Talk to your vet about your dog's teeth. Dental disease is common and best managed with your vet. Chews and additives help between cleans but do not replace brushing or professional dental care. This is an independent comparison resource, not veterinary advice.
Our top dog dental pick in Australia is Greenies Dental Treats, scoring 86/100 as the daily dental chew owners trust most: VOHC-accepted, vet-recommended and shown to help reduce plaque and tartar when given daily. Below you’ll find our top-5 across dental chews, vet diets and water additives, plus a practical guide to chews, brushing and professional cleans.
Scored by the PetReviews independent review board
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
Not veterinary advice. Scores are set by our independent review board, applying our published methodology. Always confirm what suits your dog's teeth and gums with your vet.
Our #1 dental pick
Greenies Dental Treats
Best daily chew · $$
The daily dental chew Australians trust most: VOHC-accepted, vet-recommended and shown to help reduce plaque and tartar when you give one a day. It’s a genuinely easy win for looking after your dog’s teeth at home. Just keep an eye on the daily calories with smaller dogs.
Greenies Dental Treats
VOHC-accepted and vet-recommended, the once-a-day plaque and tartar chew owners trust most.
Whimzees
Natural, plant-based chews in chew-friendly shapes, with a clean, short ingredient list.
Hill's t/d
Clinically formulated dental kibble for dogs prone to dental disease — and it’s vet-prescribed.
The Paw Grocer
Single-ingredient, air-dried chews from a trusted Australian range, with no additives and no fillers.
PAW DentaCare
An easy daily gel and water additive for dogs that won’t put up with a toothbrush.
Brushing + chews
Daily brushing plus a dental chew is the gold standard for caring for teeth at home.
A VOHC-accepted daily dental chew that vets and owners both back for tackling plaque and tartar. The texture is built to clean right down to the gumline as your dog chews. Just size the chew correctly and keep an eye on the calories with smaller dogs.
Plant-based, grain-free dental chews in fun shapes (toothbrush, alligator, hedgehog) that get your dog chewing for longer. The ingredient list is cleaner and shorter than a lot of chews, which is a win if you’re steering clear of grains and additives.
A therapeutic kibble where the larger, fibre-aligned texture helps wipe the tooth surface clean as your dog chews. Vets prescribe it for dogs prone to dental disease, so have a chat with yours about whether it suits your dog first.
We scored every pick on the same effectiveness, ingredient quality and value methodology, then ranked them best to worst.
A therapeutic kibble where the texture helps clean the tooth surface as your dog chews. Vets prescribe it for dogs prone to dental disease, and it’s the most complete at-home option for high-risk mouths. You’ll need a vet recommendation, so chat to yours about whether it suits your dog first.
Our top everyday pick: a VOHC-accepted daily dental chew that vets and owners both back for reducing plaque and tartar. Easy to use and on shelves everywhere. Just size the chew correctly and count the daily calories, especially with smaller dogs.
Plant-based, grain-free dental chews in shapes designed to keep your dog chewing for longer. The cleaner, shorter ingredient list makes them a great fit if you’re avoiding grains and additives, and they’re a reliable daily option dogs genuinely enjoy.
Single-ingredient, air-dried chews from a trusted Australian range. A clean, natural way to get the chewing that helps keep teeth in good shape, with no additives or fillers. A lovely everyday option, and our pick if you want the simplest ingredient list going.
A vet-developed dental gel and water additive for when brushing just isn’t happening, giving you easy daily support between professional cleans. Think of it as a handy companion to chews and brushing rather than a swap for them. A practical choice for fussy dogs that won’t put up with a toothbrush.
Scores are set by our independent review board, based on publicly available product information, applied with our published methodology and not veterinary advice. Always confirm what suits your dog's teeth with your vet.
Dental chews work mechanically: the act of chewing, paired with a cleaning texture, scrapes plaque off the tooth surface before it hardens into tartar. Look for the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal, which means the product has met an evidence-based standard for reducing plaque or tartar. Size the chew to your dog and count it in their daily calories, because they add up fast for smaller dogs.
Daily brushing with a dog-safe toothpaste is the gold standard for dental care at home — nothing else shifts plaque as well. Never use human toothpaste. Build the habit gently: let your dog lick the paste first, move up to a finger brush, then a soft toothbrush, and reward calm cooperation at every step. A few minutes a day goes a long way, and your vet can show you the technique.
A professional scale-and-polish under anaesthetic is the only way to clean below the gumline and treat established dental disease. Your vet will guide you on timing, since many dogs benefit every one to two years, and small breeds often need them sooner. Keep an eye out for the signs that warrant a check: persistent bad breath, discoloured or loose teeth, red or bleeding gums, or going off hard food. Book a dental check with your vet if you spot any of these.
Greenies Dental Treats are our top everyday dental chew (86/100): VOHC-accepted, vet-recommended and built to help reduce plaque and tartar when you give one a day. Whimzees are a brilliant grain-free, plant-based alternative, and The Paw Grocer’s single-ingredient air-dried chews are ideal if you want the cleanest ingredient list you can get. The right chew comes down to your dog’s size, calories and chewing style, so check with your vet if you’re unsure.
Good dental chews can genuinely help reduce plaque and tartar by pairing a cleaning texture with the simple act of chewing. Chews carrying the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal have evidence behind that claim, which is why we score them highly. That said, they work best as part of a routine — backing up brushing and professional cleans rather than replacing them. Have a chat with your vet about the right plan for your dog’s mouth.
If your dog won’t put up with a toothbrush, a daily dental chew like Greenies or Whimzees plus a vet-developed water additive or gel such as PAW DentaCare gives you useful day-to-day support. Dental diets like Hill’s t/d are another route for dogs prone to dental disease. These all help between professional cleans, but they don’t quite match brushing for plaque control, so it’s worth gently building a brushing habit where you can. Your vet can show you how.
It varies from dog to dog. Plenty do well with a professional scale-and-polish under anaesthetic every one to two years, while small breeds and dogs prone to dental disease may need them more often. Your vet will check the teeth and gums at the annual visit and let you know on timing. At-home chews, brushing and additives can stretch the gap between cleans, but they don’t replace a professional once-over, so book a dental check with your vet if you notice bad breath, discoloured teeth or red gums.
Most healthy dogs do really well on the right-sized dental sticks and chews, and the trick is matching the chew to your dog. Always pick one to suit their size and chewing style, keep an eye on them while they chew, and count the chew in their daily calories so it doesn’t lead to weight gain. Dogs with existing dental problems, food sensitivities or certain health conditions may need specific options, so check with your vet before introducing a new chew if your dog has any underlying issues.