Best Dental Chews For Dogs (Dental Sticks) In 2023

You may have recently been advised by a friend of yours who happens to be a dog owner themselves that you should be taking better care of your dog's dental condition, one of which ways they suggested you do so is by starting to incorporate things like dental sticks, dental treats and dental chews for dogs in their day to day routine and as part of the toys they play around with.

According to your friend, these dental sticks and chews have done a world of difference in helping his furry buddy get rid of their bad breath and improve their gum health, and you're considering following the same path because your dog, perhaps, has the same problems as your friend's dog did.

So, what exactly are dog dental sticks? What do they really do? Do they really work or are they ineffective at doing what they're advertised to do? And, for the question that a large portion of people reading this are mainly here for, what are some of the best dental chews for dogs on the market today?

This article will be discussing all of these subjects, subtopics and more, in what's going to be a rundown about everything you have to know about dog dental sticks, treats and chews, so carry on.

Our List Of The 5 Best Dental Chews For Dogs – (Updated List For 2023)

Top Pick: GREENIES Dental Dog Treats
Pick #2: Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews
Pick #3: Oravet Dental Hygiene Chews
Pick #4: Zuke’s Z-Bones Dog Dental Chews
Pick #5: Dingo Dental Sticks

PRODUCT

DETAILS

RATING

GREENIES Dental Dog Treats
  • Made with highly soluble ingredients
  • Proudly made in Kansas City
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews
  • Exclusive Dual-Enzyme System
  • Made using select beefhide
  • Reduces plaque by 25%
  • Wheat gluten free 
Zuke’s Z-Bones Dog Dental Chews
Zuke’s Z-Bones Dog Dental Chews
  • Made without wheat gluten, cornstarch or synthetic chlorophyll
  • Parsley, alfalfa and fennel
Dingo Dental Sticks
Dingo Dental Sticks
  • With flavor of real chicken
  • With added freshness of baking soda and parsley seed 

*Note: The links in the table above, as well as several links in the remainder of the article below, will take you to over to Chewy.com where you can find out more information about the products, such as current prices and customer reviews.

Dental Sticks: Best Dental Chews For Dogs - A Closer Look Into Our Top 4 Options

Pick #1 - GREENIES Dental Dog Treats

GREENIES Dental Dog Treats

Keep Dental Condition In Check: These dental dog treats are one of the most frequently recommended chews by veterinarians, as they do an incredible job when it comes to keeping your dog's dental condition in check - fighting tartar & plaque buildup, as well as helping keep your dog's teeth as white and clean looking as possible.

No Bad Breath: While other dog dental chews on the market leave your dog with a little bit of a funny smelling breath (more like stinky smell, to be frank), these dental dog treats were produced to combat this specific issue (among many others).

So, if your dog has bad breath that occurs naturally, these dog treats can do a huge difference as has already been proven time and time again over the years by now, and if your dog tends to develop bad breath when eating other dental dog treats, then you should really give GREENIES a go.

Soft: One of the aspects dogs love most about these dental chews is how soft they are. Not too soft, though, as that would have made these dental chews much less effective at giving your dog's teeth an all around cleanup than they are.

This soft texture and ease of chewing go a very long way in getting dogs to look forward to receiving these treats in the first place, which is obviously a good thing that you'll want to happen.

Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews

Different Sizes For Different Needs: No matter what size category your dog falls under, Virbac have got an option for you with their Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews.

As of this writing, there are 4 different size options for you to choose from according to your dog's weight, a small option for dogs under 11 lbs, a medium option for dogs between 11-25 lbs, a large option for dogs between 26-50 lbs, and an extra large option for dogs above 51 lbs.

So, before you grab yourself a bag you plan on feeding your canine, carefully read what's written on the bag and make sure it's suitable for your dog's weight range.

This is very important that you take the time to do as necessary, because if you get the wrong sized chews that aren't compatible with your dog's size, then the risk of a choking hazard occurring is greatly increased.

Great For Picky Eaters: These chews are a must consider for any dog owner that has a stubborn little picky eater in their dog, as they've proven to go down very well with even the most pickiest of eaters who turn down different foods and treats that are often on the more popular side among the community of dog owners.

Just The Right Thickness: One of the aspects of these dental chews that receives tons of praise on a consistent basis from dog owners who try them is their thickness, which dogs seem to go crazy about.

And, this is exactly what you want to happen, as the more your dog "takes a dig" at these chews, the more fun they're having out of all of this and the cleaner their teeth are going to be.

Great For Sensitive Stomachs: If you've got a dog with a sensitive stomach and you often find yourself having to deprive them of some of their favorite treats because you don't want them to have a nasty case of vomiting and diarrhea, then these dental dog treats from Oravet are an awesome option you should consider.

These dental chew treats are wheat free and gluten free, making them excellent candidates for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Easily Broken Into Smaller Pieces: The way these chews were designed makes it incredibly easy for you to break them down into smaller pieces depending on your dog's size and what they would be comfortable chewing on in one sitting.

Zuke’s Z-Bones Dog Dental Chews

Natural Ingredients: For those of you who hold giving their dogs 100% natural ingredients in any dog treats they eat, these dental chews should definitely be a contender for your consideration, containing natural and beneficial ingredients such as apple, turmeric, spinach, rosemary, parsley and alfalfa.

Alfalfa and Rosemary are two natural ingredients that are very well known for their breath freshening abilities, so this option is definitely one of the better ones available on the market for you if you care about "keeping it natural" with your pooch's diet.

