Best Dog Dental Chew

Best Dog Dental Chew
Profile photo of Tara Lynn

Author: Tara Lynn

Last Updated: October 11, 2026

Prices, availability and VOHC status checked October 11, 2026.

Keeping on top of your dog’s teeth matters. Plaque that isn’t removed hardens into tartar, and dental disease can mean bad breath, tooth pain and teeth that have to be pulled. Brushing every day is still the gold standard, according to the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) and the American Animal Hospital Association’s dental care guidelines, but a good dental chew can help between brushings. Not all dental chews work the same way, though, and any chew can be a choking risk if your dog gulps it.

We bought and tested 4 of the most popular dog dental chews, which we feature in the video: V-Dog Breath Bones, Greenies Original, Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste and Pedigree Dentastix. Our favorite is V-Dog Breath Bones: they’re thick and hearty, so dogs have to work at them, and they smell good enough that we’d almost want to eat them.

Look for the VOHC seal. The VOHC reviews companies’ study results and gives its Seal of Acceptance to products that meet its standards for slowing plaque or tartar. Of our 4 picks, Greenies and Pedigree Dentastix have the seal; V-Dog Breath Bones and Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste don’t. Our ratings are based on how our dogs liked them, how long they had to chew and the ingredients, not on a lab test of plaque.

Our quick picks:

  • Best overall: V-Dog Breath Bones — 9.3/10
  • Best for multiple dogs: Greenies Original Dental Dog Chews — 8.1/10
  • Best toothpaste style: Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste — 7.7/10
  • Best on a budget: Pedigree Dentastix — 6.9/10

Watch the video above, then read our full results below, plus what’s changed since we tested, other dental chews worth knowing about, what other owners say and answers to common questions.

Compare our 4 dog dental chew picks

Chew Our rating VOHC seal Price
V-Dog Breath Bones 9.3/10 No $11.99
Greenies Original 8.1/10 Yes (plaque, tartar) Retailers only
Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste 7.7/10 No From $7.60
Pedigree Dentastix 6.9/10 Yes (tartar) Retailers only

Prices on each maker’s site, checked Oct 11, 2026. Greenies and Pedigree don’t sell on their own sites; they link to retailers. VOHC status from the VOHC accepted products list, checked Oct 11, 2026 (Pedigree’s seal covers the Original Large Dog Treats).

Best Products Best Dog Dental Chew

Best Overall
V-Dog Breath Bones
V-Dog Breath Bones Best Overall
$12
on v-dog
Shop now
9.3/10
  • What we Like
  • Thick and hearty, so dogs have to work at them
  • Smells good, with a hint of cinnamon
  • Plant-based recipe with sweet potato, pumpkin, carrots, chia seed and spinach
  • Vegan, with no corn, soy or wheat (per V-Dog)
  • Made in the USA
  • What we Dislike
  • Can stick to a dog's teeth
  • Pieces can break off, so supervise your dog
  • Not VOHC-accepted
  • 121 calories per regular bone (per V-Dog)
Product Details
Sizes Mini
Regular
Type Edible chew
Top 5 Ingredients Brown Rice Flour
Rice Flour
Vegetable Glycerin
Water
Tapioca Starch
Source USA
Our Review

V-Dog Breath Bones are our favorite. Pretty much everything in them sounds familiar: sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, cinnamon, chia seed and spinach, and to be honest, they smell like something we would want to eat! We also love that they’re pretty thick and hearty, so our dogs had to work to eat them. They’re not just a quick snack that’s gone before it does anything for their teeth. V-Dog says they’re vegan and made in the USA with no corn, soy or wheat. Keep an eye on your pup while they chew: as with any chew, pieces can break off, so you’ll want to be close by. They cost a little more than the average brand, but we think they’re worth it.

Update, October 2026: V-Dog sells Breath Bones for $11.99 a bag on its own site (we listed $12), and they were in stock on Oct 11, 2026. A bag is 8.5 oz, about 6 regular 4-inch bones, which V-Dog describes as chews for large dogs; Mini Breath Bones are sold separately, also $11.99. V-Dog lists 121 calories per bone. The ingredient list includes carrageenan, a thickener some owners prefer to avoid. Breath Bones are not on the VOHC’s accepted products list.

