7 Best Dental Chews for Dogs TESTED! (Our Experience)

Dental health is important for dogs because bad teeth and gums can cause long-term problems if not taken seriously. We tested over 20 top dental chew brands to determine which ones are the best for dogs. 

Finding the best dental chews for dogs is important because each dog has different needs. Some dogs need tougher chews, and some need dental chews that help with plaque or bad breath.  

Dental chews for dogs are great for mental stimulation, gum health, and teeth cleaning, and many of them can freshen up your dog’s breath. If you’re also looking for treat dispensing toys to hide dental chews in, check out our top choices!

We put the 15 most popular dental chews to the test. 7 made our list of top picks, and 3 earned honorable mentions.

Speaking of chews, here’s How to Get Your Dog to Chew its Food (instead of swallowing it). Be sure to check it out!

Now, read on to see why these dental chews made our list of favorites!

Our Top Picks

How We Chose the Best Dental Dog Chews

When we tested out the best dental chews for dogs, we kept a few things in mind. 

We looked at affordability because some of our dogs have more advanced dental issues and need a daily dental chew, which can quickly get expensive. We knew brands like Milk-Bone and Pedigree would have affordable options. 

We also looked at the ingredients because what we put in our dogs’ bodies is very important to us. Healthy and natural ingredients are essential, especially for dogs with food allergies. We love that brands like Greenies have natural and grain-free options. 

We chose dog dental chews to test based on ingredients and affordability, and then we bought them and put them to the test. We wanted to find chews that our dogs love, made their mouths healthier, and performed as advertised. 

Finally, we let our dogs have a say. We wanted products that they love because at the end of the day if they refuse to eat the dental chew, it won’t do them any good. We wanted to find chews that came in a variety of options that any picky dog will love. 

Here’s an in-depth look at how the top dental chews for dogs stack up and what made them our top 7 favorites.  

Best Dental Chews for Dogs

1. Best Overall: Greenies Original Natural Dental Dog Treats

Product Ratings

Affordability	4/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	5/5
Options	4/5
Dog Approved	4/5

Chews Per Package: 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 | Individually Wrapped: No | Brand: Greenies | Shape: Toothbrush | Breeds: Small to Large Breeds 

When you think of dental chews for dogs, Greenies treats are probably one of the first that comes to mind. They have a strong reputation for being healthy for dogs and also tasty. We love that they’re a trusted brand and can be very beneficial to our dogs’ dental health.

Here’s a closer look at why we love these dental chews. 

Affordability & Ingredients 

While these are not the cheapest dog dental chews on the market, they are still affordable. If you’re buying in bulk, this is one of the most affordable options. 

We love that the ingredients are clean, and they have natural vitamins and minerals that our dogs need. They are safe for daily treats, which means they’re not full of unhealthy fillers or ingredients. 

Effectiveness & Available Options

These treats are great for freshening up our dogs’ breath. They also advertise to fight plaque and tartar, and we found that our dogs that usually had issues with plaque and tartar did show some improvement. 

It works better for some dogs than others, but we found that it certainly helped some of our dogs and didn’t negatively impact their dental health in any way. 

One thing that we wished was different was flavor options. There are very few flavor options, and we only found original flavor options in stores. We ordered the berry flavor option online, and our dogs were not huge fans of it. 

Other than our wish for more flavors, we have no complaints about Greenies. They’re effective, affordable, and our dogs have better vet dental checkups when they eat Greenies every day. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY

---

2. Best Brushing Chew: Milk-Bone Brushing Chews for Dogs 

Product Ratings

Affordability	4/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	4/5
Options	3/5
Dog Approved	4/5

Chews per Package: 6, 9, 18, 26 | Individually Wrapped: No | Brand: Milk-Bone | Shape: Bone | Breeds: Small to Large Breeds 

These Milk-Bone dental chews are no-nonsense. When our pups need a quick treat to freshen their breath and chip away at some built-up plaque, this is a great option. 

Affordability & Ingredients 

These are priced reasonably and the price per dental chew goes down when you buy them in bulk packaging.  

We love that the ingredients are easy on our dogs’ stomachs. They include vitamins and minerals that our dogs need and may not get regularly. These dental chews are easy to digest, so we can use them as a daily chew. 

Effectiveness & Available Options

Our dogs had positive results when using these dental chews. They are great for freshening their breath (especially the fresh flavor), and they do a good job of scrubbing off existing plaque. 

Their unique twisted design allows the chew to get in hard-to-reach places and scrub away the built-up plaque and tartar. 

We found that our dogs enjoyed these dental chews, even though they only came in two flavors. They seemed to like the original flavor more, and we wished there were more options for our pups. 

