:strip_icc()/sps-greenies-dental-dog-treats-anna-mejorada-04-30002aab22934f34925739de50887309.jpeg "The 7 Best Dental Chews for Dogs of 2025")
A dental dog chew is a treat that can enhance a dog’s oral health and hygiene, especially when used in tandem with a daily teeth brushing routine using dog-safe toothpaste and a dog-friendly toothbrush. And because dental chews are dog treats, most canines are excited to receive them and willingly chomp away with glee.
“Dental care is extremely important in dogs,” veterinarian Stephanie Goldschmidt, BVM&S, DAVDC, assistant professor of dentistry and oral surgery at the University of California-Davis, shared with The Spruce Pets. “Lack of plaque control leads to bone and tooth loss, pain, as well as distant effects to other organs in the body. Brushing is the best way to decrease plaque and tartar, but if brushing is not an option, then other periodontal products, like dental chews, can be utilized.”
The Winners
Virbac Tartar Control Dog Chews are our favorite overall dog dental chews. These plant-based treats have a distinctive Z-shape. They come in four sizes and are easy to digest. Another great option is Greenies Originals. These popular chews come in many sizes and flavors, including limited edition seasonal releases throughout the year. Plus, they are relatively easy to come by with formulas designed for dogs at each stage of life.
Here are some other great dog dental chews to consider:
:strip_icc()/virbac-cet-veggiedent-fr3sh-tartar-control-dog-chews-a5780352c7ce407c92a7c06d97ea2bd6.jpg)
Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent Fr3sh Tartar Control Dog Chews are made with plant-based ingredients and each chewy stick has a Z-shape, making it easier for dogs to grip as they gnaw. The twisty shape helps the treat get into the nooks and crannies of a dog’s teeth, and they have the seal of acceptance from the VOHC for proven removal of buildup.
The chews come in four sizes, from extra-small to large, for tiny dogs weighing under 11 pounds to big dogs over 66 pounds. They come in packages of 30, 60, or 90.
Each treat is designed to reduce plaque and tartar while also freshening your dog’s breath. Made with no chicken or other meat ingredients, these plant-based chews are meant to be consumed and contain prebiotics for gentle digestion. Some picky eaters may not love the meat-free taste, but most dogs seem happy to crunch away.
The C.E.T. in the name stands for Clean Every Tooth, and these treats are a top choice among many licensed veterinarians in the United States. Plus, Virbac is an established and reputable animal pharmaceutical company with a full line of dog dental products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental rinses, and other dental treats.
Plant-based ingredients
:strip_icc()/greenies-original-regular-natural-dental-dog-treats-09d62a767ad749f7a9bae356fa4c13a2.jpg)
Greenies are one of the most well-known dental chews for dogs, aptly named for their distinctive green color, and are shaped somewhat like a toothbrush. Greenies are made in the United States with globally sourced ingredients, including vitamins and minerals. The treats are poultry flavored and most dogs seem to really enjoy the taste.
They are designed to freshen breath and fight plaque and tartar for tooth and gum health. They are often veterinarian-recommended and were accepted by the VOHC. Available in four sizes for dogs from 5 to 100 pounds, they also have special formulas for puppies, seniors, and weight management, as well as recipes that are grain-free or contain spearmint for extra fresh breath.
Four sizes and lots of special formulas
How We Picked
Why I’m the Expert
I’ve fostered over 75 dogs and puppies of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments, and with all of my adorable dogs, I have tested more than a dozen dog dental chews. I also checked with other dog owners, fosters, and veterinarians to see what they look for in dental chews. I also considered ingredients, size, calories, shape and consistency, and whether the products were shown to actually be effective.
What To Look For
VOHC Approval
“You should look for one that has the VOHC seal of approval, meaning that you know it ‘works,’” says Dr. Goldschmidt. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance is typically found on the packaging. VOHC evaluates dental chews on how effective they are in reducing plaque or tartar.
“The VOHC seal means that the dental treat/diet/product has gone through a clinical trial ‘proving’ it works. All dental treats that have the VOHC seal have been proven to decrease plaque and tartar by at least 20 percent,” Dr. Goldschmidt says. “Thus, the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) recommends the use of these products. Yet, other products may be effective, they have just not been tested.”
The VOHC keeps an updated list of accepted products available for pet owners to see.
Size
When shopping for dental chews, it’s important to select a product that’s an appropriate size for your dog. “Ideally, the chew should be larger than the dog’s mouth to prevent swallowing hazards, so make sure to choose the right-sized chew,” says Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insurance.
