How Food Texture Affects Your Dog’s Dental Health

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If you’re like most readers of our blog, you are used to standing in front of aisles with soft and crunchy dog food, trying to pick the holy grail of it. What’s the best food for dog dental health? Should you pick hard, crunchy snacks or purchase a couple of cans of tuna paste? Whether your tail-wagger is dealing with missing teeth, sensitive gums, or they’re completely healthy, the texture of their meals is key to natural dog dental care and health in general. Let’s get a better idea of this connection and make better choices as we shop at pet stores.

Why Texture Matters

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Just like you do it yourself, you have to set daily routine for your dog’s health, including oral hygiene. Keeping their fangs sparkling helps avoid plaque buildup, tartar, and gum disease. And it’s the food (its texture, to be more precise) that can serve as a tool to clean their teeth naturally:

• Dry and crunchy nom-noms. Dry kibble or crunchy treats are some kind of mild abrasive. They scrape off some plaque and slow down tartar buildup when your mutt enjoys a delicious dinner. Such a mechanical action stimulates saliva production that, in turn, neutralizes acids and washes away food particles. According to the “Influence of Diet on Oral Health in Cats and Dogs” research, “lymphadenopathy, dental deposits, and periodontal disease were absent significantly more often in cats and dogs fed dry food compared with those fed mixed food.” It means if you prefer natural teeth cleaning for dogs, dry delicacies rock. However, not all of them are equally effective. Stay away from too sticky treats. They stay on the canine’s pearl whites rather than cleaning ‘em.

Key point! Even if you choose the best dry dog food for dental health, it can’t replace professional cleaning.

• Soft and moist snacks. Wet treats are easy to chew. At HealthyWoof, we understand why loads of pet parents choose this kind of meal. But you should keep in mind the main problem associated with it - its particles stick to the fangs and gums, leading to higher risks of plaque and dental diseases. 

The key? To balance texture with proper and regular mouth hygiene.

While crunchy snacks or the best dog bones for dental health are pretty helpful, they should work in tandem with a cleaning routine. That’s when products like dental powder for dogs teeth come in handy. Does dental powder work for dogs of all breeds and ages? Absolutely. Moreover, our formula fits the animals that can’t stand toothbrushes. In just seconds a day, this product supports cleaner teeth, fresh breath, and overall mouth health.

Our Top Meals for Canines’ Smile Care

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If you are a caring parent of a fluffy tail, meet our personal hit parade of eats that help scrub away plaque:

• Raw animal bones. Thanks to their texture, they remove debris and bacteria around the teeth. Never give cooked bones, though! They can break and cause serious injury. 
• Molded dental chews for dogs. Designed to combat debris and plaque, these yum-yummies also freshen a pup’s breath. Plus, they help when your furry baby gets bored and needs to chew something (your Manolo Blahniks are saved!).
• Crunchy veggies. If your fluffy companion runs away from you at the mere sight of a toothbrush, try natural ‘instruments’ like celery, cucumbers, and carrots. Their crisp texture helps prevent buildup. Besides, these vegetables are rich in nutrients and low in calories.   
• Dry kibble for teeth care. Some kibble requires more chewing because it is made with bigger, crunchier pieces. The latter helps clean teeth while your woofer enjoys the dinner.

Photo by Aleksander Saks from Unsplash

Finally, when yummies are not enough, powder joins the game! There’s no doubt that your pooch’s menu is mega-posh, but sometimes animals still need extra help to keep their teeth clean. That’s why dental powder is a great addition. Browse our catalog to get 100% natural, pet-friendly solutions made to please pets that don’t tolerate brushing well.