16/02/2026
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Why Your Dog's Teeth Are Telling You Something About Their Bowl
**TLDR:** Tartar buildup is more common in dogs eating soft, sticky ultraprocessed food. The texture matters more than the ingredients. Raw meaty bones can help, but they're not risk-free. Regular tooth brushing beats everything else, but almost nobody does it. Genetics plays a role too, especially in small breeds.
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# # The Sticky Truth About Dog Tartar
I've looked inside thousands of dogs' mouths over the years. The pattern is fairly clear: dogs eating soft, mushy food tend to have worse teeth than dogs eating foods that require actual chewing. It's not rocket science, but it's also not quite as simple as "raw good, processed bad."
Tartar (that yellowish-brown crust on teeth) forms when plaque mineralizes. Plaque is a film of bacteria, saliva proteins, and food particles. When it sits on teeth undisturbed, it hardens into tartar within 24 to 72 hours. Once it's tartar, you can't brush it off. You need a dental scaling under anaesthetic.
The trouble with ultraprocessed dog food, especially the soft varieties, is that it does absolutely nothing to disturb that plaque. In fact, it often makes things worse.
# # Why Ultraprocessed Food Makes Tartar Worse
Three reasons:
**No mechanical cleaning action**
Soft food doesn't scrape against teeth as it's eaten. It just mushes around and gets swallowed. Kibble is slightly better because of the crunch, but most kibble shatters on impact rather than scraping along the tooth surface. The studies on "dental kibble" show modest benefits at best, and that's compared to regular kibble, not to raw meaty bones (Gorrel & Rawlings, 1996).
**Sticky residue**
Many ultraprocessed foods contain starchy binders and rendered fats that stick to teeth. This creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. The carbohydrate content in particular feeds the bacteria that produce acids and contribute to plaque formation (Logan, 2006).
**Lack of gnawing time**
Dogs evolved to spend time ripping, tearing, and gnawing their food. This natural chewing action not only mechanically cleans teeth but also stimulates saliva production. Saliva contains enzymes and antibodies that help control bacterial populations. A dog that hoovers up a bowl of wet food in 30 seconds gets none of these benefits.
# # What Raw Meaty Bones Actually Do
Raw meaty bones do provide genuine dental benefits. This isn't just raw feeder mythology. When a dog gnaws on a chicken wing or duck neck, the bone and connective tissue scrape against the tooth surface, physically removing plaque before it can harden into tartar.
The effect is real. A small study on Beagles showed that dogs given raw beef bones had significantly less dental calculus than control dogs after just 12 days (Marx et al., 2016). I see it in practice too. Dogs on raw diets with appropriate bone content generally have cleaner teeth than dogs on soft ultraprocessed diets.
But let's be honest about what we're trading here. The risks of raw meaty bones include:
- Broken teeth (especially slab fractures of the big chewing teeth at the back)
- Bacterial contamination (Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli)
- Gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation if bones are swallowed inappropriately
- Nutritional imbalances if the diet isn't properly formulated
These risks are manageable with sensible choices. Raw meaty bones that are size-appropriate, not weight-bearing leg bones from large animals. Supervise your dog while they chew. Don't give cooked bones, ever. But the risks aren't zero. You're trading dental disease risk for other risks. I think it's a reasonable trade for most dogs, but you need to decide that for yourself.
# # The Genetics Problem
Before we get too excited about diet fixing everything, we need to talk about genetics. Small breed dogs (Yorkies, Chihuahuas, toy poodles) are prone to dental disease regardless of what they eat. Their teeth are crowded, their jaw structure is compromised, and plaque accumulates faster.
Brachycephalic breeds (pugs, French bulldogs, bulldogs) have their own dental nightmares due to jaw structure.
For these dogs, diet can help, but it won't prevent dental disease entirely. They'll likely need professional cleanings throughout their lives regardless of whether they eat raw, kibble, or anything else.