Best for Multiple Dogs
Greenies Original Dental Dog Chews
Greenies Original Dental Dog Chews Best for Multiple Dogs
8.1/10
  • What we Like
  • VOHC Seal of Acceptance for plaque and tartar
  • Dogs love the taste (ours does!)
  • The shape means dogs still have to work at them
  • Sizes from Teenie (5–15 lb) to Large (50–100 lb)
  • Made in the USA
  • What we Dislike
  • Some dogs gulp them: Greenies says to watch your dog chew
  • Not for dogs under 5 lb or puppies under 6 months
  • Wheat flour and wheat gluten in the recipe
  • Not sold on Greenies' own site
Product Details
Sizes Teenie
Petite
Regular
Large
Type Edible chew
Top 5 Ingredients Wheat Flour
Glycerin
Wheat Gluten
Gelatin
Water
Source USA
Our Review

Greenies Original Dental Chews are a classic for a reason. We love the shape, and our dog loves Greenies and will eat them right up. Thankfully, you still have to work at them for a little bit, so they’re a good option for your pets. Greenies are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) for plaque and tartar, which V-Dog and Ark Naturals can’t say. Just keep in mind that it’s always best to supervise your dog with treats like these: they can be a choking hazard for dogs that swallow large chunks instead of chewing. While we used them, our dog’s breath seemed fresher. We’d recommend Greenies as part of your dog’s daily dental routine, along with brushing.

Update, October 2026: Greenies doesn’t sell directly on its site; it links to retailers, so we removed the price we used to list ($34). Greenies sells the Original in Teenie (5–15 lb), Petite (15–25 lb), Regular (25–50 lb) and Large (50–100 lb) sizes and says they’re not suitable for dogs under 5 lb or puppies under 6 months, and to monitor your dog while they chew. Greenies has had the VOHC seal since 2007.

Best Toothpaste Style
Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste
Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste Best Toothpaste Style
$8
on arknaturals
Shop now
7.7/10
  • What we Like
  • A good fit for smaller dogs
  • Toothpaste-style center with alfalfa, cinnamon, vanilla and clove (per Ark Naturals)
  • Our test dogs did pretty well with them
  • Sizes from Mini to XL, by your dog's weight
  • No corn, soy or wheat (per Ark Naturals)
  • What we Dislike
  • We wish they had more ridges to scrape against the teeth
  • Not VOHC-accepted
  • Only for puppies 12 weeks and older
  • Some Value Pack lots were recalled in 2023 (no illnesses reported)
Product Details
Sizes Mini
Small
Medium
Large
XL
Type Edible chew
Top 5 Ingredients Rice Flour
Vegetable Glycerin
Honey
Gelatin
Canola Oil
Source USA
Our Review

Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste is made in the USA. Ark Naturals says the ridges on the outside help clean teeth while the toothpaste-style center, with ingredients like alfalfa, cinnamon, vanilla and clove, freshens breath. They did pretty well with the dogs we tried them on, and they were nice for some of the smaller dogs we tested. I wish they had some more ridges, so dogs really have to scrape them against their teeth. They smell good, and our dogs seemed to think they were tasty. A good choice if you have a small dog and want a chew that’s sized for them.

Update, October 2026: Ark Naturals sells Brushless Toothpaste on its own site from $7.60 (Mini) up to $27 (XL), and every size was in stock on Oct 11, 2026. Ark Naturals says they’re for dogs 12 weeks and older and sizes them by weight (Small is for 8–20 lb dogs). In May 2023, Ark Naturals voluntarily recalled some lots of its Brushless Toothpaste Value Packs because a mold inhibitor was left out; the company said it had no reports of illness (Dog Food Advisor). Brushless Toothpaste is not on the VOHC’s accepted products list.

Best on Budget
Pedigree DENTASTIX Treats
Pedigree DENTASTIX Treats Best on Budget
6.9/10
  • What we Like
  • Classic X shape makes dogs chew around it, so it reaches different parts of the teeth
  • VOHC seal for tartar (Original Large Dog Treats)
  • A couple of added vitamins
  • Several flavors, and our dogs liked them
  • What we Dislike
  • Not all natural, with a long ingredient list
  • The Large size isn't for puppies or dogs under 40 lb (per Pedigree)
  • Softer texture than our top pick
  • Not sold on Pedigree's own site
Product Details
Sizes Toy
Medium
Large
Type Edible chew
Top 5 Ingredients Rice Flour
Wheat Starch
Glycerin
Chicken
Gelatin
Source USA and Canada
Our Review

Pedigree Dentastix are the classic. They’ve got an X shape that forces dogs to chew around it, so it hits different parts of their teeth, and there are a couple of added vitamins in the ingredients. Our dogs loved the taste, and they’re a good value for how many you get. Pedigree’s Original Large Dog Treats are accepted by the VOHC for tartar. I always love something that’s as close to all natural as possible, though, and Dentastix aren’t, which is why they ranked last of our four. Overall, our dogs get a treat and some dental care, and that’s a win-win.

