Dogs

How Dog Dental Chews Work

Nicole Groshek  |  February 1, 2024  |  5 minute read

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As a dog parent you might be wondering how exactly dog dental treats work and if they’re actually good for your dog. The answer is that it depends on the dental treat! Stella & Chewy’s dog dental treats are one of a kind thanks to their innovative shape and purposeful ingredients. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits!

How Dog Dental Chew Treats Work

Our dog dental treats are designed with a unique composition that helps improve your dog’s oral health in several ways:

Control Plaque & Tartar

Plaque is a sticky biofilm (mostly bacteria) that forms on teeth after eating. Unless it’s brushed away regularly, plaque can harden into tartar. Tartar not only looks awful (yellow or brown buildup along the gumline), it increases the risk of gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. Our dental treats are clinically proven to help control plaque and tartar. The small ridges and bumps on each treat are designed to scrape away plaque, while the outer contours encourage your dog to chew from different angles. According to holistic veterinarian Dr. Angie Krause,

“Dental chews are a great addition to your pup’s at home dental care routine. They’re flavorful, durable and have a noticeable cleaning power with the ability to help prevent serious oral issues down the road. Stella & Chewy’s Dental Delights are specifically designed to remove plaque and tartar, freshen breath, and engage your dog to help make dental care fun. These treats are an easy, enjoyable way to promote oral hygiene and promote your dog’s overall health and wellbeing.”

Support Healthy Gums

Gum disease (whether gingivitis (early) or periodontitis (advanced)) is a serious condition that can harm your dog’s quality of life. Gum disease can be very painful and cause difficulty eating, tooth loss, and foul breath. Gum disease can even lead to heart, kidney or liver disease if bacteria from infected gum tissue enters the bloodstream. Tartar buildup on teeth can result in gum disease by providing a home for the toxin-generating bacteria that inflames gum tissue. Our dental treats are proven to support healthy gums by controlling plaque and tartar, helping prevent gum inflammation (gingivitis).

Freshen Breath

Dental Delights are also proven to help freshen your dog’s breath! Plaque, tartar, and gum disease are all major causes of bad breath, so controlling them with regular dental treats and brushing goes a long way toward avoiding stinky dog breath.  Our treats also have peppermint oil and parsley to keep that dog breath smelling as clean as can be! Menthol in peppermint oil masks odor and has antibacterial properties, helping curb the bacteria that cause bad breath. Parsley is rich in chlorophyll, which helps neutralize odors and aids digestion.

Fun to Chew

Dog dental treats last much longer than typical dog treats, and all that extra chewing stimulates more saliva flow. Saliva helps keep your dog’s mouth clean and healthy by washing away food particles and bacteria, neutralizing acids, killing harmful bacteria, and repairing tooth enamel. Chewing isn’t just good for saliva production– it’s also an important instinctive activity for dogs that can help relieve boredom, anxiety, and frustration. Dental Delights have curves that make it easier for dogs to hold with their paws, so they can chew to their hearts’ content!  The special shape is also designed to flip and roll, providing mental stimulation and play. A daily dental treat can be a fun way to include excitement and enrichment in your dog’s oral healthcare routine.

Safe to Eat

Stella & Chewy’s dog dental treats are vet formulated to be healthy and easily digestible. They’re suitable for All Life Stages which means your dog can enjoy them from puppyhood and for the rest of their life! With the irresistible taste of real freeze-dried, cage-free chicken, our dental chews are a safe and delicious way to support good oral hygiene and overall health.

“Stella & Chewy’s Dental Delights are formulated to be a fun, functional and safe treat that can provide tangible oral health benefits. Thanks to the high-quality ingredients, each treat is made to be easily digested and is formulated with just the right texture to help remove plaque and tartar without posing a risk of tooth damage.” – Dr. Angie Krause

Are Dental Treats Better than Brushing?

Dog dental chews and treats are an effective complement to regular tooth brushing, not a replacement.  Dental Delights are a great way to help keep your dog’s teeth cleaner between brushings, which can be especially helpful for dogs that resist having their teeth brushed!  It’s still important to keep up with regular brushing and wellness checks. Your vet may also recommend professional dental cleanings, especially if you’re unable to brush your dog’s teeth.

Can Dental Treats Be Bad for Dogs?

Not all dental treats are equal, so it’s important to do your research and read ingredient labels to make sure you’re choosing high-quality dental treats that promote better oral health and provide enrichment for your dog. 

Avoid dental treats that:

• Don’t contain any animal protein
• Include artificial colors or flavors
• Have an uninspired shape resulting in passive chewing

“Pet parents should always make sure the dental treat they select is the right size for their dog for proper safety and effectiveness. Make sure you’re looking for treats made with high-quality ingredients and free from artificial colors and flavors. While dental treats are designed to clean your pet’s teeth, those made with hard materials may cause tooth damage. Select treats that are firm enough to promote chewing, but not so hard that they could damage your dog’s tooth enamel.” – Dr. Angie Krause

Stella & Chewy’s dog dental treats are:

• Made with chicken muscle meat, liver & gizzards
• Free from artificial colors & flavors
• Designed to encourage chewing & stimulating play

Stella & Chewy’s dental treats are healthy for dogs when fed in the right amount– one dental treat per day, in the appropriate size (based on body weight). With consistent use, Dental Delights are proven to control plaque, support healthy gums and freshen breath, delivering dental care your dog will beg for! Learn more about how to feed dental treats to your dog by checking out our blog for the pet obsessed!