These are a great buy if you’re looking for a simple dental chew that your dogs will love. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY

---

3. Best for Large Dogs: Pedigree DentaStix for Large Dogs 

Product Ratings

Affordability	5/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	3/5
Options	5/5
Dog Approved	4/5

Chews per Package: 7, 18, 32, 40, 51 | Individually Wrapped: No | Brand: Pedigree | Shape: “X” Shape | Breeds: Medium to Large Breeds 

This is a great option for medium to large breed dogs that need a daily dental chew. It’s a very affordable option, especially for homes with multiple dogs that all get a daily dental chew. 

Affordability & Ingredients 

We love that these dental chews are so affordable and made with good ingredients. Pedigree is known for using clean ingredients and only producing healthy products for dogs. 

Effectiveness & Dog Approved/Options

Our dogs couldn’t get enough of these dental chews. They loved that these dental chews are soft and come in many flavors, and there’s a flavor for every dog. 

We found that they worked pretty well at freshening our dogs’ breath, but they didn’t do the best at getting rid of built-up tartar. Some of our dogs would have leftover bits of this chew stuck in their teeth, and we felt that this somewhat defeated the purpose. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY

---

4. Best Grain-Free Option: Greenies Grain-Free Dental Treats

Product Ratings

Affordability	3/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	4/5
Options	5/5
Dog Approved	4/5

Chews per Package: 12, 27, 36 | Individually Wrapped: No | Brand: Greenies | Shape: Toothbrush | Breeds: Petite to Medium Breeds

If you’re looking for a grain-free option, this is a great choice. We love this grain-free formula because it’s perfect for our dogs with food and skin allergies. 

Affordability & Ingredients 

This is one of the more expensive dog dental chews that we tried, but they’re made with natural, grain-free ingredients, preventing our dogs from having any adverse reactions. 

For houses with many dogs with different dietary needs, this is a good way to ensure that all dogs get what they need while getting some additional dental care.  

Effectiveness & Dog Approved/Options

We found that this formula of Greenies did a great job of cleaning our dogs’ teeth. 

They had fresh breath, it slowed their plaque and tartar build-up, and the natural formula prevented any stomach issues. 

Our dogs liked these dental chews overall, but this isn’t the best if you have picky eaters who want various flavors. It’s very hard to find flavors other than “fresh” or “original” unless you shop online. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY

---

5. Best Dissolvable Chews: OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews

Product Ratings

Affordability	3/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	5/5
Options	2/5
Dog Approved	3/5

Chews per Package: 14, 30 | Individually Wrapped: Yes |   Brand: OraVet | Shape: Rectangle | Breeds: Small to Medium Breeds

These dissolvable tablets are the best option when dogs need serious dental protection. We love that they are made to fight off bad bacteria and keep our dogs’ mouths clean.

Affordability & Ingredients 

While they are more expensive dental chews, they are designed specifically for serious dental health. 

We love that our dogs with sensitive teeth can handle these dental chews because they are dissolvable and easy to digest. They’re made with healthy ingredients and have Delmopinol, which protects from bacteria building up and causing problems. 

Effectiveness & Available Options

These dissolvable chews are extremely effective and great for the dental health of any dog. We found that our dogs have better breath and less tartar build-up from eating these dissolvable chews. 

We wish these came in more flavor options. They are chicken flavored, which is great for most dogs, but there aren’t other options for picky eaters. Overall, this is a great dental chew for dogs that need serious dental attention between vet dental visits. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY

---

6. Best for Tartar Control: Virbac C.E.T. Veggiedent

Product Ratings

Affordability	3/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	4/5
Options	2/5
Dog Approved	4/5

Chews per Package: 30 | Individually Wrapped: No | Brand: Virbac | Shape: “Z” Shape | Breeds: XSmall to Large

These dental chews are great for preventing tartar build-up. Their unique shape works hard to protect the teeth in the back and the front of a dog’s mouth, though not all dogs do well with it.

Affordability & Ingredients 

Although these dental chews are expensive, we thought they were ultimately worth the price because they work great. For households with multiple dogs, this dental chew might not be the most affordable option. 

They’re made with healthy ingredients and use a plant-based formula that our dogs love. They are vet-recommended, which means the ingredients are safe to use on dogs. 

Effectiveness & Available Options

We found these to be the best dental chews for tartar control. They worked wonders on scrubbing away existing tartar while keeping away any potential build-up that could occur. 

