Short answer
Some do. Chews with the VOHC Seal met a standard of at least a 15% plaque or tartar reduction in each of two trials, and published studies of daily chews report less plaque, tartar and bad breath after 4 to 9 weeks.2, 5, 7 They work less well than daily brushing and do not replace a veterinary cleaning.
This page looks at what VOHC’s trial rules require and what published studies of daily chews report. It tests nothing on dogs. The studies are product-specific, and none of the five abstracts states who paid for the work. The Europe PMC records list a funder for three: Affinity Petcare for the 2020 toy-breed trial, Pet’s Best Life for the 2025 honeycomb trial, and the BBC programme “Trust Me, I’m a Vet” for Allan et al.; check the full paper before leaning on a result. Data checked on October 13, 2026.
Do dental chews for dogs actually work?
Under the conditions tested, yes: in several trials dogs given a daily chew had less plaque and tartar than dogs given none. The conditions matter, though. Most were controlled trials, some started from freshly cleaned teeth, and each tested one chew.
| Study | Design | Reported result |
|---|---|---|
| Quest, 20135 | 60 adult dogs, 28 days: dry diet plus one chew a day against the diet alone. The abstract calls it an independent study. | Significantly less plaque, calculus and oral malodor; better gingival indices. |
| Toy breeds, 20207 | 8 Yorkshire terriers and 9 Chihuahuas in a crossover trial: one chew a day against no chew. | Gingivitis down 20%, plaque 15%, calculus 35%, breath sulfur compounds 19%, all against no chew. |
| Honeycomb chew, 20258 | Client-owned dogs of various breeds, one chew daily for 60 consecutive days, scored under anesthesia. | Calculus down 26.6%, plaque 14.2%, malodor 46.71%. The gingival score change (0.99%) was not significant. The abstract does not describe a control group. |
| Gorrel and Rawlings, 19969 | Brushing every other day, with or without a daily hygiene chew. | Brushing every other day did not maintain healthy gums; adding a daily chew reduced gingivitis and deposits. |
| Allan et al., 20196 | 22 dogs after a scale and polish, 6 weeks: daily brushing, a daily chew, or a prescription dental diet. | Brushing was more than three times as effective at controlling plaque as the chew or the diet; the chew and diet did not differ. |
Two things follow. Chews do reduce plaque and tartar buildup in the trials above, and the size of the effect differs by product and by measure; the honeycomb trial found no significant gum improvement. And brushing beat both chews and a dental diet head to head, and Cornell likewise calls brushing the most effective home method, with chews as an addition or a fallback.4
How do dog dental chews work to clean teeth?
A review of canine periodontal care describes chews and treats as acting by stimulating saliva flow and abrading the tooth surface, which removes plaque mechanically; some also carry a chemical anti-plaque agent.10 VOHC’s rules treat the two kinds differently: a chew with a purely mechanical effect is tested against a dry-food control, while one with an added chemical agent can need an extra comparison group.2 Which agent a given chew uses is not always published, and it is not in our data for the lines below.
What does the VOHC Seal actually test?
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Who runs the trials | The sponsor. VOHC says it does not test products itself; its Council reviews the submitted data.1 |
| Number of trials | Two. The required reduction is stated for each trial and for the mean of the two.2 |
| Length | At least 28 days.2 |
| Starting point | Teeth are scaled and polished under anesthesia on day zero, so plaque and tartar start at zero.2 |
| Comparison | A control group fed the same dry diet without the product.2 |
| Required effect | A plaque or tartar score at least 15% lower than the control in each trial and 20% lower on average across the two, statistically significant (p<0.05) in each trial.2 |
| Use of the product | As recommended on the package.2 |
| Dogs excluded | Dogs with severe periodontal disease of the scored teeth.2 |
VOHC sets no minimum number of dogs per group; that is left to the sponsor.2 So a Seal tells you a reviewed trial met the standard in mouths cleaned at the start of a trial lasting at least 28 days, not that a chew will clear tartar already on your dog’s teeth.
Are there any dog dental chews that actually work?