Update, October 2026: Pedigree doesn’t sell directly on its site; it links to retailers, so we removed the price we used to list ($21). Pedigree says to feed one Large Original treat a day to adult dogs over 40 lb (we had said 30 lb) and that they aren’t suitable for puppies; it lists 78 calories per treat. The VOHC lists Pedigree Dentastix Original Large Dog Treats (tartar, 2024) and Dentastix Advanced (plaque and tartar).

Best Products Best Dog Dental Chew
Product Name Best for Rate
V-Dog Breath Bones Best Overall 9.3
Greenies Original Dental Dog Chews Best for Multiple Dogs 8.1
Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste Best Toothpaste Style 7.7
Pedigree DENTASTIX Treats Best on Budget 6.9

Since we tested (updated October 2026)

We filmed our test in 2022 (the video went up in November 2022). We haven’t re-tested our picks since, but we re-checked all four on October 11, 2026:

  • All four are still sold. V-Dog and Ark Naturals sell on their own sites; Greenies and Pedigree link to retailers, so we removed their old prices and price buttons.
  • We checked the VOHC list: Greenies and Pedigree Dentastix have the VOHC seal; V-Dog Breath Bones and Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste don’t.
  • Ark Naturals recall: some Brushless Toothpaste Value Pack lots were voluntarily recalled in May 2023, with no illnesses reported.
  • Corrected: we removed an old buying guide that named a different top pick and contradicted our test, fixed the minimum weight for Large Dentastix (40 lb, not 30 lb) and the minimum age for Ark Naturals (12 weeks), and removed health claims we couldn’t back up.

Other dental chews worth knowing about (NOT tested by us): we haven’t tested these, so they’re not in our rankings. Each one is on the VOHC’s accepted products list unless we say otherwise.

  • Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH — a plant-based, Z-shaped chew that’s VOHC-accepted for plaque and tartar. Virbac says once a day, in sizes from Extra Small (under 11 lb) up. Owners on Reddit often say their vet recommended it. Sold through vets and retailers.
  • Wellness WHIMZEES — vegetable-based chews; the Brushzees and Toothbrush chews are VOHC-accepted for plaque and tartar. Wellness says they’re not for dogs under 5 lb or under 3 months. Sold through retailers.
  • OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews — a chew from Boehringer Ingelheim that’s VOHC-accepted for tartar; several owners on Reddit say their vet recommended it. Sold through vets and retailers.
  • Bye Bye Dog Breath Dental Powder — not a chew: a powder you sprinkle on your dog’s food. This Dog’s Life sells it for $30. It’s not on the VOHC’s list.

Owner feedback

We searched Reddit for owners talking about these chews. We left out posts that read like ads.

Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste

  • In May 2023, several owners got recall notices from the store where they bought it. One shared Ark Naturals’ reply: the recall was voluntary and preventive, because of “a small chance the product could mold” before its shelf life ran out, and the company had no complaints of illness (r/dogs, May 2023).
  • One owner noticed their dog’s poop was partly bright green, close to the color of the chew, the morning after the first one (r/DOG, Feb 2024). Another said their dog really likes them and never had issues (r/puppy101, Nov 2021).

Greenies

  • A Cavalier owner’s dog briefly choked on a Greenie (r/cavaliers, Aug 2025), and another owner’s dog needed an ER visit when a piece got stuck in his esophagus (r/DOG, May 2026). Other owners give the smallest size or break them up for dogs that inhale them.
  • One owner switched to Whimzees because Greenies gave their dog diarrhea (r/cavaliers).

Pedigree Dentastix

  • Boston Terrier owners said their dogs like Dentastix and “impatiently wait for theirs after breakfast” (r/BostonTerrier, Oct 2026).

What owners say their vets told them

  • Several owners said their vet told them to look for the VOHC seal (r/DOG, May 2026), and someone who works in vet medicine said the VOHC list is what their clinic gives clients (r/BostonTerrier, Oct 2026).
  • Not every vet is a fan of chews: one owner said their vet told them their dog would need to eat a whole day’s calories in Greenies for them to work (r/DOG). Many owners say daily brushing with a dog toothpaste helps most, with chews as an extra (r/cavaliers).

V-Dog Breath Bones

  • We didn’t find owner posts about V-Dog Breath Bones on Reddit when we checked.

Posts checked October 11, 2026. Paraphrased; usernames left out.

How to choose a dog dental chew

Look for the VOHC seal. The Veterinary Oral Health Council doesn’t test products itself: it reviews the results of studies companies run and gives its seal to products that meet its standards for slowing plaque, tartar or both. Check the accepted products list for the exact product and size, because a seal on one product in a line doesn’t cover all of them.

