Tartar is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, and can lead to gingivitis, cavities, and tooth pain. Those bacteria can make their way into your dog’s bloodstream if left untreated.
The average dog teeth cleaning cost ranges between $200 and $500, but treating severe periodontal disease can set you back over $1,000. Getting rid of tartar is important for your dog’s health, but is there a way of removing tartar from dog teeth without a dentist?
Regular dental health care will limit or eliminate the risk of tartar. But removing tartar from dogs teeth can be challenging once it builds up. The best way to remove tartar is to stop it from forming in the first place with dental care products from Mighty Munch.
Try Mighty Munch if you’re wondering how to remove tartar from dog teeth without dentist bills. We offer a number of dog dental health supplements to keep your dog’s mouth healthy, their breath fresh, and their teeth tartar-free.
Mighty Munch’s dog dental chews are the best choice for dog tartar removal at home. Our dental sticks for dogs have a firm, abrasive texture that helps scrape plaque and tartar from their teeth. They also contain probiotics that improve your pet’s oral health.
We have many satisfied customers in Australia and worldwide for all our products. Trust Mighty Munch for all your dog supplement needs.
“My dog loves her daily dental stick, I am happy with how her front teeth have whitened, her back teeth are cleared of tartar on the lower part of tooth. Early days yet I am feeling confident with the product. Truly give it a go and try to beat high cost of teeth cleaning professionally.” - Beth
“Our big girl absolutely loves them! They’ve also done a great job at cleaning her teeth and eliminating her stink breath — much better than other popular brands. We used to have do yearly dental cleans at the vet but we’re going on two years and still looking good!” - Cas
“We have been looking for a healthy dental treat that doesn’t have crappy ingredients in it. Love you product and so does our boy. Ordering second pack now. Love a good genuine brand and product especially these days.” - Sanaz
What is Tartar on Dog's Teeth?
You may also notice that your pet’s gums are inflamed or that they are showing signs of mouth and jaw pain. But what causes tartar on dog’s teeth and how do you know if your dog has tartar?
How Plaque Turns Into Tartar
Bacteria form a sticky biofilm on your dog’s teeth within an hour or two of eating. That film hardens into tartar if it isn’t removed by brushing or chewing within 24 hours. Salts and minerals in your dog’s saliva stick to plaque and accumulate into tartar.
What Tartar Looks and Feels Like
Tartar is a brown or yellowish-white substance along your dog’s gum line.Tartar on dog’s teeth looks like a chalky buildup and feels rough to the touch.
It looks and feels bad, but it smells worse. Many dog parents think stinky dog breath is inevitable, but foul breath is a warning flag that your dog has dental issues. Check for tartar if you gag every time your dog breathes on you.
Are Certain Breeds More Prone to Tartar Buildup?
Toy and small dog breeds are more likely to have tartar issues. All dogs have 42 teeth, and it’s harder to fit them into tiny dog mouths. Food particles can build up between their closely-packed teeth and they are more likely to have misaligned teeth.
Flat-faced dogs like Bulldogs, Boxers and Pugs are also prone to tartar buildup. Their mouth shape makes it more difficult for their permanent teeth to come in correctly. Long-nosed dogs like Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs can have overbites that can promote plaque buildup.
Knowing how to remove tartar from dog teeth is especially important for pet parents with these dogs. But every pet parent needs to make an effort on dog tartar removal!
Why Dog Tartar Removal is So Important
Dog tartar isn’t just smelly and unsightly. It can also lead to painful dog dental diseases and even serious diseases. Here are some issues that can arise if you neglect dog tartar removal.
Gum Disease (Gingivitis, Periodontitis) and Tooth Loss
Tartar accumulates under your dog’s gum line if it’s ignored. Its rough surface irritates the gums and the bacteria it houses infect the gum tissue. This causes gingivitis, red and inflamed gums. Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis if left untreated.
The gum infection spreads to the bone and mouth tissue in periodontitis. This causes gum recession, and difficulty chewing. Periodontitis can even loosen your dog’s teeth to the point where they fall out. To learn more, check out our article on dog periodontal disease stages.
Pain, Difficulty Eating, Infections That Can Spread to Vital Organs
Gingivitis caused by tartar makes your dog’s mouth sore. As the gums recede due to periodontitis, they can expose the tooth roots. Since the root isn’t protected by enamel, it is very sensitive. Eating can become painful and your dog might start refusing food.
The bacteria in mouth infections can spread throughout your dog’s body. They can infect your dog’s heart, liver, kidneys, or even their brain. These infections are very serious and can be fatal or cause permanent damage.
Clean Teeth Mean Fresher Breath and Lower Vet Bills, Too!
