As pet parents, navigating feeding guidance and health advice can often feel overwhelming. At Mars, a leading pet care company serving almost half a billion pets each year, through our iconic brands and services, we want to replace that anxiety with confidence(Opens a new window).
Through a 3-part series, “The Confident Pet Parent”, we will explore some of the most frequently asked questions by pet parents, debunk some of the myths and mysteries surrounding how best to care for your pet, and provide you with some interesting science-backed trivia that you can share with others.
Now in our second installment, we are shifting from theory to daily action by focusing on a critical but often overlooked area of wellness: oral health. With nearly 80% of dogs(Opens a new window) showing visible symptoms of periodontal disease by the time they are three years of age, maintaining their teeth is a vital health priority.1
Backed by decades expertise and research from our Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the scientific heart of brands like Pedigree®(Opens a new window), Sheba and WHISKAS®(Opens a new window), we have pulled together five simple steps to help you establish a highly effective at-home dental routine and protect your dog's healthy smile.
Just like humans, dogs need their teeth brushed(Opens a new window) to physically remove sticky plaque before it can mineralize into hard, difficult-to-remove, tartar. Always use a dog-specific toothbrush and enzymatic pet toothpaste (never human toothpaste, which is toxic to dogs), aiming for a quick, positive session once a day to target the outer surfaces of their teeth where plaque accumulates.2 Watch how to check & brush your dog’s teeth here(Opens a new window).
Giving your dog a daily dental chew, such as Pedigree® Dentastix™, is an enjoyable way to help clean hard-to-reach teeth. These treats work through mechanical action (the chewing motion scrapes away plaque and debris from the tooth surface) while releasing active ingredients like Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) to bind salivary calcium and reduce tartar buildup.3
Help reduce the risk of painful tooth fractures by strictly avoiding extremely hard chews(Opens a new window) like raw bones, antlers, or some plastic toys. To help reduce the risk of dental injury, select flexible dental chews that are scientifically tested to deform under pressure; for example, Mars Petcare designs all its chews to stay safely below a "tooth fracture limit" developed in collaboration with veterinary dental specialists.4
While daily at-home brushing and dental treats are fantastic for maintaining oral hygiene, they are a supplement and cannot replace professional care.5 Only your veterinarian can perform deep cleanings under anaesthesia to scale and polish away stubborn tartar at the gumline, making regular professional dental exams essential to catch hidden infections or other issues early.
You can utilize your dog’s daily meals to help manage plaque by feeding a dry kibble diet(Opens a new window) specifically designed for oral health. These specialized diets feature larger, texturized kibbles that do not immediately crumble when chewed; instead, the kibble gently scrubs the surface of the tooth as your dog bites down.
In a world full of advice, understanding the facts is the best way forward. We encourage all pet owners to consult their veterinarians to find the best diet for their pet.
Read Part 1: Your top treating questions, answered by science
References:
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center. (n.d.). Periodontal disease. Cornell University.
- Harvey, C., et al. (2015). "Effect of Frequency of Brushing Teeth on Plaque and Calculus Accumulation, and Gingivitis, in Dogs." Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 32(1), 16-21.
- Stookey, G. K., Warrick, J. M., & Miller, L. L. (1995). "Effect of Sodium Hexametaphosphate and Sodium Tripolyphosphate on Dental Calculus Formation in Dogs." American Journal of Veterinary Research, 56(7), 913-918.
- Soltero-Rivera, M. M., et al. (2019). "Fracture Limits of Maxillary Fourth Premolar Teeth in Domestic Dogs Under Applied Forces." Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 339.
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). (2026). "Pet Dental Care: Prevention and Detection of Periodontal Disease." AVMA Public Resources.
