Dental health is a critical aspect of your dog's overall well-being, yet it's often overlooked by many pet owners. Poor dental hygiene can lead to serious health issues, including gum disease, tooth loss, and infections that can spread to other parts of the body.

80% of dogs will develop periodontal disease in their lifetime, so it’s critical to maintain your dog’s dental health. One effective, easy way to do so is canine dental care chews. These chews can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, promote healthy gums, and keep your dog's breath fresh.

Learn more about the benefits of dental care chews, the importance of dental health for your dog, and how you can incorporate these chews into your routine.

Why Choose Dental Care Chews?

Dental care chews are designed to support oral health by mechanically cleaning the teeth and gums as your dog chews. This chewing action helps to:

  • Remove Plaque and Tartar: The texture of dental chews helps to scrape away plaque and tartar from the teeth
  • Promote Healthy Gums: Chewing stimulates the gums and can help prevent gum disease
  • Freshen Breath: Regular use of dental chews can help reduce bad breath by keeping the mouth cleaner

While brushing your dog’s teeth is beneficial, it can feel invasive and uncomfortable for your dog. Recent studies have also shown that dental disease is caused by bacteria under the gum line, where toothbrushes often can’t reach. Dental chews reach at and below the gum line to fight dental disease at its source.

Types of Dental Care Chews

There are a variety of dental chew options to choose from, depending on your dog’s needs. Here are a few common choices:

Bully Sticks

Bully sticks are a popular choice among pet owners, both for their dental and enrichment benefits. These natural chews are made from the pizzle of a bull and are:

  • Highly Digestible: Unlike rawhide and other chew options, bully sticks are easy and safe on your dog's digestive system.
  • Long-Lasting: They provide a durable chewing experience that helps clean teeth over time. This is especially good for those dogs that are aggressive chewers.
  • Single ingredient: Bully sticks are made from a single ingredient (beef), making them free from additives and preservatives. They’re also high in protein and low in fat, making them a healthier treat option.

It’s important to always monitor your dog while they have a bully stick, however. When the stick gets low enough that your dog can no longer use their paws to hold it, it can become a choking hazard.

Raw Bones

Raw bones can also help be a good option for your dog. They offer a variety of benefits, including:

  • Natural Toothbrushes: The hard surface of raw bones helps to scrub away plaque and tartar.
  • Enrichment: Chewing on bones can provide mental stimulation and help satisfy your dog's natural chewing instincts.
  • Nutrient-Rich: Raw bones contain essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus, as well as protein and minerals, making them a good supplement to your dog’s diet.

However, it's important to choose the right type of bone and supervise your dog while they chew to prevent choking or injury. Raw bones come with the risk of splintering, and they pose a choking risk if large chunks are bitten off.

It’s also important to never give your dog cooked bones, as this increases the likelihood of the bones splintering and injuring your dog.

Super Snouts Hemp Company Dental Chews

Super Snouts Hemp Company offers a low-carb dental chew that takes a new approach to dental health — with added pro and prebiotics, CBD and CNG, and plasma for extra support. These new dental chews are:

  • Multi-Functional: They not only clean your dog’s teeth, but they also reduce bad bacteria in your dog’s mouth while allowing good bacteria to thrive. This not only supports your dog’s oral health, but their gut health as well.
  • High-Quality Ingredients: Made with natural and safe ingredients, these dental treats help support your dog’s overall health as well. Ingredients like K-thrive help provide natural anti-inflammatory and immune system support, while Norwegian Sea kelp helps reduce plaque buildup.
  • Low in Carbohydrates: They’re made with only 2% carbohydrates, helping to reduce overall plaque and tartar buildup, as well as inflammation under your dog’s gum line.
  • Soft and Safe for Your Dog: These dental chews are crafted to be durable but soft, so your pup can chew without risk of fracturing your injuring their teeth.

Choosing the Right Dental Chew

Not all dental chews are right for every dog. When selecting dental chews for your dog, consider the following factors:

  • Size and Chewing Style: Choose a chew that is appropriate for your dog's size and chewing habits. For aggressive chewers, opt for a more durable option or choose Super Snout’s Dental Chews to minimize risk of teeth fracture.
  • Ingredients: Look for chews made from natural, high-quality ingredients without artificial additives or preservatives. Minimize the carbohydrate content in your dog’s chews as well. When bacteria eat carbs, it creates inflammation in your dog’s gums, decreases your dog’s teeth strength, and creates an environment where more bad bacteria can grow.
  • Safety: Ensure the chew is safe for your dog to consume and supervise them during chewing to prevent choking or ingestion of large pieces.

Integrating Dental Chews into Your Dog's Routine

While occasional usage may help, dental chews have to become a part of your dog’s normal routine to maximize their benefits. Practice these steps with your pup:

1.   Stay Consistent

Similar to humans, dogs need daily dental care. Offer your pup a dental chew regularly, ideally once a day, to maintain oral hygiene.

2.   Opt for Tasty Dental Chews

Maintaining an oral hygiene routine is easier when your dog enjoys the process! Choose dental chews with flavors that naturally appeal to your dog, so they keep coming back for more every day.

Super Snout Dental Chews, for example, use K-thrive, also known as beef blood plasma, which has a natural flavor that dogs love.

3.   Combine with Brushing

If possible, use dental chews in conjunction with regular tooth brushing for the best results. This helps ensure plaque and tartar are removed from every nook and cranny in your dog’s teeth, keeping their gums healthy.

4.   Monitor and Adjust

No two dogs are the same, so it’s important to adjust your dog’s routine to match their needs. Observe your dog's chewing behavior and adjust the type or frequency of chews as needed.

Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Clean and Healthy

Maintaining your dog's dental health is essential for their overall well-being, and dental care chews are an effective and enjoyable way to support this. Whether you choose bully sticks, raw bones, or Super Snouts Hemp Company dental chews, incorporating these into your dog's routine can help keep their teeth clean, gums healthy, and breath fresh.

By prioritizing your dog's dental care, you can prevent serious health issues and ensure they live a happy, healthy life. Stop by our Scottsdale location and to explore a wide range of dental care chews and find the perfect option for your furry friend.