Do dental sticks really work?

For a really clean and healthy dog-mouth, we recommend daily toothbrushing and a dental stick. But what evidence is there that dental sticks have an effect, and can they actually prevent dental issues? Here we dig a little deeper into some of the scientific studies that looked at the effect of a daily dental chew for the dog.

For those of you who do not feel like reading the whole text, we can actually summarize the answer like this: They do work. The first variants of dental sticks came in the 90's, and since then quite a few research studies have looked at their effect in both the short and long term.

What do the studies show?

Most studies have been set up in a similar way. The dogs that participated in the study have been divided into two groups; one group has been allowed to eat only dry food, and the other group has been allowed to eat the same dry food plus a daily dental stick. Then, after a certain time interval, oral health assessments were made and researches looked at the presence of plaque, tartar and gingivitis.

All studies in the list below (Clarke, Quest, Gorrel and Brown) show a significant difference between the groups - the group that was allowed to eat a dental stick had a significantly lower incidence of bad breath, plaque, tartar and gingivitis.

"Daily administration of the dental chew was shown to reduce halitosis, as well as, significantly reduce gingivitis, plaque and calculus accumulation and therefore may play a significant role in the improvement of canine oral health over the long-term."

A study by Clarke et. al. also looked specifically at breeds that are more prone to dental disease: toy breeds. This study was conducted for 70 days and also confirmed that a daily dental stick reduced gingivitis and tartar in these dogs.

In 1999, Gorrel et. al. conducted a longer study, spanning a full 21 months, to evaluate the long-term effect. This study showed that dogs that received a dental stick six days per week, had a lower incidence of tartar, better oral health and could go longer between dental treatments at the vet.

How should I use dental sticks?

It is worth noting that in all these studies where the dental chews have been shown to have a good effect, the dogs have received dental sticks daily or at least six times a week. We therefore want to emphasize the importance of giving one dental stick per day, to ensure a really good effect and the best possible oral health for your dog.

And remember - even if dental sticks have an effect, the most efficient way to prevent tartar will always be tooth brushing, and dental sticks can be used as a complement. In this article you can read more about oral health or how to brush your dog's teeth.

Active ingredients in Petgood's Dental Sticks

Our dental sticks are enriched with insect protein and ingredients that contribute to good oral health and fresh breath, such as sodium hexametaphospahte, zink, vitamin C, mint and parsley.

Zinc
Zinc salts can perform a beneficial role in companion animal oral health and hygiene via: 1) acting as oral antiseptics to reduce oral cavity bacterial proliferation and; 2) reducing the formation of dental plaque and calculus. Zinc salts have been demonstrated in vitro to reduce the deposition of dental calculus by inhibiting the formation of calcium hydroxyapatite complex. Zinc salts have also demonstrated in vitro bacteriostatic functionality (Gjermo and Saxton, 1991).

Vitamin C
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) has been shown to strengthen gingival tissue and reduce the inflammatory reaction in periodontal disease; as well as having well demonstrated antioxidant function. Mateo et al (2020) measured the clinical efficacy of a dental chew product containing the active ingredients of vitamin C, zinc sulphate, and tetrasodium diphosphate (a polyphosphate salt) in dogs. The authors concluded that dogs fed 1 chew product a day for a total test period of 9 weeks had significantly reduced gingivitis (-20%), plaque accumulation (-15%), calculus accumulation (-35%) and volatile sulfur compounds in the breath (-19%).

Sodium Hexametaphosphate 
Polyphosphate salts such as Sodium Hexametaphosphate (HMP) are used in both veterinary and human oral hygiene products due to their ability to chelate salivary calcium. Calcium ions within saliva play a direct role in the calcification of dental plaque, leading to calculus deposition. Active oral hygiene ingredients such as HMP bind to and chelate the salivary calcium ions, thereby reduce calcium integration into potential dental calculus structure. The bound calcium is then released during digestion and able to be absorbed by the organism as required via normal gastro-intestinal mechanisms. Various studies have demonstrated HMP inclusion to reduce calculus formation in companion animals; Stookey et al (1996) measured a calculus reduction of 46% in beagle dogs after a 4-week trial of a dental product with HMP inclusion. Pinto et al (2008) measured the effects of various active dental ingredients on calculus reduction in dogs; and determined that HMP reduced dental calculus build-up by up to 47%.

Mint and parsley
Mint and parsley are included in the dental sticks to make them extra tasty for the dog, as well as giving a fresh breath.

Brushing fibres
Our dental sticks are made from fibers that provide a brushing effect on the dog's teeth, helping to control plaque and tartar. The unique shape supports effective mechanical cleaning of the teeth as the dog chews.

References from scientific studies on effect of dental sticks

Clarke et al, 2011: Effectiveness of a vegetable dental chew on periodontal disease parameters in toy breed dogs

Conclusion: "Daily administration of the dental chew was shown to reduce halitosis, as well as, significantly reduce gingivitis, plaque and calculus accumulation and therefore may play a significant role in the improvement of canine oral health over the long-term."

Quest, 2013: Oral health benefits of a daily dental chew in dogs

Conclusion: "Adding a dental chew to the diet resulted in statistically significant reductions in plaque and calculus accumulation, and oral malodor while improving gingival indices."

Gorrel et al, 1999: Effect of a new dental hygiene chew on periodontal health in dogs

Conclusion: "Daily addition of the chew to the dry diet was effective in reducing plaque and calculus accumulation on the tooth surfaces, and also reduced the severity of gingivitis and oral malodor as compared to feeding the dry diet only."

Gorrel et al, 1999: Long-term effects of a dental hygiene chew on the periodontal health of dogs

Conclusion: "The results of the study support that feeding of the dental hygiene chew six days per week reduces accumulation of dental deposits, helps maintain periodontal health, and increases the time interval between professional periodontal intervention."

Brown et al, 2005: Effective periodontal disease control using dental hygiene chews

Conclusion: "The dental hygiene chews tested in this study have potential to help reduce the incidence of periodontal disease in dogs."

References from scientific studies on effect of active ingredients

Clarke, D.E. (2001) Clinical and Microbiological Effects of Oral Zinc Ascorbate Gel in Cats. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 18(4):177-183.

Gjermo, P. and Saxton, C.A. (1991) Antibacterial dentifrices: Clinical data and relevance with emphasis on zinc/triclosan. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 18 (6) 468 -473.

Mateo, A., Torre, C., Crusafont, J., Sallas, A. and Jeusette, I.C. (2020) Evaluation of Efficacy of a Dental Chew to Reduce Gingivitis, Dental Plaque, Calculus and Halitosis in Toy Breed Dogs. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 37 (1) 22-28.

Pinto, A., Saad, F., Milk, L., Aquinas, A. and Alves, M.P (2008) Sodium triphosphate and sodium hexametaphosphate in the prevention of dental calculus in dogs. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. 60 (6).

Stookey, G.K., Warrick, J.M., Miller, L.L. and Katz, B.P. (1996 Hexametaphosphate-Coated Snack Biscuits Significantly Reduce Calculus Formation in Dogs. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry.13(1):27-30.

White, D.J., Cox, E.R., Suszcynskymeister, E.M. and Baig, A.A. (2002) In vitro studies of the anti-calculus efficacy of a sodium hexametaphosphate whitening dentrifice. The Journal of Clinical Dentistry, 13 (1): 33 – 37.