Not The Longest Lasting: These dental chews are ideal for any dog owner that doesn't want their dog to keep chewing away at them for a long period of time at once.

If you're not looking for something that'll last a long time, and would prefer something that'll be gone in a short time for whatever reason, then these dental chews will prove to be very convenient.

However, if you're looking for something that'll last fairly longer, then you're better off considering our #2 pick above.

Why Should I Get The Best Dental Sticks For Dogs?

Who exactly should be making use of dental sticks and dental chews for dogs? Let's have a look together at the list below that describes who these products may come in very handy for.

Dogs With Bad Breath: Does your dog seem to have one of the stinkiest breaths out there you've ever come across?

If so, and assuming you've had them checked on by a veterinarian and no underlying health condition is causing this bad breath, then dental sticks may prove to be very useful and helpful in getting rid of that nasty breath.

If your dog hasn't yet been medically checked on, they have quite a bad breath, you buy dental chews for them to use and their breath still hasn't improved after a couple of weeks, then you should really have them medically checked on because at this point and if the dental chews couldn't get rid of the bad breath, there's almost always an underlying health condition causing this stinky breath that needs to be resolved.

Dental Condition: Besides dealing with bad breath and kicking it to the curb, the best dog dental sticks are also capable of improving your dog's dental condition.

As a matter of fact, many dog owners and veterinarians alike believe that having the right dental chews for your dog to play with throughout the day is just as important as brushing your dog's teeth with an excellent toothbrush and toothpaste on a regular basis.

These two actually complement one another.

By chewing on these dental sticks, your dog will be stimulating and improving their overall gum health and condition, getting rid of any food stuck between and on their teeth, as well as get rid of any plaque and tartar that may be building up on their teeth, and keeping them looking white and clean as a result.

Over the years and since their introduction, the top dental sticks have been credited for decreasing the risk of developing gum disease, strengthening the teeth of dogs and preventing tooth loss, just to name a few dental benefits.

It's What Dogs Like To Do: If you think that dog dental chews are in any way, shape or form unnatural for you to be giving your dog, think again.

Dental chews are able to give your dog an oral cleanup in the form of a toy that your dog gets to do what they love to do most, and that's chewing away at something!

Dogs chew when they're young and growing puppies that are going through their teething period in order to relieve the pain they're feeling, they chew when they're angry at you or anything else and want to make their feelings known, they chew whatever they can get their jaws on to keep themselves entertained throughout the day, etc ..

The point is, giving your dog a dental chew toy is by no means whatsoever getting them used to something a dog should not be getting used to doing, so you can rest assured as far as that point is concerned.

If you think about it this way, you're giving your dog a toy that can keep them occupied and entertained throughout the day, while helping improve their dental condition and keep their teeth clean at the same time, so it's a win win situation.

Here's a nice list that describes the top reasons why dogs like to chew and why it's normal for them to do this, in case you're interested in further reading about this.

What Do I Need To Look For In The Best Dental Treats For Dogs?

Before you go out and spend your hard earned money on any dental chews for dogs you can get your hands on on the market today, check out the following list of criteria you should keep in mind and evaluate the different products you find based on, so that you can make sure you're getting nothing but the absolute best dental chews for your dog.

Size: One of the first issues you should take into consideration before buying any dental chews for your dog is proportionate size.

If you're buying dental chews for a young puppy that still hasn't grown into an adult dog, it goes without saying that the size of the dental chews you'll want to buy aren't going to be the same size you would be getting for an adult, mature dog that weighs over 60 lbs and has fairly powerful jaws and chewing ability already developed.

Whatever the size of your dog is, you have to be sure to only get them dental chews that are adequate for the size of their mouths.

Hard VS Soft: Different dogs of different sized and in different stages of life need different texture when it comes to their dental chews.

First of all, and as a general rule of thumb that the manufacturers of the top dental chews on the market always abide by, any dental chew for dogs should not be too soft nor too hard on any dog's teeth.

If the dental chew is too soft, it will be rendered inefficient and will lose its purpose, while if the dental chew is too hard, it will end up causing significant damage to your dog's teeth whenever they try to take a bite at it, something which obviously no dog owner wants to happen to their beloved little one.

So, and with that being said, the best dental chews for dogs will often lay on either side of the spectrum, although none will be way too hard nor way too soft, some will just be a little bit harder than others and some will just be a little bit softer than others.

Generally speaking, the smaller sized and the younger your dog is in age, the softer their dental chews are supposed to be in order to avoid tooth damage.

The same holds true if you're looking to get a dental chew for your senior dog.

However, the larger your dog is in size and the closer they are towards their prime adult age, the harder their dental chews are supposed to be in order to be as effective as possible, although not too hard so as to avoid tooth damage once again.

Natural: Before you buy any dental chews for your dog, make sure you carefully examine the label, read the ingredients list and make sure that it's as natural as possible.

Artificial coloring, artificial additives and artificial preservatives are a big no-no in dental chews for dogs, as you don't want such harmful chemicals making their way into your dog's body where they can translate to different illnesses and health problems with time.

Chew Time: The more time your dog spends on chewing their dental chews, the better results they will be getting in terms of improving overall dental health and condition, so make sure to buy dental chews that have the properties to last a long time in your dog's mouth while chewing them before swallowing.

If your dog swallows their dental chew just a few moments after it's in their mouth, then the dental chew did absolutely no work whatsoever in improving your dog's dental health.

Always remember that whenever it comes to dental chews, the longer time spend chewing, the better.

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