The 10 Best Natural Ingredients for Fresh Breath and Healthy Teeth
Many dog owners may not realize just how much of an impact small dietary changes can make on your dog’s oral health and how crucial this is to their long-term well-being. While regular brushing and professional cleanings are essential, what if there was an easier, more natural way to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy every day?
Proactively caring for your dog’s oral hygiene can help prevent painful issues like gum disease and tooth decay, yet a surprising number of pet parents overlook the role that diet can play. By simply incorporating a few natural ingredients into your dog's meals, you can significantly improve their teeth health, gum health, and combat bad breath. These small, easy changes can have long-lasting benefits, allowing you to care for your dog’s oral health in a way that’s convenient and effective.
In this week’s PetPax Co. Paper, we dive into the top 10 natural ingredients that promote excellent dog oral care and keep your furry friend’s smile bright and healthy.
Coconut Oil for Dog Oral Health
Why it's Great
How to Use?
Crunchy Carrots for Plaque Removal
Why it's Great
Carrots are a crunchy, low-calorie treat that is great for your dog's teeth! They act as nature’s toothbrush. Their firm texture helps scrape plaque off the teeth and prevents it from hardening into tartar, which in turn supports your dog’s teeth health. Carrots are also packed with Vitamin A that promotes stronger, healthier gums and maintains the outer enamel of the teeth - it’s an excellent addition to your dog’s oral care routine!
How to Use?
Offer baby carrots or chopped pieces of larger carrots to your dog as a snack or training reward. The more they chew, the better the results! These low-calorie treats provide a natural way to keep their teeth clean and freshen up their breath.
Apples: A Natural Teeth Cleaner
Why it's Great
Apples are a fantastic source of fiber and vitamins and they also aid in cleaning your dog’s teeth. The fiber in apples acts as a gentle abrasive, helping to scrub away food particles and bacteria that can contribute to dog bad breath, in turn helping keep the teeth clean. Apples are rich in vitamin C, which promotes healthy gums by supporting tissue repair and growth.
How to Use?
Feed your dog apple slices as a refreshing treat or reward (but be sure to remove the seeds, which contain cyanide and is toxic to dogs). Their natural sweetness makes them irresistible to dogs while improving their dog gum health.
Parsley for Fresh Dog Breath
Why it's Great
If your dog’s breath smells less than fresh, parsley can be a game-changer. Parsley is packed with chlorophyll, which is a natural deodorizer for bad breath. It also contains vitamins A and C that promote oral and overall health, which makes it an excellent addition to any dog oral care regimen. Chlorophyll helps neutralize odor-causing bacteria, reducing stinky dog breath and giving your pup a fresher mouth.
How to Use?
Chop a small amount of fresh parsley and sprinkle it over your dog’s food. For a treat, you can also mix parsley into homemade dog biscuits or freeze it in ice cubes for a refreshing, breath-freshening snack.
Kelp for Tartar Control
Why it's Great
Kelp, especially in powdered form, is an amazing addition to your dog’s diet for maintaining dog dental hygiene. Kelp is a natural source of enzymes (alginate), which helps soften and break down plaque and prevent tartar buildup. Kelp is also rich in iodine, calcium, and other essential nutrients that support overall health, including dog teeth health.
How to Use?
A pinch of powdered kelp sprinkled onto your dog’s food will do the trick. Over time, this will naturally reduce plaque buildup and keep your dog’s teeth and gums strong and healthy.
Bone Broth: Strengthening Teeth and Gums
Why it's Great
Bone broth is more than just a flavorful treat – it’s packed with nutrients that can strengthen your dog’s teeth and gums and reduce inflammation. Bone broth is rich in collagen, gelatin, phosphorus, and essential minerals, which are all critical for strong teeth and healthy gums. Collagen helps support gum tissue and promotes overall gum health, while calcium and phosphorus strengthen teeth, reducing the risk of fractures or decay. Even better, bone broth not only improves your dog’s oral health from the inside out, but it also provides hydration and joint support.
How to Use?
Serve as a tasty supplement to your dog’s meals. You can also freeze bone broth in ice cube trays and give your dog these frozen treats on a hot day.
Probiotics for Dog Breath and Gum Health
Why it's Great
Probiotics like plain yogurt contain beneficial bacteria that support digestive health and also contribute to fresher breath. Poor digestion can sometimes lead to bad breath, and probiotics can help maintain a healthy gut flora that reduces foul-smelling gasses. Probiotics are also great because they support your dog’s immune health, helping to fight bacteria that cause gum disease.
How to Use?
Give your pup plain, unsweetened yogurt a few times a week as a snack or mixed into their food. Avoid yogurts with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, because they can be harmful to dogs.
Sweet Potatoes for Oral Hygiene
Why it's Great
Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, beta-carotene, and other vitamins and minerals that promote healthy gums and teeth. When cooked, their fibrous, chewy texture helps remove plaque as your dog chews, making them a great natural remedy for maintaining dog teeth health. The high vitamin content in sweet potatoes also promotes strong, healthy gums.
How to Use?
Cook and mash the sweet potatoes, and serve them as part of your dog’s meal or as a treat. You can also dehydrate them to make chewy, long-lasting snacks that provide extra cleaning action for your dog’s teeth.
Turmeric for Gum Inflammation
Why it's Great
A well-known ingredient, turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that make it a fantastic option for reducing gum inflammation in dogs suffering from gingivitis or other oral issues! The curcumin in turmeric not only helps reduce swelling but also has antibacterial properties, helping to fight off harmful bacteria in the mouth that can cause dog dental diseases. Turmeric is especially helpful in preventing and treating gum disease, making it a valuable addition to any dog dental care routine.
How to Use?
Sprinkle a small amount of turmeric on your dog’s food or mix it into homemade dog treats. This can support dog gum health and help reduce the risk of dental diseases over time.
Raw Meaty Bones (RMBs) for Plaque Control
Raw meaty bones are nature’s toothbrush for dogs, and chewing on them can be one of the best ways to help dogs clean their teeth naturally. When your dog gnaws on raw bones, the natural action of chewing helps scrape away plaque and tartar, promoting healthy teeth and gums. It’s an effective method to prevent dog dental diseases like periodontal disease and bad breath. Additionally, raw bones help massage your dog’s gums and keep them healthy, reducing the likelihood of gum disease and bad breath.
How to Use?
Give your dog appropriately sized raw bones that are safe for chewing, such as beef knuckle bones or chicken wings. Always supervise your dog when they are chewing on the bones to prevent choking, and never give them cooked bones, as these can splinter and cause injury.
Final Thoughts on Natural Dog Oral Care
By incorporating these natural and commonly found ingredients into your dog’s diet, you can significantly improve their oral hygiene, reduce the risk of plaque and tartar buildup and gum disease, and keep their breath fresh. These small changes are an easy and effective way to enhance dog dental care and support overall health. Remember that while these natural remedies are beneficial, regular proactive care (like brushing, oral melts, chews, etc.) and veterinary check-ups are still essential for maintaining optimal oral health in your dog.
For more insights on caring for your dog’s teeth and gums, as well as remedies for bad dog breath, explore our blog, the PetPax Co. Paper - you’ll find tips and tricks on how to care for your dog’s health, expert advice on common issues that pet parents face, as well as insights into our revolutionary products that are designed to keep your dog healthy and bright.
Written by Rhea Chandrachud