Brushing comes first. The VOHC calls daily brushing the gold standard, and AAHA’s dental guidelines recommend brushing every day. A chew is an extra, not a replacement. Brushing and chews help with plaque, but they can’t remove tartar that’s already hardened on the teeth; that takes a professional cleaning, and home care doesn’t replace your vet’s dental exams.

Pick the right size and follow the label. Choose the size the maker recommends for your dog’s weight. A chew that’s too small can be swallowed whole. Check age and weight limits too: Greenies aren’t for dogs under 5 lb or 6 months, Large Dentastix are for adult dogs over 40 lb, and Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste is for dogs 12 weeks and older.

Supervise, especially if your dog gulps. Any chew can be a choking hazard. Stay close while your dog chews, take away small end pieces, and if your dog swallows chews in big chunks, try a bigger size, a different texture, or brushing instead.

Count the calories. Dental chews are treats, and some are big ones: V-Dog lists 121 calories per regular Breath Bone, and Pedigree lists 78 per Large Dentastix. If your dog gets one every day, account for it in their food.

Check the ingredients. If your dog has a food sensitivity, read the label: Greenies are made with wheat, and Dentastix contain chicken. V-Dog Breath Bones are plant-based.

When to see your vet. If your dog’s breath suddenly gets worse, or you see red gums, brown tartar, loose or broken teeth, or your dog has trouble eating, see your vet. A chew won’t fix dental disease that’s already there.

Dog dental chew FAQ

What are the best dog dental chews?

Of the 4 we tested, our favorite is V-Dog Breath Bones: they’re thick, so dogs have to work at them, and they’re made with simple, plant-based ingredients. If you want a chew with the VOHC seal, Greenies (plaque and tartar) is the one from our test we’d pick, and Pedigree Dentastix Original Large has the seal for tartar.

What are the best dog breath treats?

For fresher breath, our dogs did well with V-Dog Breath Bones and Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste, which both smell good and are made for breath. But bad breath usually comes from plaque and bacteria on the teeth, so daily brushing does the most. A sudden change in your dog’s breath is worth a vet visit.

Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste vs Greenies: which is better?

In our test, Greenies scored higher (8.1/10 vs 7.7/10). Greenies has the VOHC seal for plaque and tartar and our dog loved them; Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste doesn’t have the seal, but it was a nice fit for smaller dogs and comes in a Mini size. Ark is for dogs 12 weeks and older; Greenies is for dogs over 5 lb and 6 months.

Is Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste good?

It did pretty well with the dogs we tried it on, especially smaller dogs, and it scored 7.7/10. We wish it had more ridges to scrape the teeth, and it isn’t on the VOHC’s accepted list. Ark Naturals sells it from $7.60 for a Mini bag.

Does Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste have side effects?

We didn’t see any with our dogs. Like any chew, it can upset some dogs’ stomachs or be a choking risk if swallowed whole, so start with one and supervise. One owner on Reddit noticed green-tinted poop after the first one. Some Value Pack lots were voluntarily recalled in 2023 for a possible mold risk, with no illnesses reported. If your dog has vomiting, diarrhea or seems unwell, stop and call your vet.

Bye Bye Dog Breath vs Ark Naturals: what’s the difference?

They work differently. Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste is a chew your dog has to chew; Bye Bye Dog Breath is a powder you sprinkle on your dog’s food. We’ve tested Ark Naturals but not Bye Bye Dog Breath, and neither one is on the VOHC’s accepted products list.

Do dental chews actually work?

Some do. Products with the VOHC seal have shown in studies that they slow plaque or tartar when used as directed, usually daily. Chews without the seal may still help, but there’s less evidence. No chew replaces brushing or professional cleanings, and chews can’t remove tartar that’s already there.

What is the VOHC seal?

It’s the Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Companies submit study results, and the VOHC awards the seal to products that meet its standards for slowing plaque, tartar or both. You’ll find the full list on vohc.org.

How often should I give my dog a dental chew?

Follow the label. Pedigree and Virbac both say one a day, and the VOHC’s advice is based on daily use of accepted products. Count the chew in your dog’s daily calories.

Can puppies have dental chews?

Only ones made for their age. Ark Naturals says its chews are for dogs 12 weeks and older, Greenies says 6 months and older, and Large Dentastix are for adult dogs. Puppies’ teeth are still changing, so ask your vet what’s right for yours.

Reviews for Similar Products

Tara Lynn

Tara Lynn is a pet expert reporter for WRAL in NC. Tara has a BA in Journalism from UNC. Tara is the owner of Tara Lynn & Co. Photo where she brings creative projects to life as a visual storyteller for pets, families and professionals. Tara is active in supporting dog rescues such as the...
Read More
Table of Contents