Can chewing help a dog's teeth? What chews do, and what they don't

Yes, a bit. Chewing may help reduce plaque build-up on a dog's teeth, mechanically. The gnawing does some of the work a toothbrush would do. It doesn't do all of it, and it doesn't replace brushing or a vet dental check. The bigger thing to know: the wrong chew can cost your dog a tooth.

Do chews actually clean a dog's teeth?

Plaque is the soft film that forms on teeth every day; left alone it hardens into tartar, where gum problems start. Chewing rubs some of it off before it hardens. It can't reach the inside surfaces or the gum line, or remove tartar once it's set. That takes a vet. The Veterinary Oral Health Council awards a seal to products that show a plaque reduction in trials. Pudel treats don't carry it; we won't borrow a claim we can't back.

Can a chew break a dog's tooth?

It can. Hard chews are a recognised cause of slab fractures, where a chunk shears off the big upper chewing tooth, and the usual culprits are antlers, horns, bones and hard nylon (AVDC). The rule of thumb: if you can't dent it with your thumbnail, it can break a tooth. A dried tendon gives a little; a horn doesn't. We sell goat horns, so we'll be straight: they're at the hard end, for strong adult chewers with healthy teeth only.

Which chews suit which dogs?

Soft cuts, jerky and lung crisp and liver, do little for teeth but suit puppies and dogs with dental problems. Firm cuts, tendons and backstrap and feet, pass the thumbnail test and make the dog work; this is where the plaque-rubbing happens. Bone-in cuts like kangaroo tail tips have rules of their own: a gulper can swallow one whole and bone can splinter, so size up and stay in the room. Hard chews wait until the adult teeth are in, around six to seven months.

Chew safely. Size it so it can't be swallowed whole, supervise, and take it away once it's small. Very hard chews can crack teeth — not for puppies, seniors or dogs with dental issues. Fresh water always. A treat, not a meal.

A chew a day is reasonable, and it counts: treats stay under about 10% of the day's food. A dog that suddenly chews on one side or goes off hard food is telling you something. The chews and bones range runs from a five-minute crunch to an afternoon's work.

Every dog is different. For an ongoing issue, your vet is the first call — this is general information, not veterinary advice.

Keep reading: Best natural chews for dogs: how to match the chew to the dog · Collagen-rich chews: tendons, tails and feet explained

Sources

• American Veterinary Dental College. Chew toys and dental fractures / Position statements. avdc.org
• Veterinary Oral Health Council. Accepted products and protocols. vohc.org
• RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. Should I feed bones to my dog? kb.rspca.org.au

Pudel · Reviewed September 2026 · Single-protein, naturally dried dog treats, made in Australia. General information, not veterinary advice.