Fortunately, you can avoid these problems by practicing dog tartar removal at home. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean helps ensure good canine oral health. Here’s how to soften dog tartar at home, so you can save your pet from dental issues and save yourself money on vet bills.
How to Remove Tartar From Dog Teeth Without Dentist Help
You should consult your veterinarian if your dog shows signs of serious periodontal disease like loose teeth or receding gums. But you can clean their teeth without a vet visit for mild to medium cases of tartar. There are several options for how to remove tartar from dog teeth at home.
The Easiest Dog Tartar Removal Method: Mighty Munch Dental Sticks
Mighty Munch has the best dental chews for dogs if you’re wondering how to soften dog tartar at home. Dogs love the taste of our chews, and their firm, rough texture and shape make them great for dog tartar removal at home.
But our Dental Sticks do more than clean your teeth. Every dental stick has probiotic bacteria that are vital for good oral health in dogs. Like our probiotic dog supplements, our dental sticks build up your dog’s microbiome to help stop harmful bacteria from thriving in your dog’s mouth.
We make our Dental Sticks in a human-grade Australian facility with premium, high quality ingredients and live probiotics. They’re designed by veterinarians for fast dog tartar removal and continuing dental health.
We’ve received many glowing reviews from pet parents who swear by our dental sticks. Give your dog the best dog chew on the market – give them Mighty Munch Dental Sticks.
“My 2 chihuahuas are fussy eaters but loved these. Highly recommend.” - Nada
“Both our dogs love the chews. I feel better knowing that their teeth are being protected and there are no nasty fillers in the chews.” - Vicki
“What I can say is my dog loves these (my big worry was she would completely ignore them) and they seem to deliver on their promise. And that Made in Australia label is a pretty big deal for me as I’m trying as much as I can to boycott products from some countries (looking at you USA) and buy locally.” - Ian
Other Ways You Can Encourage Tartar Removal Through Chewing
Want to know how to clean dog teeth naturally? Wolves chew on bones in the wild to remove tartar and plaque from their teeth. Your dog may not be a wolf, but they’ll enjoy chewing on a raw bone to keep their teeth clean just the same.
Giving your dog peeled carrots or apple chunks is another great way of removing tartar from dog teeth. Their crunchy texture helps to scrape away tartar, and they also contain valuable vitamins and minerals.
Water Additives and Oral Sprays
Consider adding a dental care supplement to your dog’s water bowl as a less invasive way to get rid of tartar. Water additives and oral sprays are a great dog plaque remover that can keep your dog’s mouth in top condition.
You have to hold your dog’s mouth open to use dental spray. That’s why we designed our Pet Dental Care supplement as a water additive. You don’t have to struggle with your dog. Just put 1-2 tablespoons in their water bowl for healthier teeth and better breath without the fuss.
Dietary Adjustments for Better Oral Health
Kibble contains sugars and starches that feed the bacteria on your dog’s teeth. Raw food is lower in carbohydrates and has natural enzymes that can reduce plaque and tartar buildup. Ask about a prescription dog food for oral health if your dog has ongoing dental issues.
Don’t Neglect Regular Brushing
Regular brushing helps remove plaque from your dog’s teeth and mouth, so tartar can’t form. Ideally you should brush your dog’s teeth once or twice a day. But many dogs dislike tooth brushing and some will put up a struggle at every brushing session.
We recommend our dental sticks as an alternative to brushing your dog’s teeth. They clean your dog’s teeth and freshen their breath without brushing. Choose Mighty Munch as a dental care alternative if your dog hates the sight of toothbrushes.
How Often Are Professional Cleanings Necessary?
Most veterinarians recommend annual oral check-ups for your dog, with six-month checkups for smaller dogs or dogs with a history of dental issues. If your vet notices tartar buildup, they will remove it with a cleaning.
Scraping tartar off dog teeth is traumatic for your dog and expensive for you. If you know how to remove tartar from dog teeth with a good dog dental regimen, you can reduce tartar buildup and increase the time between cleanings.
Our Dental Sticks for Dogs are a good way to increase the time between professional cleanings. The probiotics in our Dental Sticks help maintain your dog’s oral microbiome and fight off the bacteria that cause plaque and tartar.
Closing Thoughts on How to Soften Dog Tartar For Easy Removal
And that ends our article on how to remove tartar from dog teeth. We’ve provided several ways you can improve your dog’s dental health and increase the time between cleanings. But we’ve saved the best way for last — Mighty Munch.
Our Dental Sticks for Dogs offer probiotic maintenance along with tooth cleaning. And unlike many dog dental chew makers, we never use wheat gluten, corn, or other materials that can trigger dog allergies and upset stomachs.
Tartar buildup can quickly develop into painful oral conditions and periodontitis. Keep your dog’s mouth healthy and tartar-free with Mighty Munch.