Consistency
The treats should be firm, but not too hard. “Look for one that is soft enough that it will not damage/fracture any teeth,” Dr. Goldschmidt says. “You should be able to indent your fingernail into the treat and/or feel comfortable hitting it against your own kneecap.”
Calories
Be sure to consider the number of calories in each chew. “Many of these products have high caloric density and can cause increased weight gain for our canine friends,” explains Dr. Jessica Herman, DVM, a veterinarian at Fuzzy, a subscription-based pet health service. If you do select chews that are high in calories, you’ll want to adjust your dog’s food portion accordingly on days that you give them a chew.
More We Recommend
:strip_icc()/oravet-dental-care-hygiene-chews-43401037ee9a4fd8aaee73cbc673baf8.jpg)
Best for Small Dogs: The main ingredient in OraVet Dental Care Hygiene Chews is delmopinol, which is a common ingredient used in dental rinses for humans. It works by coating a dog’s teeth to help protect against tartar and plaque formation and bad breath. When your dog first chews the treat, it causes plaque to loosen and break off, then the active ingredient protects from the bacteria that triggers plaque and leads to bad breath.
The OraVet dental treats are little green rectangles with a swirled chewy center. They are individually wrapped for freshness and come in four sizes for dogs from 3.5 pounds up to 50-plus pounds. They are poultry-flavored and VOHC-approved for the removal of tartar.
Individually wrapped for freshness
:strip_icc()/whimzees-by-wellness-dental-treats-5ba877bf5e3d4e39a7c5dcbcfd5851fe.jpg)
Best Shapes: Whimzees by Wellness Dental Treats come in a variety of textured shapes, like alligators and hedgehogs, but the most commonly found are the Whimzees Brushzees, shaped like toothbrushes topped with a swirl of toothpaste, and the Whimzees Stix, which are long ridged chews. The Whimzees Stix also comes in seasonal shapes—pumpkin and snowmen—for the fall and winter holidays, and variety packs of Whimzees by Wellness Dental Treats offer a mix that can help keep your dog interested.
All of the chews are made without artificial ingredients, flavors, or additives, and oral health treats come in five sizes for dogs from 5 to 60-plus pounds, but only the Brushzees have the VOHC seal of approval. All of the chews are made without artificial ingredients, flavors, or additives, and Whimzees by Wellness is made in the Netherlands in a factory that puts a lot of focus on sustainability.
Textured and chewy to reduce buildup
:strip_icc()/purina-dentalife-small-medium-dog-dental-chews-a51aa8142439460488ebbdc3af9cd9b7.jpg)
Best Budget: DentaLife Daily Oral Care Dental Treats from Purina are more affordable than other dental chews. On average, the price per small/medium-sized treat is 40 cents, whereas other brands are a dollar or more per treat. The chews are accepted by the VOHC and dogs seem to like the taste.
These oral health treats from Purina have air pockets and ridges that work together to create a chewy texture. That chewiness helps remove tartar and plaque, which leads to better breath. The main ingredients are rice, glycerin, and wheat flour, and there are three sizes (mini, small/medium, and large) for dogs from 5 to 40-plus pounds.
Air pockets and ridges to remove tartar and plaque
:strip_icc()/blue-buffalo-dental-bones-all-natural-dog-treats-40c3e7d8c5bc4608b9d309efdd7a739e.jpg)
Best Flavors: Blue Buffalo Dental Bones All Natural Regular Dog Treats are chewy and texturized to help remove tartar and plaque while freshening breath. The bone-shaped chews are made with potatoes, blueberries, and pea protein along with added minerals, and they are completely free of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. The oral-health-focused treats are also free of poultry byproduct meals, grains, gluten, corn, soy, and wheat.
The Dental Bones from Blue Buffalo come in four sizes (mini, small, regular, and large) for dogs as small as 5 pounds to 50-plus pounds. Dogs seem to love the taste, often finishing the treat much more quickly than expected, but they have not yet received the seal of acceptance from the VOHC.
Chewy and texturized to remove plaque and tartar
:strip_icc()/ark-naturals-brushless-toothpaste-f774e47445b648ac81e5d7ee59571793.jpg)
Best for Fresh Breath: Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste Dental Chews have a heart-shaped channel of gummy toothpaste in the center. The chewy exteriors of these dental sticks have ridges to get closer to hard-to-reach spots, and the tasty toothpaste center is intended to polish each tooth.
