07/10/2026
There are many reasons why a dogβs oral health is so important. Poor oral health has been connected with a higher incidence of heart, kidney and liver disease as well, of course, with tooth loss. It is also one of the main causes of βdog breathβ!
It is remarkably prevalent, too. Most adult dogs have some degree of gum disease; one large study found that over half had periodontitis.
So, how can it best be prevented and, if necessary, treated?
Before I say anything more on the subject I must stress that what follows is based on my own experience. I am not a vet!
The most natural option is to regularly give your dog bones to chew. Dr Tom Lonsdale β author of Raw Meaty Bones β has this to say about the role of bones:
βIf your dogβs teeth are used as Nature intended, at every feeding session, and from a young age they get the wash, scrub and polish necessary to keep plaque bacteria at bay. As a note of caution; self-cleaning of teeth occurs best in breeds with mouths resembling those of wolves and dingoes. If dogsβ mouths are misshapen, for instance in some toy breeds, in flat faced breeds or those with unusually long narrow faces, then the cleaning process may be inadequate. If teeth are painful or missing or if food is fed ground or in small pieces then the cleaning process will be less effective.β
It is worth noting that a 2025 Finnish study (Hemida et al., BMC Vet Res) found that dogs fed non-processed meat-based diets from weaning through adolescence had a significantly lower risk of calculus later in life.
My own experience has been that feeding raw meaty bones improves oral/dental health in the vast majority of cases but that there are instances when it is not sufficient or may even not be advisable (I am thinking of older dogs, βhard chewersβ, etc.).
Anyway, if you would like advice on what bones to feed, how often, etc.. then please do contact the Honeyβs Healthcare Team β our vets/vet nurses will be delighted to advise you and the service is free.
If you have the time and patience β and for one reason or another you have rejected raw meaty bones β you could consider daily brushing. The facts:
A randomised trial found that the more often teeth were brushed, the less plaque and calculus built up and the more existing gingivitis improved. The authors recommended daily brushing.
How should you set about it?
The first step is to ask your vet to check your dogβs teeth. You donβt want to attempt cleaning if there is any chance of giving your dog pain.
When you do start use a soft (childβs) toothbrush or a microfibre finger cloth. Do not use any human toothpaste as some contain xylitol, which can cause severe health issues in dogs. Instead use water or a specially formulated canine toothpaste.
It is important to introduce cleaning graduallyβ¦ donβt rush it:
- Never force the mouth open.
- Begin by sliding a gauze-wrapped finger under the cheek along the teeth and gums.
- Move to the brush only once the dog is comfortable.
- Let the dog lick the paste off your finger first, and reward throughout.
- Stop before the dog starts to fuss.
- Expect this to take days or weeks, not one evening!
You need to brush in the right places, too. I suggest:
- Lift the lip and work on the outer, cheek-side surfaces of the canines, premolars and upper back teeth for about a minute a day in total.
- Get the bristles to the gumline, since plaque there drives the inflammation.
- Press the paste into the bristles so your dog doesn't simply lick it off.
There is no need, by the way, to rinse! One final point: once plaque has hardened into calculus, a professional cleaning is needed to remove it. Brushing prevents tartar; it does not shift it. It also cannot treat disease already established below the gumline.
What about other, natural options? There is a seaweed β Ascophyllum nodosum β which helps to reduce the build-up of plaque and calculus. It is found in a number of specially formulated products. We have run tests on this at Honeyβs and our conclusions are mixed. In some cases, it seems to help. In others, it doesnβt. Iβd advise it as part of a prevention programme, although personally I would be cautious when it comes to dogs with thyroid disorders or on thyroid treatment as the seaweed is high in iodine.
Dental chews? Well, I am suspicious of anything with a great number of ingredients. The chemistry is simple. Tartar forms when calcium from saliva mineralises plaque. The polyphosphates bind that calcium, so the plaque stays soft. The chewβs texture adds a scraping action. Personally, I wouldnβt touch them, but many people swear by them.
So, where does that leave you if your dog already has some plaque built up and you feel you need to do something about it? I would start with two discussions. The first with your vet to ascertain the extent of the issue. The second with our Healthcare Team on the subject of bones (we also have a useful βfeeding bonesβ fact sheet we can send you). If feeding raw bones is an option then you may not need to do anything else. If feeding bones isnβt the solution (or not enough of a solution) I would suggest a professional teeth cleaning followed by a combination of one of the natural seaweed products and regular brushing.
Jonathan (Self)
Founder
Honeyβs Real Dog Food