The chews whose trial data VOHC has reviewed are the ones on the VOHC list. On October 13, 2026 it had 37 edible-chew rows: 24 with a Plaque, Tartar claim and 13 with a Tartar-only claim.3 A brand is not accepted as a whole; only the named line in the row is. Four lines in our data:
| Line | VOHC claim | Seal year |
|---|---|---|
| Greenies Original | Plaque, Tartar | 2007 |
| Milk-Bone Brushing Chews | Tartar | 2014 |
| Whimzees Brushzees | Plaque, Tartar | 2019 |
| C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH | Plaque, Tartar | 2020 |
See the full VOHC-accepted dental chews list, best dental chews for sizes and calories, and Dentastix vs Greenies or Greenies vs Whimzees for pairs. These buttons open an Amazon search for the product name; this page shows no prices.
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What dental chews cannot do
The trials above score plaque and tartar, not pocket depth or bone loss. AVDC’s position statement calls scaling below the gum line “the most critical part” of a dental cleaning, because that is where periodontal disease is active, and says removing tartar from visible surfaces alone has little effect on a pet’s health.11 Cornell notes that a full oral exam with X-rays is only possible under anesthesia.4 VOHC itself says many pets need periodic professional scaling on top of ongoing plaque control.1 A review of the field concludes that chews and treats do not replace daily brushing.10
Do dental chews help with bad breath?
The studies above report less oral malodor with a daily chew, measured as sulfur compounds in the breath or by scoring: 19% lower in the toy-breed trial and 46.71% lower in the honeycomb trial.7, 8 But Cornell lists bad breath as the first sign many owners notice of dental disease and a reason to contact your vet, along with trouble eating, bleeding from the mouth, swelling of the jaw or face, drooling and nasal discharge.4 Breath that stays bad after a few weeks of a chew deserves a check-up.
How can I tell whether a chew is working?
An owner cannot score plaque below the gum line, so use outside checks: a veterinary mouth exam at the annual visit or more often if your vet recommends,4 and a look at the visible tooth surfaces for yellow or brown build-up. A chew that is not holding tartar back is a reason to talk to your vet about brushing, a different VOHC product, or a cleaning. Brushing is the strongest home routine: see how to clean a dog's teeth without brushing, how to remove plaque and tartar from dog teeth and how often to give a dental chew. To compare lines, start at best dental chews.
Frequently asked questions
Do dental chews for dogs actually work?
In controlled trials, a daily chew reduced plaque, tartar and bad breath compared with no chew, for example in a 60-dog study over 28 days. They work less well than daily brushing and do not replace a veterinary cleaning. Ask your vet what suits your dog.
How do dog dental chews work to clean teeth?
Mostly by abrasion and saliva flow, which removes plaque from the tooth surface. Some chews also carry a chemical anti-plaque agent. VOHC accepts a chew only after two trials show a plaque or tartar reduction against a control.
Are there any dog dental chews that actually work?
Chews whose trial data VOHC has reviewed hold the VOHC Seal: 37 edible-chew rows on the list we checked. The seal is for a named line, not a whole brand, and it measures plaque and tartar, not safety.
Do dental chews clean below the gumline?
The trials we cite score plaque and tartar, not pocket depth or bone loss. AVDC says the most critical part of a dental cleaning is below the gum line, which needs a veterinary cleaning under anesthesia.
Can dental chews replace brushing?
No. In a 6-week trial, daily brushing controlled plaque more than three times as well as a daily chew, and a review concludes chews and treats do not replace daily brushing. Chews are an addition, or a fallback for dogs that refuse a brush.
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: Trial protocol requirements, accessed October 13, 2026. Minimum trial length, control group, reduction thresholds.
- 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.
- J Vet Dent 2013;30(2):84-87, via Europe PMC: Quest BW. Oral health benefits of a daily dental chew in dogs, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only.
- J Small Anim Pract 2019, via Europe PMC: Allan FJ et al. Prospective randomised blinded clinical trial assessing effectiveness of three dental plaque control methods in dogs, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only.
- J Vet Dent 2020, via Europe PMC: Evaluation of efficacy of a dental chew to reduce gingivitis, dental plaque, calculus, and halitosis in toy breed dogs, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only.
- J Vet Dent 2025, via Europe PMC: Effectiveness of a daily honeycomb-shaped dental chew in reducing calculus, plaque, gingivitis and malodor in dogs, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only.
- 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.
- 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; how chews act, brushing as gold standard, chews do not replace brushing.
- American Veterinary Dental College: Position statement, Companion animal dental scaling without anesthesia, accessed October 13, 2026. Subgingival scaling, daily home care.