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PET DENTAL TREATS VITAL TO GUM HEALTH

PET DENTAL TREATS VITAL TO GUM HEALTH

Posted by Russell Gibbons on 4th May 2015

Dental chew dog treats from the Huds and Toke bakery
By The Huds and Toke TeamUpdated 22 July 2026Reading time about 5 minutes

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If you have ever wondered whether dental treats actually do anything for your dog, the honest answer is yes, with a catch. A good dental chew genuinely helps reduce plaque, but it is one part of a proper dental care routine, not a magic fix. Below is what RSPCA Australia and veterinary sources actually say about dog dental health, the warning signs to watch for, where dental chews honestly fit, and how to choose the right one. No overblown claims, just the straight story from a family bakery that makes these treats every day.

Why Your Dog's Dental Health Matters

Dental disease is the most common health condition affecting Australian pets. According to RSPCA Australia, 80% of dogs experience some level of dental disease by the time they are three years of age, and cats are not far behind at 70%.

The problem starts quietly. Plaque, a soft sticky film of bacteria, builds up after eating. Left in place it hardens into tartar (calculus), a mineral layer bonded to the enamel, and the gums become inflamed and swollen, which is gingivitis. Unchecked, the disease moves below the gum line, where RSPCA Australia warns it can cause tooth and gum infection, inflammation, and bone and tooth loss.

The part that should stop every dog owner: the RSPCA notes that a dog with moderate to severe dental disease will be in pain, and most dogs hide that pain remarkably well.

Signs of Dental Trouble to Watch For

Because dogs rarely complain, dental disease is easy to miss until it is advanced. RSPCA Australia lists these visible signs: teeth staining yellow or brown as tartar accumulates, gums that look swollen and red, and loose, wobbly teeth, which are painful. Persistent bad breath matters too: the RSPCA points out that dental disease is its most common cause in dogs, so "just dog breath" is often the first symptom.

VCA Animal Hospitals, a large veterinary hospital network in the United States (overseas source), adds the behavioural signs vets look for: pawing at the mouth, chewing with obvious discomfort, dropping food while eating, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, and blood-tinged saliva.

If you spot any of these, book a check-up with your Australian vet before buying any treat. Dental treats help manage plaque going forward; they cannot fix disease that is already established.

Where Dental Chews Genuinely Fit

The way a dental chew works is mechanical. As your dog gnaws and works a chew, the chewing action scrubs the tooth surfaces and helps dislodge soft plaque before it can harden into tartar.

That mechanism is well recognised. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), a panel of veterinary dentists and dental scientists based in the United States (overseas body), states that daily chewing activities can be effective in maintaining oral health, and awards its Seal of Acceptance to products that demonstrate measurable plaque or tartar reduction in trials. RSPCA Australia itself points dog owners to the VOHC website when choosing dental products.

RSPCA Australia's own guidance is refreshingly balanced: dental chews and dental diets can help to reduce the formation of plaque and tartar, although they will not prevent it. In other words, a daily chew is a genuinely useful habit, and it works best layered on top of brushing and vet care rather than instead of them.

What Dental Treats Do Not Do

We make and sell dental treats, and we will still tell you plainly what they cannot do.

  • They do not replace tooth brushing. RSPCA Australia calls daily brushing the most effective way to promote good oral health, and the VOHC (US) calls brushing the gold standard. If your dog will tolerate a toothbrush, brush.
  • They do not remove existing tartar. Once plaque has hardened, it needs a professional scale and polish under general anaesthesia at your vet clinic. No treat can do that.
  • They do not prevent dental disease outright. The RSPCA is explicit: chews help reduce plaque and tartar formation but will not prevent it.
  • They do not replace vet checks. RSPCA Australia recommends a health examination at least once a year, which includes a dental check-up.

Any brand that promises more than this is overreaching.

Choosing a Dental Chew for Your Dog's Size

Match the chew to the dog. A chew that is too small for a big dog can be gulped whole, with little chewing benefit and a swallowing risk. One that is too large for a small dog is hard work on a little jaw.

Check the texture. VCA Animal Hospitals (US) advises that any chew toy or dental treat fed to a dog should bend and give upon compression, because very hard objects can fracture teeth.

Chewing time is the point. The benefit comes from the mechanical action, so choose a chew your dog works at rather than swallows in two bites.

Always supervise. Any chew, ours included, should be given under supervision with fresh water available, and counted as part of your dog's daily food intake.

Our Australian Made Dental Treat Range

Everything in our dental range is baked in Australia by our family team, and each product exists for a specific kind of dog.

You can browse the full dog treats range, or see our natural meat dog treats if you are after single-ingredient options to round out the treat jar.

The Bottom Line

The honest routine: brush daily if your dog allows it, give a dental chew as the everyday habit, watch for the warning signs above, and have your vet check your dog's mouth at least once a year. Dental treats are a worthwhile part of that routine, not the whole routine. Any dog with red gums, wobbly teeth or truly foul breath needs your Australian vet before they need anything from us.

Frequently asked questions

Do dental chews actually work?

Yes, within limits. The chewing action helps scrub soft plaque off the teeth before it hardens into tartar. RSPCA Australia says dental chews can help reduce the formation of plaque and tartar, although they will not prevent dental disease on their own.

Can dental chews replace tooth brushing?

No. RSPCA Australia describes daily brushing as the most effective way to promote good oral health, and the US-based Veterinary Oral Health Council calls brushing the gold standard. A chew is the easy daily habit; brushing is the better one. Ideally, do both.

How often should I give my dog a dental chew?

Regularity is what matters, because the benefit comes from repeated chewing action. The VOHC (US) notes that daily chewing activities can help maintain oral health. Count chews as part of your dog's daily food intake, and check with your vet if your dog is on a weight-loss plan.

My dog already has brown teeth and bad breath. Will dental treats fix that?

No. Hardened tartar can only be removed with a professional scale and polish under anaesthetic at your vet clinic, so book that first. Dental chews earn their keep afterwards by slowing the rebuild of plaque on freshly cleaned teeth.

What size dental chew should my dog have?

Match the chew to the jaw. Our Dentapet chews come in a small to medium size and a large size, while the Chicken and Beef Dental Chews suit most dogs. If in doubt, size up so your dog chews rather than gulps, and always supervise.

The Huds and Toke Editorial Team

Sunshine Coast, Australia · Pet treats brand since 2012

Researched and written by the Huds and Toke editorial team, the same people who bake the treats. We are bakers, not veterinarians: safety claims are drawn from the cited authorities, and for anything about your own pet, talk to your vet. Read our Editorial Standards.

Sources

About the publisher

Huds and Toke: Proudly Australian, Family Owned

Huds and Toke is a family owned Australian premium pet treats company from Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Naturally made here in Australia and loved by pets and their people right across the country.

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