Dental Care for Dogs
Dental care for dogs: what actually keeps teeth clean
Most dogs over three have some gum disease, and bad breath is the first sign, not a quirk. What works, what does not, and where diet fits.
What goes wrong
Plaque forms on teeth within hours of eating. Left alone it hardens into tartar in days, the gums inflame, and bacteria work down the root. The dog does not complain; it eats on one side, drops food, or goes off kibble. By the time the breath is bad, the gums are already inflamed.
What works, in order
The only thing that reliably removes plaque. A dog toothbrush or finger brush with a dog toothpaste (never human toothpaste), a few times a week, started young and built up slowly. Most dogs accept it if it is introduced as a game and ends with a reward.
Chewing scrapes the tooth surface and stimulates saliva. Dental chews and long-lasting chews help the teeth they actually contact, usually the back ones; our beetroot dental sticks are gluten-free and vegetarian, so they fit alongside a single-protein diet. Antler and very hard chews are controversial: they clean, but they also crack teeth, so supervise and choose a size the dog cannot get its molars fully round.
Dry kibble does slightly more mechanical cleaning than wet food, though not as much as people assume. What diet can do is keep the gut and immune system in good order, and avoid sugars that feed plaque bacteria. None of our recipes contains added sugar.
Tartar, once formed, does not brush off. A scale and polish under anaesthetic at the vet is the reset, and for many dogs is needed every few years.
Supplements and water additives
Water additives and food-topped dental powders can slow plaque build-up between brushing. They are a supplement to brushing and chewing, not a replacement. The Medidog dental range is what we stock.
Beetroot Dental SticksDaily dental chew
Medidog Dental PopsDental pops
Medidog Dental Fresh & CleanWater additive
Deer Antler ChewAntler chew, supervised
- the breath is persistently bad
- your dog drops food, chews on one side, or paws at the mouth
- the gums are red, bleeding, or receding, or a tooth is discoloured or loose
Written for Happy Dog UK from established veterinary guidance. General information, not a substitute for advice from a vet who has examined your dog.
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