Toothbrushes vs. Dental Chews – Which One to Go For?

Good dental health is highly important for a dog’s overall well-being. Ensuring proper dental hygiene impacts not only their oral health but also their quality of life, general health and lifespan. However, many dog parents unknowingly tend to overlook their pooch’s dental health, leading to various health issues, including difficulty eating, pain and even damage to organs. Thankfully, there is a wide range of products available on the market that are designed to take very good care of your dog’s oral health.

In this blog, we will compare two of the most popular products used by dog parents to ensure their pal’s healthy teeth:  toothbrushes and dental chews. We will also discuss their effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages to help you choose the preferred option for your canine.

Let’s get started!

Benefits of Using a Toothbrush

Let’s look at the benefits of using a toothbrush to clean a dog’s teeth.

• More effective

Brushing your dog’s teeth with a dog-specific toothbrush helps eliminate plaque from the dog’s teeth. It also helps prevent tartar build-up. However, brushing won’t help remove pre-existing tartar build-up and you will have to get in touch with a vet to address it.

Some of the effective toothbrushes that you may consider using, include Pet Dent Finger Brush and Pet Dent Toothbrush.

• Reduces bad breath

Bad breath is caused by the buildup of bacteria in the dog’s mouth. Cleaning your pet’s teeth regularly with the help of a toothbrush helps eliminate food particles and plaque that feed odour-causing bacteria.

• Prevents gum disease

Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly can help prevent plaque and tartar build-up at the gum line. Such build-ups can result in inflammation and bleeding, which eventually lead to periodontal disease. Advanced stages of gum disease can even impact internal organs like the heart, kidneys and liver.

• Prevents tooth loss

Brushing your dog’s teeth with the help of a toothbrush helps prevent periodontal disease, which further helps prevent the weakening and loss of teeth.

Disadvantages of Using a Toothbrush

Below are a few challenges that you may face while using a toothbrush.

• Requires patience

Using a toothbrush to clean a dog’s teeth requires a lot of training and consistency, especially at the beginning. As dogs are not used to having their mouths touched, they might pull away, squirm or resist when you try to brush their teeth. Therefore, you will need to be slow and gain your dog’s trust by going at its pace.

• May not suit all dogs

Not all dogs are tolerant of getting their teeth brushed. Reasons like fear and anxiety, past negative experiences or medical issues like oral pain and sensitive gums can make your dog reluctant towards brushing. Also, many canine breeds have unique mouth shapes that make brushing all the more difficult and challenging.

Benefits of Using Dental Chews

Let’s look at the benefits of using dental chews to clean a dog’s teeth.

• Convenient

Being convenient and enjoyable for dogs, dental chews have lately become a popular choice for dog parents. Dogs generally love to munch on these chews and do not create a hassle while chewing them. Dental chews also save a lot of time that dog parents otherwise spend on brushing their teeth.

• Enjoyed by dogs

Chewing is naturally satisfying for dogs. Also, as the dental chews feature enticing flavors like chicken, beef, etc., they are enjoyed by dogs of all ages and breeds.

• Can be used for maintenance between brushings

Dental chews are great options for maintenance between brushing. As dogs munch on the chews, they help eliminate the soft plaque from the teeth. Also, some dental chews contain enzymes and antimicrobial agents that help control bacteria.

• Can be used as a reward

As dogs love dental chews, you can also offer them as rewards for good behavior and as a part of positive reinforcement to your pooch.

Disadvantages of Using Dental Chews

Below are the challenges that you may face while using dental chews.

• Less effective than brushing

Though dental chews are quite user-friendly, they are not as effective as a toothbrush when it comes to cleaning the dirt, food particles and plaque build-ups from a dog’s teeth.

• High-calorie if overused

Generally, dental chews come with high calories and can negatively impact your dog’s health by causing weight gain, obesity and other health problems.

• Dental chews can be too hard for your dog’s teeth

Some dental chews can be too hard for your dog’s teeth. They can damage the teeth and even cause fractures. Therefore, as a dog parent, you must be cautious while offering chews to your pooch, especially if you have puppies, senior dogs or those having existing dental issues.

Bottom Line

Both toothbrushes and dental chews work well in their own ways to maintain oral health in dogs. However, as every dog is unique, you will have to monitor your pet’s requirements to determine a suitable product. You may also get in touch with your vet for an expert’s opinion before choosing between a toothbrush and dental chews for your furry baby.

At BudgetPetSupplies, we carry a wide range of dog-specific toothbrushes, toothpastes and dental products. Visit us today to choose your preferred products at the best prices from the comfort of your home.