30 Sep The Truth About Dental Treats and Chews: Are They Enough?
Pet owners want the best for their companions, and when it comes to oral health, dental treats and chews are often marketed as an easy solution. It’s true that pet dental treats can play a role in supporting oral hygiene—but are they really enough to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy? The short answer: no. While dental chews can be a helpful tool, they are not a substitute for professional veterinary dental care. They can never take the place of daily at-home dental care in the form of tooth brushing.
Let’s take a closer look at the pros, the cons, and the bigger picture of keeping your pet’s smile healthy.
The Benefits of Pet Dental Treats
Dental treats can provide some real advantages for your pet’s oral health:
- Reduce plaque and tartar buildup – The chewing action, combined with special textures, can help scrape away mild buildup.
- Freshen breath – Many treats contain ingredients designed to minimize odor-causing bacteria. Some dental treats have safe oral antiseptics and enzymes added to the treat that will inhibit plaque bacteria growth.
- Promote chewing behavior – Chewing helps stimulate saliva production, which naturally protects teeth.
- Easy to use – For pets who dislike tooth brushing, owners often find dental chews a convenient option. As stated above, dental treats can never take the place of brushing, but in many situations a pet may simply not allow brushing. Dental treats may be the only option.
For these reasons, veterinarians often support the use of pet dental treats as part of an at-home dental care routine.
It is also critical to note that dental treats, and even tooth brushing, do not remove the need for at least annual comprehensive oral exams and cleanings under anesthesia by your veterinarian. In fact, many pets that don’t allow tooth brushing should have their teeth professionally cleaned more frequently, such as every 6 months.
When a pet is only having their teeth cleaned annually with no form of at-home care, they frequently require treatments beyond the cleaning, often in the form of tooth extractions and/or periodontal treatments.
The Limitations of Dental Treats
As beneficial as they can be, dental chews have significant limitations:
- They don’t reach below the gumline
The most serious dental problems—like periodontal disease—occur under the gumline where treats and chews can’t reach. - They can’t replace tooth brushing
Brushing removes soft plaque before it hardens into tartar (calculus). Dental chews can help, but they don’t provide the same thorough cleaning as a toothbrush. - They vary in quality
Not all pet dental treats are created equal. Some are high in calories, made with poor-quality ingredients, or too hard, leading to tooth fractures. Treats that you cannot bend or break are usually too hard for your pet. Common dog treats that are actually quite harmful are antlers, marrow bones, nylon bones, pig ears, and cow hooves. While enamel is the hardest tissue in the body, it is not bionic and will break under pressure from treats like this. Always look for treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). - They don’t treat existing disease
Once dental disease has developed, chews won’t reverse it. Professional cleaning and treatment are the only way to resolve existing oral health issues.
Why Professional Care Is Essential
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in pets, and it can only be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian. Professional dental cleanings under anesthesia allow for:
- Thorough scaling and polishing above and below the gumline
- Full-mouth dental radiographs to detect hidden problems like tooth root abscesses
- Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans that provide 3D imaging and are more sensitive than full mouth dental radiographs. Most veterinary dental specialty clinics now have CBCT units for their patients
- Treatment of diseased teeth and gums to relieve pain and prevent infection
Even the best pet dental treats cannot replace these essential aspects of professional care.
The Best Approach to Pet Dental Health
Think of dental treats as a supplement, not a solution. The healthiest dental care plan for your pet includes:
- Daily tooth brushing (when possible)
- VOHC-approved pet dental treats and chews
- Regular professional dental exams and cleanings with your veterinarian
This multi-layered approach helps keep plaque and tartar under control while ensuring any problems are caught and treated early.
The Bottom Line
Pet dental treats can be a helpful addition to your pet’s oral care routine, but they are not enough on their own. Just like humans need regular dental checkups in addition to daily hygiene, pets require professional veterinary dental care to stay truly healthy.
It is also critical to remember that what goes on in the oral cavity of your pet does not stay there. Periodontal disease has been shown to be associated with negative changes within the heart, liver and kidneys. The worse the periodontal disease is, the worse the negative tissue changes are in these vital organ systems.
If you want to ensure your pet’s teeth and gums stay healthy for years to come, schedule a professional dental exam with our team at Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery in Colorado Springs. We’ll help you create the right dental care plan—combining at-home tools like dental treats with expert veterinary care.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (09/30/2025) Photo by Sohini on Unsplash
