There are a variety of products that can be used for home dental care. The best routine is the one that works for you and your pet.

The goal of all home dental care is to prevent infection and periodontal disease. In order to do this, it is necessary to remove the plaque that forms below the gumline. The only way to get below the gumline is by brushing or a cleaning by a veterinarian.

The gold standard of home dental care is daily brushing with specially formulated toothpaste. Because plaque hardens into calculus within 48 to 72 hours of forming, to be truly beneficial, brushing should be done at least 3 times a week.

The use of a dental sealant weekly can cut down the formulation and accumulation of plaque very effectively.

We realize that some pets just won’t accept brushing or that our schedules just don’t leave time to brush our pet’s teeth. There are products that can help slow plaque formation and remove it from the surface of the teeth (though not from under the gumline). The two elements to look for in reducing plaque on the teeth are specific ingredients in a product and chewing action that physically removes plaque from the teeth. Plaque is removed by anything your pet chews on by scraping the teeth. However, plaque is redeposited when your pet stops chewing. Chewing, whether on food or toys, also strengthens the ligaments that hold the teeth in place.

Food
Dry food does help control plaque on the teeth (assuming your pet chews the food). But it only helps on the visible part of the teeth. Look for a premium brand which is labeled for dental health. Usually, that means that either the kibble is designed to scrape the teeth as it is chewed (ex: Hill’s t/d) or that an ingredient has been added that slows the development of plaque (ex: Hill’s Maintenance Diet with Daily Dental Protection).

Canned and semi-moist foods do not provide the scraping action to control buildup on the teeth. They also do not provide the exercise needed to strengthen dental ligaments.

Biscuits
Biscuits only help control plaque and tartar on the teeth (not below the gumline). There are tartar control biscuits that can help with dental health.

Greenies
These have been shown to be effective at helping control tartar and plaque on teeth. There are now both dog and cat varieties and they are irresistible to most dogs and cats.

Chews
The first rule in chews is that chewing activity should be limited to materials that are softer than the teeth. Chew hooves, nylabones and real bones have the potential to fracture teeth.

The second rule with chews is that rawhides should always be used with supervision due to the choking hazard they can pose. Knotted rawhide bones can be a special choking hazard because dogs can remove the knot and swallow it.

Look for chews that have been treated with enzymes. The enzymes along with the chewing action aid in keeping the teeth clean. C.E.T. chews are an example of these types of chews.

Chopped rawhide treats are safer for the dog because they are quickly chewed into small bits. However, they don’t provide the chewing action of rawhide. The whole point in chewing for dogs is to get an item to a small enough size to swallow. That is why they will continually chew on a piece of rawhide.

Cow Bones
Yes, dogs have been chewing bones for centuries, but that does not mean they have not suffered from fractured teeth. If you want to give your dog a bone, give one that does not fit into the mouth. Big knuckle bones force the dog to have a wide open mouth so there is less chewing force on the teeth. It is generally okay for the teeth to slide off the side of a bone but it is not okay for the teeth to bite straight down on a small, hard object.

Chew hooves are too small and too hard to be safe for the teeth.

Kong products
There are a variety of toys sold under the Kong (or Tuffy) label. They are all made of high grade, high quality of rubber which is safe for the teeth.

Kong. The Kong toy comes in a variety of sizes so you can match the size with your dog. They come in red rubber for ordinary chewers and black which is designed for really heavy chewers. Kongs are hollow and treats can be put inside to encourage chewing. They also have an odd shape which makes them bounce unpredictably to encourage playing.

Dental Kong. This is one of the few things besides brushing or a cleaning by your veterinarian that actually can help clean the teeth and even clean below the gumline. The toy has fine ridges that get up under the edge of the gum tissue. To make it even more effective, enzymatic toothpaste can be placed in the ridges to aid cleaning. The rope on the toy helps clean the back teeth as the dog chews.

Cotton rope bones
These can mechanically remove some of the debris from teeth and dogs can also get good dental exercise from chewing on them. These can be especially good in helping to clean the hard to reach back teeth. Be sure to supervise your dog when using since some dogs will try to swallow the bones whole. Also, it is very important to supervise their use as some dogs will pull out individual strings and swallow them which can lead to serious intestinal damage.

Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Plaque Rinses for People
These products are designed to be used and then spit out. Fluoride ingestion by pets can cause serious consequences. Also, these products have chemicals and detergents in them to make them effective and swallowing these can upset the balance of your pet’s gut. So, unless you can train your pet to rinse and spit (something even Lassie has not mastered) NEVER use these products on your pet. There are safe products made for your pet.

Toothbrushes and Pet Toothpaste
There are toothbrushes designed for pets. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit your pet's mouth and for ease of use. Depending on the size of your pet’s mouth, a soft, nylon bristle brush made for humans can also be used. The bristles are very effective for getting below the gumline. There are also finger toothbrushes that fit on the tip of your finger for ease of use. These brushes have small rubber bristles to clean the teeth. There are toothpastes developed just for pets. The best are those that have enzymes like those found in saliva. Enzymes found in the saliva help keep the teeth clean and control bacteria found in the mouth.

OraVet Dental Sealant
When we perform a dental prophy on your pet, we apply OraVet sealant to the teeth along the gumline. When applied weekly, the sealant slows the accumulation of plaque on the teeth very effectively. The gums stay healthier because bacteria is not building up on the teeth. OraVet does not mean that your pet will never need a prophy again, but it can increase the time between cleanings. Brushing, chewing and eating may strip away some of the sealant, but by putting it on weekly, you are recoating any stripped areas and refreshing the previously coated areas.

Teeth Cleaning Pads
These pads can clean the surface of the teeth, but not under the gumline. The most effective pads are those that have enzymes in them to help control plaque formation and buildup.