Last Updated: 23/03/2026
Home Dental Care for Pets: The Ultimate Guide
Keeping your pet’s teeth healthy is one of the simplest and most important ways to support their overall health. Read our vet guide to discover how to care for your pets teeth at home and prevent serious dental problems.
Author: Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Reading Time: 8 minutes - short read
When we think about keeping our pets healthy, we often focus on things like diet, exercise, and regular vet visits. But dental health is just as important, and it’s one of the most commonly overlooked parts of pet care. You might be surprised to learn just how common dental disease is in dogs and cats. In fact 80% of pets show signs of dental disease by the age of three. The good news is that with a consistent home routine, pet parents can play a huge role in preventing dental problems and keeping their pet’s mouth healthy for years to come.
Signs of Dental Disease: What to Look For
Before we talk about prevention, it’s important to recognise when something might already be wrong.
Unlike humans, pets are very good at hiding pain. They often continue eating and behaving normally even when their mouth is uncomfortable. Because of this, dental disease can go unnoticed until it becomes very advanced and at that point treatment is much more complex and costly.
Keep an eye out for these warning signs:
- Bad breath: Persistent stinky breath is usually caused by bacteria buildup in the mouth. Healthy mouths shouldn’t have a strong odour.
- Discoloured teeth: Yellow or brown buildup along the gumline is tartar, which forms when plaque hardens on the teeth.
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums: Healthy gums should be light pink. Redness or bleeding can indicate gingivitis.
- Changes in eating habits: Your pet may drop food, chew on one side, eat more slowly, or suddenly prefer soft food.
- Pawing at the mouth or face: Pets sometimes rub their face or paw at their mouth when experiencing dental discomfort.
- Excessive drooling: Increased drooling can be a sign of irritation, infection, or oral pain.
- Facial swelling or asymmetry: In severe cases, a tooth root abscess can develop causing swelling on the side of the face and often restricts eating.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s a sign to schedule a veterinary check-up.
Ways to Care for Your Pet’s Teeth at Home
Good dental care doesn’t have to be complicated. The best results usually come from combining several approaches that work together to reduce plaque and bacteria.
The most effective options include:
- Tooth brushing – The gold standard for dental care because it physically removes plaque before it turns into tartar.
- Dental treats – Specially designed treats that help clean teeth while your pet chews.
- Dental chews – Longer-lasting chew toys that help scrape plaque from the tooth surface.
- Food and water additives – Liquids or powders that help control bacteria and freshen breath.
- Dental diets – Specially formulated dry foods designed to support dental health. These diets usually have larger kibble sizes and a specific texture that helps clean the tooth surface as pets chew. Some also contain ingredients that reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth
Brushing your pet’s teeth may sound intimidating at first, but with a little patience most dogs, and even many cats, can learn to tolerate it. The key is to introduce it gradually and make it a positive experience.
Start by choosing a pet-safe toothpaste, as human toothpaste can contain ingredients that are harmful to animals. You don’t have to use toothpaste but it makes the process easier. Many pet toothpastes come in flavours such as poultry or beef to make them more appealing. Let your pet taste a small amount by allowing them to lick it off your finger so they begin to associate the flavour with a treat.
Once they are comfortable, gently lift your pet’s lip and rub their teeth and gums with your finger or a soft finger brush for a few seconds. When your pet becomes more relaxed with this step, you can introduce a pet toothbrush. Hold the brush at about a 45-degree angle toward the gumline, as this is where plaque tends to build up. Focus primarily on brushing the outer surfaces of the teeth, since these areas collect the most debris.
Keep brushing sessions short and positive. You don’t need to brush for several minutes, aim for 30 seconds on each arcade but if your pet is fidgety even 30 seconds a day can make a big difference in reducing plaque buildup. Always reward your pet afterward with praise, affection, or a treat to help build a positive routine. You could even follow it with a dental treat for double the dental care!
Toothbrushing Products
Dental Treats
Dental treats are a great option for in between brushing or for pets who don’t tolerate toothbrushing well. These treats are designed with special textures that help clean teeth while your pet chews. As the treat breaks apart, it gently scrapes plaque from the tooth surface.
For cats and dogs alike, dental treats can be a helpful addition to a daily dental routine.
Look for treats with the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal. This means the product has been scientifically tested and proven to help reduce plaque or tartar.
Dental Treats
Dental Chew Toys
Dental chew toys are tougher than regular toys and are designed to encourage longer chewing sessions.
This chewing provides mechanical cleaning, meaning the texture of the chew helps scrape plaque from the surface of the teeth as your pet chews. Some products also contain ingredients that help prevent tartar from forming by binding calcium in saliva.
Always choose a chew that is the right size for your dog and supervise your dog to ensure they are chewing it properly.
Dental Chew Toys For Dogs
Food & Water Additives
Some pets simply won’t tolerate brushing, and that’s where dental additives can be helpful.
These products come as liquids added to drinking water or powders sprinkled onto food. They contain enzymes or natural ingredients that help break down the sticky bacterial layer known as biofilm, which forms on teeth and contributes to plaque buildup.
While additives don’t physically remove plaque like brushing does, they can help slow bacterial growth and improve breath.
Dental additives work best as a supportive tool alongside other dental care methods, such as chews or brushing rather than a standalone preventative.
Dental Food and Water Additives
Dental Diets
Dental diets are specially formulated foods designed to help support your pet’s oral health during their regular meals. Unlike standard dry kibble, dental diets are usually made with larger kibble pieces and a specific fibre structure that helps clean the tooth surface as your pet bites down.
As the tooth penetrates the kibble, the texture creates a gentle scrubbing action that can help reduce plaque buildup. Some dental diets also contain ingredients that help slow the formation of tartar by interacting with minerals in saliva.
Because these diets are designed to be fed daily, they can provide consistent support for dental health
Dental Diets
When To See a Vet
While home dental care plays a huge role in prevention, some dental issues require professional treatment.
Book a veterinary check-up if you notice:
- Very strong or foul-smelling breath
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Loose or broken teeth
- Thick tartar buildup on teeth
- Trouble chewing or dropping food
- Swelling around the face or jaw
Your veterinarian may recommend a professional dental cleaning under anaesthesia, which allows them to thoroughly clean below the gumline and check for hidden problems such as infected or damaged teeth.
Dental health plays an important role in your pet’s overall wellbeing. Untreated dental disease can lead to pain, infections, and even problems affecting organs such as the heart and kidneys.
The good news is that simple habits at home like brushing, dental treats, and chews can go a long way toward preventing these issues. With consistent care and regular veterinary check-ups, you can help keep your pet’s teeth healthy and their smile bright for years to come.
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Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Veterinarian
Dr Olivia graduated from Murdoch University in 2015 and worked in Western Australia before moving to Sydney to work in specialist practice as an avian and exotics veterinarian. Olivia has thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of species and interesting cases in her time as an exotics veterinarian. She has a particular soft spot for rabbits and thoroughly enjoys all aspects of rabbit medicine and surgery. She also has many years of experience working with dogs and cats as well as an array of wildlife.
