Short answer: the best dental treats for dogs are single-ingredient, natural chews that dogs have to gnaw on — things like bully sticks and beef trachea. The chewing itself does the work: it mechanically scrapes plaque and tartar off the teeth before it hardens into the kind of buildup that leads to gum disease. Skip the highly processed "dental sticks" packed with binders, colors, and additives. If a chew is 100% real meat, fully digestible, and has one ingredient, you're on the right track.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. We've sold natural chews to a lot of dog owners over the years, and the dental question comes up constantly. Here's how I'd think about it.
Why do dental treats matter?
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, the majority of dogs show signs of periodontal disease by age three. Plaque builds up on the teeth, hardens into tartar, and eventually inflames the gums — which is painful and can affect the heart, liver, and kidneys over time.
Daily brushing is the gold standard, but let's be honest: most of us don't brush our dog's teeth every day. That's where a good chew earns its keep. The American Kennel Club notes that chewing helps mechanically remove plaque, which is exactly what you want between (or instead of) brushings.
What makes a dental treat actually work?
Three things matter more than any marketing claim on the bag:
1. It makes your dog chew
The cleaning comes from the mechanical scraping of teeth against a firm chew. A treat your dog swallows in two bites does nothing for their teeth. You want something that takes real gnawing — a bully stick, a beef trachea, a firm natural chew — so the teeth get scrubbed along the way.
2. It's a clean, simple ingredient list
The fewer ingredients, the better. Our chews are single-ingredient and 100% real meat — no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or fillers. A treat meant to improve health shouldn't come loaded with the additives you're trying to avoid. Learn more about why we go single-ingredient.
3. It's safe and fully digestible
A dental chew is no good if it upsets your dog's stomach or poses a blockage risk. This is a big reason we don't sell rawhide — it's tough to digest. Our chews are 100% natural and fully digestible, ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, and 100% high-quality guaranteed.
Which chews are best for dental health?
Here are the ones I reach for first:
- Bully sticks. Long-lasting, single-ingredient, and firm enough to give teeth a real scrub. They're our flagship for a reason — see our full guide to bully sticks.
- Beef trachea. Naturally contains chondroitin (good for joints) and the ridged texture helps clean teeth as your dog works through it. Here's why trachea is a safe, healthy chew.
- Other firm natural chews — think beef cheek, collagen sticks, and similar single-ingredient options that require sustained chewing.
What to avoid
Steer clear of rawhide, anything with a long list of unpronounceable additives, and treats hard enough to crack a tooth (avoid weight-bearing bones and antlers if your dog is an aggressive chewer). And always match the chew size to your dog to avoid a choking hazard.
How often should my dog get a dental chew?
A daily chew is a reasonable target for most dogs, worked into their overall calorie count. As with anything, supervise your dog while they chew, provide fresh water, and check in with your vet if your dog has specific dental or dietary needs. A chew is a complement to good dental care — not a full replacement for a vet cleaning when one's needed.
The bottom line
The best dental treat is the one your dog actually has to chew, made from a single, real, digestible ingredient. Keep it natural, keep it simple, and their teeth (and breath) will thank you. That's the whole philosophy behind what we make at Bully Sticks Central.
This post was last updated at August 15, 2026 06:47
