How to Remove Plaque and Tartar from a Dog's Teeth?

Healthy teeth and gums are crucial to your dog's wellbeing. Apart from eating, dogs use their mouths to explore and interact with the world, so maintaining your dog’s teeth is one of the biggest responsibilities you have as a pet parent.

While it may not seem like a serious issue, oral issues like tooth decay and periodontal disease can greatly impact your dog’s quality of life. So, if you start to notice tartar on your dog’s teeth, this is a warning sign that you can’t ignore.

How Many Dogs Are Affected by Dental Diseases?

Nearly 80% of dogs develop some form of periodontal (gum) disease by the time they reach age three. While cases may vary, plaque and tartar (dental calculus) are the most common culprits. Build up may cause periodontal disease that typically progresses from mild gingivitis, red, inflamed gums, to advanced periodontitis, which permanently damages the supportive tissues and bone structures surrounding the teeth.

While dental disease affects all dogs, risks vary significantly by size. Compared to large breeds, the occurrence of dental disease is much higher with small and toy breeds due to their smaller mouth structure. Without a proactive dental care routine, progression can easily go unnoticed and lead to chronic discomfort.

How Do Plaque and Tartar Build Up in a Dog's Mouth?

Plaque is a sticky, invisible film of bacteria that constantly forms on your dog’s teeth. While leftover food particles accelerate this process, bacteria will multiply and coat the tooth's surface regardless. If this plaque isn't disrupted by regular cleaning, it reacts with minerals in your dog's saliva. Within just 3 to 5 days, it mineralizes and hardens into a rough, yellowish-brown substance called tartar.

Once tartar cements itself to the teeth, it creates a porous surface where even more plaque can grow. This cycle quickly triggers gingivitis and eventually progresses to advanced periodontal disease. Because hardened tartar can only be safely removed by a veterinarian, consistent dental care is important.

What Happens If You Don't Remove Dog Tartar?

Tartar may seem harmless, but it can eventually affect much more than just your dog’s smile. Here’s what can happen if you don’t get rid of dog tartar.

• Bad Breath: Hardened tartar has a rough surface that easily traps food particles and bacteria. Without cleaning, tartar buildup can cause persistent bad breath.
• Painful gums and tooth loss: When tartar spreads beneath the gum line, it can damage the gums, ligaments, and bone that hold your dog’s teeth in place. Over time, affected teeth may become loose.
• Weaker jawbones: Advanced periodontal disease can gradually weaken the bone surrounding the teeth.
• Possible effects beyond the mouth: Inflamed or damaged gums may allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and affect organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver.
• The need for professional dental cleaning: Unlike soft plaque, hardened tartar cannot be removed with brushing alone. If your dog already has visible tartar, a veterinarian may recommend professional cleaning. For severe cases, extraction is also possible.

The good news is that regular brushing, daily dental chews, and routine veterinary check-ups are proven steps to dog tartar removal.

How to Remove Plaque and Prevent Tartar Build Up in Dogs?

Consistently brushing your dog’s teeth regularly with a dog-safe toothpaste and toothbrush is the best way to care for your dog’s oral health. Ideally, tooth brushing should happen daily, but you can target 2-3 times a week if your dog is still adjusting. When brushing your dog’s teeth, focus on the outer surfaces of the teeth and around the gum line, where plaque commonly builds up.

On top of brushing, serving daily dental chews alongside a tooth brushing routine will also work wonders. For starters, PEDIGREE® DentaStix™ is scientifically proven to help reduce plaque and tartar build-up by up to 80% when fed daily. Its unique X-shape and gently abrasive texture help clean hard-to-reach teeth, reduce tartar build-up, and support healthy gums.

For a complete dog oral care routine:

• Brush your dog’s teeth regularly with dog-safe toothpaste.
• Feed one appropriately sized PEDIGREE® DentaStix™ each day.
• Provide fresh drinking water and a serve complete and balanced dog food.
• Check your dog’s mouth regularly for bad breath, inflamed gums, or visible tartar.
• Schedule routine veterinary dental check-ups.

Keep in mind that dental chews and brushing are most effective at managing plaque and preventing future build-up. They cannot fully remove tartar that has already hardened calculus on your dog’s teeth. If you suspect teeth or gum issues, take some time to look at the PEDIGREE® Toothscan Tool for a quick look at your dog’s teeth.

Protect Your Dog's Smile

Plaque and tartar in dogs may seem like a small issues, but they can develop into larger issues if left untreated. The good news is that with a consistent dog dental care routine, vet check‑ups, and serving dental dog treats like PEDIGREE® DentaStix™, you can protect your dog’s teeth and gums for years to come. If you want to learn more about dog dental care, take some time to visit the PEDIGREE® blog!