Dental chews, sticks and dental diets:what actually works

Types of dental chews, sticks and diets

All “dental” products for dogs and cats work mechanically or chemically, and some combine both:

• Dental chews and sticks. As your pet gnaws, the tooth sinks into the chew and its surface mechanically scrapes plaque off the crown. Some contain ingredients that bind calcium in saliva, so soft plaque hardens into tartar more slowly.
• Dental diets. The kibble is larger and has a fibrous structure: the tooth goes into the kibble before it breaks, instead of shattering it with the first bite. Some diets are also coated with ingredients that slow tartar formation.
• Water additives and rinses. These work only chemically; ingredients vary, from calcium-binding agents to antiseptics. They provide no mechanical cleaning.
• Chew toys. Their effect on plaque depends on the specific product. The main benefit of a sufficiently soft rubber toy is a safer way to chew than a bone or an antler.

The word “dental” on the pack is a name, not proof that a product works. How to tell a product with a confirmed effect is explained below, in the section on VOHC.

What dental chews and diets can really do

The honest answer to “do dental chews work?” is yes, but only as prevention. A product with a confirmed effect can:

• slow the build-up of plaque and/or tartar on the tooth crowns;
• slightly reduce bad breath if it comes from plaque rather than disease;
• help maintain the result of a professional oral treatment for longer;
• support home care in pets that do not yet accept regular brushing.

Important conditions apply: the effect builds up only with daily use and fades as soon as you stop. Chews also clean best the teeth your pet chews with — mainly the large teeth at the back of the mouth. The canines and incisors have less contact with the chew, so they benefit less.

What they cannot do: tartar, gingivitis, periodontitis, pain

This is where expectations are most often too high. No chew, diet or water additive:

• removes existing tartar — it is mineralised and firmly attached to the tooth, so it can only be removed professionally. What tartar looks like and why it matters is covered on the page on tartar in dogs and cats;
• cleans below the gum line — that is where periodontitis develops, in the gingival sulcus and periodontal pockets;
• treats gingivitis — gum inflammation settles once plaque and tartar are removed from every surface, including below the gum line; see the article on gingivitis in dogs and cats;
• treats periodontitis — chews will not rebuild the bone lost around the root or tighten a loose tooth;
• helps a broken, discoloured or painful tooth — or tooth resorption (TR) and stomatitis in cats.

What is more, if the gums are inflamed or a tooth hurts, your pet chews carefully or only on one side — and gets even less benefit from the chew.

What the VOHC seal means and how to use the list

The VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) is a council set up by veterinary dentistry specialists to separate products with proven effects from ordinary marketing. The council does not test products itself: the manufacturer runs trials according to its standard protocols, and the VOHC reviews the results. If the data are convincing, the product receives the Seal of Acceptance with one or both claims: “helps control plaque” and/or “helps control tartar”. Owners often search for “VOHC approved” chews; the official term is “VOHC accepted”.

So the VOHC seal is about effectiveness for the stated claim, not about treatment. Nor does it mean the product suits your particular pet in size, hardness or calories. I do not recommend specific brands: it is easier to check your product on the current VOHC list yourself (the link is in the sources for this article). Here is how:

1. 01

   Choose the list for your species

   There are separate lists for dogs and for cats. A product accepted for dogs is not automatically suitable for a cat, and vice versa.

2. 02

   Find the exact product name

   The seal applies to a specific product and formulation. A different flavour, size or “new formula” in the same range may not be on the list.

3. 03

   Check which effect is confirmed

   Plaque, tartar or both. For preventing gum disease, plaque control matters most: plaque bacteria are what trigger the inflammation.

4. 04

   Use it as directed

   The effect was shown with a specific regimen — usually daily. A chew once a week will not give the same result.

5. 05

   Check that it suits your pet

   Size, hardness, calories and how your pet chews — see the next section.

Choosing safely: size, hardness, calories, supervision

Even a VOHC-accepted product has to suit the individual pet. Before buying and during the first days of use, check:

• Size. Choose by your pet's weight, as stated on the pack. A chew that is too small can be swallowed whole by a dog — and will not have time to act on the teeth.
• Hardness. Press it with your thumbnail: it should leave a dent. Items that do not dent — bones, antlers, hooves, nylon “bones” — can break a tooth, most often the upper fourth premolar or a canine. See the article on which bones are safe for dogs and which break teeth.
• Calories. Dental chews are food. Count them in the daily ration and reduce the main meal accordingly, especially in small dogs, cats and overweight pets.
• Supervision. Give chews when you are around and take away the last small piece. A pet that gulps large chunks may choke, and a swallowed piece can get stuck in the oesophagus or intestine.
• Pace. If your dog finishes a stick in a few seconds, it is barely chewing it and the teeth gain little. Try a larger size, a different shape or another type of home care.
• Ingredients. Introduce new chews gradually; if your pet has a food allergy or a sensitive stomach, agree the choice with the vet who manages it.

Dogs and cats: what is different

Dental products are used differently in dogs and cats because they eat and chew differently.

Why brushing remains the foundation

A toothbrush with veterinary toothpaste removes plaque from all the outer tooth surfaces and from the gum margin — exactly where gingivitis starts. No chew, diet or additive cleans that area in the same way. That is why veterinary dental guidelines keep daily brushing as the foundation of home care, with dental products as an add-on.

My advice follows a simple logic: if you can choose only one method, choose the toothbrush. If your pet does not yet allow brushing, VOHC-accepted chews or a dental diet are a reasonable temporary compromise while you gradually get it used to the brush. How to do that is covered in the articles on how to brush your dog's teeth and how to brush your cat's teeth, and the full plan is in the guide to home dental care for dogs and cats.

If your pet pulls away, chatters its teeth or the gums bleed during brushing, that is a reason for an examination, not for replacing the brush with chews: it may be in pain.

Gels, sprays and water additives do not treat dental disease

Gels, sprays and water additives can temporarily reduce bacteria on the surfaces they reach and freshen breath. But they do not remove tartar, do not get into periodontal pockets and do not treat a broken tooth or one affected by resorption. If bad breath keeps coming back despite every product, the cause needs to be found rather than the spray changed.

Some products may be prescribed as part of aftercare following treatment — then the vet decides on the regimen and duration. Why topical products, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories only mask the problem is explained in the article on why gels, sprays and ointments do not treat diseased teeth.

When to see a veterinary dentist

Dental chews make sense when the mouth is healthy or has already been treated. Book a consultation if you notice:

• yellow or brown tartar on the teeth, especially near the gums;
• a red line along the gum margin, or bleeding gums;
• persistent bad breath;
• a broken, discoloured or loose tooth;
• your pet chews on one side, drops chews or food, or paws at its face.

Existing tartar and inflammation are treated under inhalational anaesthesia, given and monitored by a separate veterinary anaesthetist. During COHAT the teeth are cleaned above and below the gum line, every tooth is examined and probed, full-mouth dental radiography is taken, and treatment is carried out when clinically indicated. After that we put together a realistic home-care plan — and that is where dental chews or a dental diet can find their place.

If you are not in Kyiv, start with an online consultation: from photos of the teeth I will assess how urgent things are and suggest where to begin.

Frequently asked questions