How to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth Without Brushing?

Have you ever wondered how you can clean your dog’s teeth? Brushing is one way, but not really an easy one, LOL. However, there are other ways to clean your fur baby’s teeth. 

Let’s take a look at some of those ways. 

5 ways to clean your dog’s teeth without brushing

1. Dog Dental Wipes

Dog teeth cleaning wipes are a much easier way to clean your doggo’s teeth. There is less struggle involved. 

Pros

• Easy to use
• Not messy
• Your dog can probably tolerate your finger in their mouth
• Often come in tasty or neutral flavors

Cons

• Often only single-use wipes
• Can be expensive for daily use
• Not the best option for long-standing plaque and tartar

2. Bones

Chewing bones is great for your dog’s dental health. Plus, they are tasty and healthy as well. 

Plague is scraped off when your dog chews on a real-meat bone. 

You shouldn’t give your dog cooked bones. They can cause cuts or blockages. 

You shouldn’t give your dog cooked bones.

Pros

• Healthy
• Natural
• Helps clean plaque and tartar
• Long-lasting for most dogs

Cons

• Can be difficult to source
• Potential choking hazards/splintering problems
• You have to handle raw animal bones

3. Food supplements

There are a few dog supplements made especially for removing plague. Those use certain enzymes and ingredients that soften and remove the plague.

You can add the supplement in your fur baby’s food, so their teeth can be cleaned every day (note: cleaning is okay once a day, or ask your vet about the supplement consumption). 

Pros

• Easy to use
• Usually a natural/healthy option
• Doesn’t require putting your hands near or in your dog’s mouth

Cons

• Can be expensive
• Some dogs dislike the taste
• Used mostly to soften plaque, additional cleaning may be required

4. Dog chews

Just like bones, chews are a healthy and tasty way to clean your doggie’s teeth without brushing.

Chews mean beef tendons, bully sticks, yak cheese chews, etc. They are usually made from natural ingredients. 

Chewing and biting are essential for dog’s mouths, minds, and of course, teeth. It is a healthy, natural, and desirable behavior for our dogs, as long as they’re chewing the right thing! Chews distract your dog from chewing on your favorite couch, and have them chewing the dog chew instead. 

Pros

• Helps overcome problem behaviors
• Easy for you
• Tasty and healthy for dogs

Cons

• Some dogs gnaw quickly through specific chews
• Some dogs chew too aggressively to safely use some chews
• Some dogs don’t like chewing as much as others, you can’t really force it

5. Sprays and gels

Oral sprays and gels are also a tried and tested way to clean your dog’s teeth. Generally, you will either spray inside your dog’s mouth, I mean on the teeth, or rub the gel around the teeth and gums. 

Your dog needs to be comfortable with you doing this. Sprays are obviously easier and less messy to use. The ingredients soften the plague. So, sprays and gels should be used along with regular teeth brushing.

Pros

• Often more effective at controlling bad breath
• Often has natural ingredients
• Many options available

Cons

• Requires putting your hands near your dog’s mouth
• Can be expensive 
• Some dogs won’t love the taste

Why you should brush your dog’s teeth?

Regular teeth brushing is a must for optimal doggy oral health. The above-mentioned options aren’t a complete replacement for teeth brushing and the cleanliness it provides. 

Ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth daily. For most people, 3-5 times per week is realistic. At an absolute bare minimum, you should brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week. But try that it doesn’t come to the bare minimum. 

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