4 min read · February 16, 2025
Updated October 22, 2026
Dental chews and crunchy kibble are not what keeps a dog's or cat's mouth healthy. Good pet dental health comes down to one habit most owners skip: brushing. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) calls regular brushing the single most effective thing you can do to keep your pet's teeth healthy between professional cleanings.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) reports that about 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of periodontal disease by three years of age.
Why Pet Dental Health Depends on Daily Plaque Control
Pet dental health depends on removing plaque every day, before it spreads under the gums. Cornell University's veterinary college describes plaque as an invisible bacterial slime that forms above and below the gumline and drives periodontal disease.
Plaque that stays on the teeth hardens into tartar, and the window for home care closes at that point. AAHA's client guidance is blunt: brushing only removes plaque, not calculus, the hardened deposit most owners call tartar.
Daily plaque control also matters beyond the mouth. The AVMA reports that kidney, liver and heart muscle changes have been found in association with periodontal disease. AAHA cautions that a direct cause-and-effect link is difficult to prove, so the fair summary is that a healthier mouth is associated with better overall health.
How to Brush Your Dog's or Cat's Teeth
Brush your dog's or cat's teeth once a day with a toothpaste made for pets, working along the outside surfaces of the teeth. Cornell calls daily brushing with a veterinary paste the mainstay of a successful home dental program, and the AVMA adds that brushing several times a week can still be effective when daily is not realistic.
Build the habit in small steps and reward each one:
- Lips: Handle your pet's muzzle and lift the lips for a few seconds.
- Gums: Rub a finger along the outer gumline.
- Paste: Let your pet taste the pet toothpaste from your finger.
- Brush: Add the brush and work along the outsides of the teeth for as long as your pet stays relaxed.
Cats need a slower pace. Cornell's Feline Health Center describes a four-week training program that starts with the smell and taste of the toothpaste and focuses on the outer tooth surfaces only.
Skip the toothpaste from your own bathroom. Cornell advises against human paste because it contains detergents and fluoride, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that some toothpastes contain xylitol, which can be poisonous to dogs.
VOHC-Accepted Products That Help Between Brushings
VOHC-accepted products are dental diets, chews, treats, water additives, gels, wipes and toothbrushes that have met a published standard for plaque or tartar control. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) reviews submitted trial data and awards its Seal of Acceptance to products that demonstrate dental efficacy.
The seal is the simplest filter for a crowded pet aisle. The AVMA warns that many pet products are marketed with dental claims and that not all of them are effective, while AAHA notes that only VOHC-accepted products have met preset standards.
| Home care method | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Daily brushing with pet toothpaste | Removes plaque before it hardens | Does not remove existing tartar |
| VOHC-accepted dental chews and treats | Help reduce plaque or tartar | An add-on, not a replacement for brushing |
| VOHC-accepted dental diet | Kibble designed to clean mechanically or deliver an anti-tartar agent | Works only as the regular food, and only if your veterinarian agrees the diet suits your pet |
| VOHC-accepted water additives, gels and wipes | Help reduce plaque or tartar when used as directed | Less effective than brushing |
The council publishes its current list of accepted products for dogs and cats. Riverpark Pet Hospital also offers home dental coaching on brushing, chews and diets as part of its pet dentistry service.
What a Dental Diet Can and Cannot Do
A dental diet can slow plaque and tartar buildup, and a dental diet cannot reverse disease that is already present. AAHA describes these foods as specifically designed to retard the accumulation of plaque and calculus, through kibble texture or an added anti-tartar agent.
Ordinary dry food does not carry the same evidence. AAHA's guidance ties dental benefit to specially designed kibble and to VOHC acceptance, so "dry food cleans teeth" is not a safe assumption. Your veterinarian can tell you whether a dental diet fits your pet's age and health.
What Does Not Work for Preventing Dental Disease
Several popular shortcuts do not prevent dental disease, and a few cause harm:
- Hard chews: Antlers, hooves and bones may break a tooth. Cornell suggests a thumbnail test: a safe chew should dent when you press a fingernail into it.
- Human toothpaste: Fluoride, detergents and sometimes xylitol make human paste unsuitable for pets.
- Occasional brushing: Brushing at the groomer every month or two does not deliver the benefit of a daily routine.
- Anesthesia-free scaling: Scraping visible tartar from an awake pet has what the American Veterinary Dental College calls a purely cosmetic effect, because disease below the gumline is left in place.
- Unproven products: Chews, sprays and additives without the VOHC seal have not shown that they work.
Brushing over sore gums is its own problem. AAHA warns that brushing inflamed gums can hurt and make a pet avoid the toothbrush, so a pet with red or bleeding gums needs an exam before a new brushing routine.
When Home Care Is Not Enough
Home care prevents plaque, and home care cannot remove tartar or treat disease under the gums. The AVMA recommends a veterinary check of the teeth and gums at least once a year, and sooner if you notice the signs your dog needs a dental cleaning.
Small dogs deserve closer attention, since Cornell reports that periodontal disease is worse in smaller breeds and increases with age. For a step-by-step look at the professional side, read our guide on what to expect from a pet dentist in Fresno. Owners weighing the budget can also review what drives the cost of a dental cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use human toothpaste to brush my pet's teeth?
Human toothpaste should not be used to brush a pet's teeth. Human pastes contain detergents and fluoride that pets swallow, and some contain xylitol, which the FDA warns can be poisonous to dogs. Use a toothpaste made for dogs or cats.
How often should I brush my dog's or cat's teeth?
Brushing your dog's or cat's teeth once a day gives the best results, according to the AVMA and Cornell University. Brushing several times a week can still be effective, while brushing every month or two does not deliver the same benefit.
Are dental chews a substitute for brushing?
Dental chews are not a substitute for brushing. Chews that carry the VOHC Seal of Acceptance have shown they help reduce plaque or tartar, so they work best as an add-on to brushing or as a fallback for pets that will not tolerate a brush.
How do I get a dog or cat used to tooth brushing?
Getting a dog or cat used to tooth brushing works best in small rewarded steps: lift the lips, touch the gums, offer a taste of pet toothpaste, then introduce the brush. Cats often need several weeks, and a pet with sore gums should see a veterinarian first.
Small Daily Habits Protect Your Pet's Mouth
A toothbrush, a pet toothpaste and a few VOHC-accepted products do more for a dog's or cat's mouth than any single chew or additive. The routine works best when a veterinarian has checked that the gums are healthy enough to start and has matched the products to your pet.
Riverpark Pet Hospital provides oral exams, anesthetic dental cleanings and home dental coaching for pets across Fresno and Clovis. Request an appointment or call (559) 712-7387 to have your pet's teeth checked and to build a home-care plan that fits your household.