# # What Actually Works (According to Evidence)
The gold standard for preventing tartar is daily tooth brushing. Not sexy, I know. But it's what the evidence says (Gorrel & Rawlings, 1996). The problem is that virtually nobody does it consistently.
So what else works?
**Good evidence:**
- Raw meaty bones (with the risks noted above)
- Daily tooth brushing (if you can actually make yourself do it)
- Certain dental kibbles with VOHC approval (Hill's t/d, Royal Canin Dental, Purina DH)
**Some evidence:**
- VOHC-approved dental chews (but check ingredients; many are ultraprocessed rubbish themselves)
- Certain dental water additives (mixed evidence, probably not worth the money)
**Probably doesn't work:**
- Rawhide chews (swallowed too quickly, often imported and chemically treated)
- Most "dental" treats (marketing nonsense)
- Rope toys (minimal plaque removal, risk of intestinal foreign body)
- Adding apple cider vinegar to water (just... no)
# # The Bit Where I Argue With Myself
A skeptical colleague would rightly point out several things:
The Marx study on raw bones was tiny (10 dogs) and short (12 days). Most studies on raw feeding and dental health are small, observational, or funded by raw food companies. Selection bias is huge because people who feed raw tend to be more health-conscious overall. The plural of anecdote is not data, even if I've seen it a thousand times.
All fair points. The evidence base for raw feeding improving dental health is not as robust as we'd like. But the mechanistic reasoning is sound (chewing hard things physically removes soft plaque), the observational evidence is consistent, and it aligns with what we know about wild canid dentition.
I'm comfortable saying there's a genuine effect here, even if we can't quantify it precisely.
The skeptical vet would also note that proper dental care includes regular professional cleanings regardless of diet. Also true. Even the best home care doesn't prevent all tartar accumulation, especially in predisposed breeds. Diet is not a substitute for veterinary dental care when it's needed.
# # What to Do Tonight
**If your dog is on soft ultraprocessed food:**
Start introducing something that requires chewing. Could be raw meaty bones (chicken wings for small dogs, duck necks for medium dogs, turkey necks for large dogs). Could be a VOHC-approved dental chew if you're not ready for raw. Just give them something to actually gnaw on.
**If your dog is already on raw:**
Check their teeth. Just because they're eating bones doesn't mean they're chewing them properly. Some dogs are gulpers. If the teeth aren't clean, you might need different bone choices or to add tooth brushing.
**If you're not ready for raw:**
At minimum, reduce soft food where you can. Consider the dental kibbles that actually have evidence behind them, even though they're still ultraprocessed. And genuinely, try to brush their teeth at least once or twice a week. It's better than nothing.
**For everyone:**
Lift your dog's lip and actually look at their teeth. If you see brown buildup, especially near the gum line, or if the gums are red and inflamed, book a dental exam with your vet. Once tartar is established, you need professional help. No amount of raw bones or brushing will remove calcified tartar.
And if your dog is a small breed or brachycephalic, accept that dental disease is probably in their future regardless of what you do. You can minimize it, but you likely can't prevent it entirely. That's not your failure. That's genetics.
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# # Further Reading
**Small Animal Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Disease: A Colour Handbook** by Brook A. Niemiec (2010). Comprehensive reference on canine dental disease with detailed coverage of prevention strategies.
**Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet** by Steve Brown (2010). Explores evolutionary diet and includes practical discussion of dental health benefits of raw feeding.
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# # References
Gorrel C, Rawlings JM (1996). The role of tooth-brushing and diet in the maintenance of periodontal health in dogs. *Journal of Veterinary Dentistry* 13(4): 139-143.
Logan EI (2006). Dietary influences on periodontal health in dogs and cats. *Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice* 36(6): 1385-1401.
Marx FR, et al. (2016). Raw beef bones as chewing items to reduce dental calculus in Beagle dogs. *Australian Veterinary Journal* 94(1-2): 18-23.
