Short answer
Daily brushing works best, but if your dog will not allow it, the options with published support are VOHC-accepted dental chews, dental diets, water additives, gels, sprays, powders and wipes, plus veterinary exams and cleanings under anesthesia.3, 2 None of these replaces the periodic professional cleaning many dogs need.1 Baking soda and human toothpaste are not recommended.
This page sets out the non-brushing options named by veterinary sources, counts the matching rows on the VOHC list, and covers brushing and toothpaste for owners who want to try again. It tests nothing on dogs. Data checked on October 13, 2026.
What can I do instead of brushing my dog’s teeth?
Cornell calls brushing the most effective home method and, in addition to brushing or if it isn’t possible, lists dental diets, dental chews and treats, and water additives, oral gels and sprays.3 AVDC’s advice is the same in outline: daily home care from an early age, by brushing or other effective techniques such as dental diets and chew materials.10
| Method | VOHC rows | Limits to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dental chews and treats | 37 edible chews and 1 rawhide chew2 | Calories and choking risk; see do dental chews work and are they safe. |
| Dental diets | 14, of which 7 are sold through veterinarians only2 | A food, not an add-on; ask your vet before changing a diet. |
| Water additives, gels, sprays, powders | 26 in the category that also holds toothpastes2 | Daily use as the label directs. See VOHC dental powders, water additives and wipes. |
| Wipes | 2: HealthyMouth Anti-Plaque Wipes (Plaque, 2016) and Vetradent Dental Wipes (Tartar, 2026)2 | The dog has to accept mouth handling. |
| Veterinary cleaning under anesthesia | Not a product | The only way to clean below the gum line and X-ray the mouth.3, 10 |
VOHC’s own advice is the same: “The gold standard is brushing,” daily chewing can also be effective, and many pets still need periodic professional scaling.1
How do I clean my dog’s teeth if they won’t let me brush?
VCA’s steps build toward the brush slowly; adult dogs can learn, though it may take longer.6 A review of the field also advises positive reinforcement.4
- Get the dog used to having its face and mouth touched, rewarding calm behaviour, before any brush appears.6
- Let the dog taste a pet toothpaste from your finger. If it resists, VCA suggests starting with something tasty such as peanut butter on the outside of the teeth.6 (Check that any peanut butter has no xylitol.9)
- Rub toothpaste on a few teeth with a soft cloth or gauze square, not the whole mouth, for the first lessons.6
- Move to a toothbrush only when the cloth is fully accepted. Keep to the outer surfaces; there is no need to open the mouth.6
- Stop when the dog gets agitated, even after a few teeth, and try again later so brushing doesn’t become a bad memory.7
If your dog tolerates a cloth but never a brush, VOHC lists two wipe products, so wipes are a documented fallback.2 A dog that flinches may also have a sore mouth. Cornell lists difficulty eating, bad breath, bleeding, drooling and swelling of the jaw or face as signs to call your vet about.3
Brushing and toothpaste: how often and with what?
How often. Daily is the target. A review cites work finding that brushing daily or every other day improved results over weekly brushing,4 while an older trial found that brushing every other day did not keep gums clinically healthy.5 The two are not in conflict so much as both pointing at daily. How. VCA describes a pet toothbrush, warm water, a 45 degree angle to the gum line, circular motion, outer surfaces only.6, 7
Which toothpaste. Use a toothpaste made for pets. VCA says human toothpaste should never be used: it can cause stomach upset when swallowed, may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, or high sodium, and dogs can’t spit.8 FDA lists toothpaste among products that may contain xylitol and advises calling your vet or an animal poison control center right away if a dog may have eaten some.9 VCA also advises against baking soda: its alkalinity can upset the stomach’s acid balance, and it tastes awful.8
VOHC lists toothpastes and brushes with plaque or tartar claims. These are the rows on the list we checked:
| Product as listed | Claim | Seal year |
|---|---|---|
| ADA-compliant soft-bristle, flat head toothbrush | Plaque, Tartar | 2014 |
| Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste | Plaque | 2011 |
| HealthyMouth Toothpaste/Brush Kit Combination for Dogs, Medium/Large Breed | Plaque | 2015 |
| Tartar Shield PRO CARE Natural Pet Toothpaste | Tartar | 2025 |
| Dentalis Canine Toothpaste | Plaque | 2026 |
| Dentalis Canine Toothpaste Plus Dental Stick (20g and 30g), combination product | Plaque | 2026 |
Source: 2
Do homemade dental chews and home remedies work?