The chews come in four sizes ranging from mini (up to 8 pounds) to large (up to 80 pounds). They contain spices like cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and alfalfa to help freshen breath, and you can give your dog the appropriately sized Brushless Toothpaste Dental Chew up to twice a day as a treat. But these treats from Ark Naturals do not have the VOHC acceptance seal.
Gummy toothpaste center
:strip_icc()/Screenshot2025-01-17at9.00.27AM-8a728f7e48c0471f86f71f492e4d21f7.jpg)
Best Natural: These dental chews from Ollie are designed with a raised bumpy ridge along the edges that helps break up plaque and tartar buildup as your dog chomps away. Like other products from the brand, they’re made with high-quality human-grade ingredients, such as navy bean powder, tapioca starch, gelatin, parsley, olive oil, cinnamon, and green tea extract. The cinnamon, in particular, makes these chews smell and taste good, and helps to freshen breath along with parsley—though it might trigger an upset stomach in some dogs sensitive to the ingredient.
While they are comparatively more expensive than some other dental chews, many pet parents think they’re worth it because they’re a durable chew that helps keep their pet’s teeth and gums healthy and doesn’t leave a sticky residue when handled—plus, their dogs love them. Also, the dental chews are available in four sizes to accommodate extra-small, small, medium, and large dogs.
High-quality, human-grade ingredients
Other Products We Evaluated
In addition to our winners and recommended dog dental chews, we also tried these with our dogs:
Bocce’s Bakery Brushy Sticks: Dogs sure seem to like these bristle-shaped dental sticks and they actually smell so good, you might be tempted to try one. There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, but our testers chomped through them relatively quickly.
Bark Bright Dental Kit: This all-encompassing kit includes dental chews and dog toothpaste from Bark. There are three sizes of treats and everything is made with real chicken. Although we like the idea of a kit, that raises the price, and they aren’t suitable for dogs with a poultry allergy.
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Dental Dog Chews: These chews are made of all-beef rawhide free of chemicals and adhesive found in many other rawhide products. Enzymes, plus the chew’s rough texture, work together to scrub plaque and tartar. However, some dogs don’t do well with any type of rawhide.
FAQ
-
“The most effective way to keep our dog’s teeth and mouth healthy is by daily brushing,” says Dr. Herman. “Brushing helps to remove plaque daily, thus, not allowing tartar and bacteria to adhere to the teeth. Dental chews, dental wipes, water additives, treats, and dental rinses also exist, but are not as effective as daily brushing.”
If you do opt to give your dog dental chews as a supplement to brushing, you’ll want to look for a product that’s been scientifically tested and proven effective at preventing and removing plaque and tartar.
It’s also beneficial to select long-lasting treats, as longer chewing sessions increase the effectiveness of dental chews: “Dogs will get the best benefit out of their chews if they chew for five to 10 minutes or longer because the product needs to be in contact with the teeth and gums in order to remove plaque,” says Dr. Wooten. “If a dog finishes the chew in a few minutes, then it won’t be as effective.”
-
The majority of dental chews are designed to be given to dogs regularly—typically every day or a few times per week. “Plaque takes three days to harden into tartar. Offer dental chews daily or every other day to reduce plaque and thus, tartar,” says Dr. Wooten.
Introduce them gradually and pay attention to how your pet reacts. “Most dental treats are well tolerated, but some can cause GI upset, especially in sensitive dogs,” says Dr. Goldschmidt. “It can take some trial and error to find the treat that works best with the overall nutrition/health plan. Furthermore, if your pet has a systemic illness that requires nutritional management, such as diabetes, then dental treats are not a good option.”
-
Because dental chews are typically high in calories, they’re not always the best option for overweight dogs. Instead, you may want to use a dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your pet’s teeth. If you do choose to give an overweight dog dental chews, it’s important to adjust their daily food intake accordingly.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This story was written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, who has been writing about pets and animals for several decades. DiLonardo has a rescue dog and has fostered more than 75 dogs and puppies. She is always trying different products to keep the dogs in her care entertained, healthy, and safe.
For this story, three experts were consulted: Dr. Stephanie Goldschmidt, BVM&S, DAVDC, an assistant professor of veterinarian dentistry and oral surgery at the University of California-Davis, Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insurance, and Dr. Jessica Herman, DVM, a veterinarian at the subscription-based pet health service Fuzzy.
link