeth squeaky clean!
Water Additives
Snacks and toys aren’t the only ways to keep your dog’s teeth clean without brushing. Water additives are becoming increasingly more popular and more prevalent.
Some of the most notable hygienic water additives and oral care liquids include:
- Oxyfresh Dental Care Pet Water Additive
- Dental Fresh Advanced Plaque and Tartar Water Additive
- Arm & Hammer Advanced Care Dental Water Additive
Let’s start by looking at one of the top-rated dental water additives for dogs, Oxyfresh Dental Care Pet Water Additive.
Oxyfresh Dental Care Pet Water Additive
One of Oxyfresh Dental Care Pet Water Additive’s selling points is that it cleans your pet’s teeth without brushing. With a straightforward set of hard-working ingredients, this product means business and is non-toxic. Still, pet parents should pay close attention to dosages.
Do you have both cats and dogs in the house? This dental solution is safe for both! To use, simply add a capful for every liter of water.
Dental Fresh Advanced Plaque and Tartar Water Additive
The Dental Fresh brand is well known for its teeth-friendly pet water additives. There are currently three varieties of Dental Fresh Water Additive, including Advanced Plaque and Tartar. This particular product is designed to combat the most resilient mouth-borne bacteria to keep the mouth clean and fresh.
This formula has been approved for both dogs and cats. Owners should combine one teaspoon of additive to every eight ounces of water. Notably, the ingredients used in this product are slightly harsher than those found in the Oxyfresh Water Additive.
Additionally, some of the most minimal ingredients have some worrying effects. EDTA, for example, can cause mental and reproductive defects in animals. Pet parents looking for a natural pet water additive should look elsewhere.
Arm & Hammer Advanced Care Dental Water Additive
If you plan on using Arm & Hammer Advanced Care Dental Water Additive for dogs, you’ll need one capful per eight ounces of water, which is very similar to the Dental Fresh dosage. However, this product contains ingredients that are naturally derived. It’s EDTA-free.
This additive stands out because it’s capable of fighting plaque and tartar buildup while also whitening. Thanks to the gentle ingredients, it’s safe on digestive systems. Baking soda can help neutralize harsh stomach acids, so this solution might even help your pup enjoy less indigestion.
Bones
Hard Bones
Finally, good old-fashioned raw bones can work wonders for a dog’s dental health. Make sure you choose an uncooked raw bone as it is less likely to splinter in the dog’s mouth. Raw beef bones are a good choice. Regular chewing can help chip away at tartar and get beneath the gum line.
Bully Sticks
Bully sticks are chews made from beef tendons. They are a great alternative to rawhide chews, which have developed a bad reputation. Bully sticks digest easily but are still firm enough to provide enough chew resistance to help remove dental plaque and tarter.
Unlike hard bones, they soften a bit when they get wet, which many dogs prefer. Their tasty flavor is a favorite of pups everywhere.
Conclusion
Man’s best friend might be capable of quite a few fantastic feats, but self-care isn’t necessarily one of them. Your dog can’t brush its teeth or make dental appointments, so they require you to step in and help out. Without adequate dental care, your pup can suffer from painful tooth loss and gum disease.
Poor dental health can also contribute to much more severe conditions. Fortunately, there are many ways to clean a dog’s teeth without brushing. A combination of dental snacks, toys, bones, and drinks can help keep your dog’s teeth in top shape. Naturally, veterinary care is also a crucial component of proper canine dental health.