None of the veterinary sources used on this page recommends homemade chews, foods or pastes as plaque control. Cornell’s list of options is dental diets, dental chews and treats, and additives, gels and sprays,3 and VOHC’s seal is the only trial-based check we found for them. A homemade chew has no such check, and its calories count like any treat. Sweeteners are a hazard in home recipes: xylitol is toxic to dogs.9 For the same reasons, scraping tartar off with a pick at home is not something any source here supports; AVDC warns that even slight head movement can injure a dog’s mouth during scaling.10
Is a teeth cleaning without anesthesia an option?
AVDC calls it “Non-Professional Dental Scaling” and says it is inappropriate: access below the gum line is impossible in an unanesthetized dog, the inside surfaces cannot be examined, and removing visible tartar alone is cosmetic.10 AAHA’s dental guidelines page says the guidelines help veterinary teams explain the risks of nonanesthetic dentistry to owners.11 Cornell describes the veterinary cleaning as done under anesthesia with X-rays and with scaling above and below the gum line.3
Frequently asked questions
What can I do instead of brushing my dog's teeth?
Cornell lists dental diets, dental chews and treats, and water additives, gels and sprays, and VOHC lists accepted products in each group. Your vet can also clean the teeth under anesthesia. Brushing is still the most effective home method. Ask your vet which fits your dog.
How to clean dogs' teeth if they won't let you brush them?
Start with face and mouth handling and rewards, then pet toothpaste from your finger, a cloth over a few teeth, and a brush last, as VCA's steps describe. VOHC also lists two wipe products. Check with your vet if the dog seems to be in pain.
How can I make homemade dog dental chews?
We found no veterinary source that recommends homemade chews for plaque control, and a home recipe has no trial behind it. If you bake treats, avoid sweeteners, since xylitol is toxic to dogs, and count the calories. A VOHC-accepted chew is the option with a check behind it.
What are the best ways to clean a dog's teeth?
Brushing is the most effective home method, ideally daily with a pet toothpaste, plus regular veterinary exams and cleanings under anesthesia when needed. VOHC says many pets need periodic professional scaling on top of daily plaque control.
Can I use baking soda or human toothpaste on my dog's teeth?
No. VCA says human toothpaste can upset the stomach and may contain xylitol or high sodium, and baking soda can upset the stomach's acid balance. Use a toothpaste made for pets, and call your vet if a dog swallows human toothpaste.
Can I clean my dog's teeth without anesthesia?
AVDC says scaling an unanesthetized dog is inappropriate: it cannot reach below the gum line, and the mouth cannot be fully examined. At home, the safe parts of dental care are brushing, wipes and VOHC-accepted products.
Sources
- Veterinary Oral Health Council: VOHC home page, accessed October 13, 2026. Daily use, gold standard brushing, supervision, VOHC does not test products itself.
- Veterinary Oral Health Council: Accepted products, accessed October 13, 2026. Claims and seal years in the VOHC snapshot of October 13, 2026.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Dental disease and home dental care, accessed October 13, 2026. Brushing, other home options, hard chews, signs of dental disease.
- Antibiotics 2022;11(12):1729: Cunha E, Tavares L, Oliveira M. Revisiting periodontal disease in dogs: how to manage this new old problem?, accessed October 13, 2026. Review; brushing frequency, positive reinforcement, chews as an addition.
- J Small Anim Pract 1996, via Europe PMC: Gorrel C, Rawlings JM. The role of tooth-brushing and diet in the maintenance of periodontal health in dogs, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only.
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Prepare your pet to have their teeth brushed, accessed October 13, 2026. Step-by-step introduction, toothpaste taste, gauze, 45 degree technique.
- VCA Animal Hospitals: How to brush your pet's teeth, accessed October 13, 2026. Ten tips, pet toothbrush, no human toothpaste or baking soda.
- VCA Animal Hospitals: True or false? You can brush your pet's teeth with toothpaste made for people, accessed October 13, 2026. Human toothpaste, xylitol, baking soda.
- U.S. FDA: Paws off xylitol; it's dangerous for dogs, accessed October 13, 2026. Toothpaste among products that may contain xylitol.
- American Veterinary Dental College: Position statement, Companion animal dental scaling without anesthesia, accessed October 13, 2026. Why unanesthetized scaling is not recommended; daily home care.
- American Animal Hospital Association: 2019 AAHA dental care guidelines for dogs and cats (summary page), accessed October 13, 2026. Home care and the risks of nonanesthetic dentistry.