They only come in a “fresh” flavor, so we would love to see more options for our picky dogs. Even without flavor options, we still give these dental chews the dog stamp of approval because most of our dogs loved them anyway. This is a great option for dogs that need serious tartar control. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWY

---

7. Best Rawhide Alternative: AFreschi Turkey Tendon for Dogs

Product Ratings

Affordability	1/5
Ingredients	5/5
Effectiveness	3/5
Options	3/5
Dog Approved	5/5

Chews per Package: 3 ounces or 30 ounces | Individually Wrapped: No | Brand: AFreschi | Shape: Strips or Coils | Breeds: Small

We love finding alternatives to rawhide because our dogs need something to chew that’s healthy for them and will allow them to get their chew-fix. This is a great alternative that’s made from one single ingredient.

Affordability & Ingredients 

We love that these chews are made with only a turkey tendon. There are no other ingredients to worry about and no added chemicals that could negatively impact our dogs.

They are, however, one of the most expensive chews you can buy. This is not a great option for households with many heavy chewers. 

Effectiveness & Dog Approved/Options

We found these to be an adequate substitute for rawhide chews. Since they’re only made from a turkey tendon, they don’t have any added chemicals that are bad for our dogs’ dental health. 

These chews were a big hit with our dogs. They don’t freshen their breath, but the dogs love chewing them and enjoy the natural flavor. We think the price is pretty high, but we like having them around as a nice treat that is also good for their dental health. 

If finding rawhide alternatives is a priority, these are a great option. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

---

Comparison Chart

Products	Best Overall	Runner Up	Best For Large Dogs	Best Grain-Free Option	Best Dissolvable Chews	Best For Tartar Control	Best Rawhide Alternative
Overall Rating	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	3.5/5	3.5/5	3.5/5
Affordability	4/5	4/5	5/5	3/5	3/5	3/5	1/5
Ingredients	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5
Effectiveness	5/5	4/5	3/5	4/5	5/5	4/5	3/5
Options	4/5	3/5	5/5	5/5	2/5	2/5	3/5
Dog Approved	4/5	5/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	5/5

The Winner

We love Greenies Original Dental Treats and chose them as our overall winner. They’re easy to find online, at pet stores, and even at the grocery store. They do a great job of freshening up dog breath and fighting against plaque and tartar. Our dogs can’t get enough of these.

Read our related articles, How Does Dog Dental Cleaning Work? and How Long Does a Dog Dental Cleaning Take? We explore canine dentistry and share brushing tips in these quick-read guides!

How to Choose the Best Dog Dental Chews

Before going out and trying a bag of dental chews, consider your dog’s oral and medical needs to help determine what dental chews will be best. 

Also, consider your dog’s specific likes and dislikes because some may be picky eaters and will not enjoy some of these dental chews.

Do you have picky puppies in your home? We do, too. Here are some tips on how to get picky dogs excited about their food!

Dietary Needs

Some dogs will need dental chews that are tough on plaque but gentle on their stomach. Grain-free or wheat-free options may be best for dogs that have bad reactions to certain grains in their food.

Dogs with food allergies will need dental chews made with healthy ingredients that they can handle.

Financial Needs

Consider how many dogs are in the household. Some of the options presented in this list are great if you only have one or two dogs. 

These dental chews can get very expensive especially in a household with many dogs. Buying in bulk usually helps this situation, but be careful because some companies do not discount their prices with bulk packages. 

Specific Oral Health 

Finally, talk to a vet before landing on a specific brand. Each dog has different needs, so your vet may be able to give insight into the best type for your dog before you spend money on dental chews that may not work. 

Even though most of these products are vet-approved, it doesn’t mean they’re the best option for every dog, so consult your veterinarian for specific oral health recommendations.

Honorable Mentions

Here’s a brief look at the 3 options that didn’t make our best dental chews for dogs list, and why we chose to recommend other dog dental chews instead.

1. Purina DentaLife Adult Dog Chews – Considered for Adult Dogs 

These are an affordable option for adult dogs that need dental chews. They’re priced affordably, but we found that the Pedigree DentaStix worked better for our dogs. 

These have a unique rounded shape with ridges that get in hard-to-reach places, and they do a good job of preventing tartar build-up. Our dogs did enjoy them, and we love how affordable they are. 

2. Blue Buffalo Dental Bones – Considered for a Wheat-Free Option

This dental chew is shaped like a bone with ridges on each end to massage the gums and scrub the teeth. They’re one of the more expensive options but are backed by a trusted brand. 

We liked the Milk-Bone Brushing Chews over these because their twisted bone design really gets to hard-to-reach places, and they’re a more affordable dental chew.  

3. Dingo Dental Sticks – Considered for Tartar and Bad Breath 

These are a fantastic budget buy, and we love that they’re great for handling bad breath and tartar. They come in various package options ranging from a pack of 10 sticks to a pack of 384 sticks. 

We love that there are small amounts of baking soda in this formula which is great for dental health and plaque prevention. We ended up recommending Virbac C.E.T. Veggiedent over this brand since they are vet-approved and have a “fresh” scent for bad breath.