How to Soften Dog Tartar Before Calling a Vet

Effective ways to keep a dog’s teeth plaque-free

Co-authored by Ray Spragley, DVM and Aimee Payne, MFA

Last Updated: May 17, 2024 Fact Checked

Want to clean your dog’s teeth and remove tartar to give your fuzzy friend a sparkling white smile again? Reducing tartar improves the appearance of your dog’s teeth and maintains your pet’s oral health by helping to prevent gingivitis and tooth decay. In this article, we’ll share how to prepare your dog for getting their teeth cleaned and how to effectively soften tartar at home. We’ll also cover ways to prevent tartar buildup in the future. Read on for tips on how to keep your dog’s teeth shiny and tartar-free.

Removing Dog Plaque & Tartar without a Vet

Brush your dog’s teeth with enzymatic toothpaste or coconut oil to help prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Dental chews, wipes, oral sprays, and gels are also good choices for canine dental care. Chew toys and bones help break up tartar deposits. If these aren’t effective, schedule a dental appointment with your vet.

Products You Can Use to Soften Dog Tartar

1

Polish your dog’s teeth with a soft toothbrush.

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Put enzymatic toothpaste on a brush and clean every tooth. When your dog is relaxed⁠—such as when lying down⁠—crouch to your dog’s eye level.^{[1]
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Go to source} Then, squeeze a dab of enzymatic toothpaste onto the toothbrush. Place the brush flat on your dog’s teeth and polish each tooth individually.
- Use an enzymatic toothpaste specially formulated for dogs.
- Some enzymatic toothpaste, like Virbac, contain flavors like vanilla, which many dogs love. These toothpastes will also freshen your dog’s breath!

2

Give your dog dental chews to remove tartar.

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Dental treats break up plaque and tartar when your dog chews them. Choose from dental rawhide, sticks, bones, or biscuits. Check the label to ensure the chew is the best size for your dog’s weight. Give your dog up to one dental chew a day and be sure to supervise them as they gnaw on it.^{[2]
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- Once the dental chew breaks apart, throw it away so it doesn’t become a choking hazard or splinter and harm your dog’s teeth and gums.
- When your dog gnaws on either a dental treat or toy, they scrape off the plaque and tartar on their teeth.
- All-natural dental treats have enzymes that promote dental health, and many dental treats contain ingredients that freshen your dog’s breath.
- Limit your dog to one dental treat a day to help them maintain a healthy weight.
- Give your dog a dental chew toy instead of a treat if they’re on a vet-recommended diet. Your pooch won’t even know the difference!

3

Clean your dog’s teeth with dental wipes.

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Dental wipes remove calcium that can harden into plaque or tartar. Crouch down by your dog, talking in a happy, excited tone, and place your finger on one of their teeth. If your dog is calm and relaxed, place a dental wipe over your finger and gently touch more of their teeth. Once your dog adjusts to the dental wipe, use it to rub each tooth in a circular motion.^{[3]
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- After placing a dental wipe against your dog's teeth to let them adjust to it, praise them.
- Since dental wipes break down calcium, they also soften tartar, which is actually made up of calcium deposits that cling onto your dog’s teeth and can lead to health problems like gingivitis.^{[4]
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- Dental wipes like Petkin Fresh Mint wipes contain baking soda, so they’ll remove stains on your dog’s teeth and freshen your pet’s breath.

4

Rub oral care gel on your dog’s mouth.

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Pet oral gel is specially formulated to remove plaque and tartar. Pet your dog and lightly touch the inside of their mouth. Once your dog adjusts to this, squeeze two drops of oral care gel onto your index finger and dab the right side of your dog’s mouth. Repeat this step on the left side.^{[5]
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- Give your dog a gum massage to help stimulate blood flow if they allow it. An oral massage can also increase saliva production and help dislodge plaque.
- When you apply oral care gel daily, you may see results in as little as 30 days or less.
- You won’t need to brush your dog’s teeth if you use oral care gels like TropiClean Fresh Breath. Your dog’s saliva mixes with the oral care gel and activates ingredients that break down plaque and tartar.
- Oral care gel will also fight bacteria and freshen your dog’s breath.^{[6]
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5

Use dental spray to break down plaque.

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Dental spray removes plaque before it hardens into tartar. When your dog is calm and relaxed, spritz their gums and teeth with a dental spray formulated for pets. Your dog’s saliva mixes with the spray to create a film that dissolves the plaque and calcium in tartar.^{[7]
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- Read the label on your dental spray and check the dose for your dog’s size.
- Use dental spray 30 minutes before or after your dog eats.
- Spray your dog’s teeth more often if they have advanced tartar buildup.
- A dental spray like HealthyMouth doesn’t contain alcohol or toxins and uses natural ingredients to reduce tartar and prevent gum disease.
- For maximum results, combine dental spray with daily brushing.
- If your dog is uncooperative and you can’t spritz into their mouth, apply the dental spray to their dog toys. The dental spray will combine with their saliva when they chew on the toys.

6

Let your dog chew on bones to break up tartar.

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Bones help knock tartar off teeth when dogs chew them. Choose a bone that’s large enough that your dog won’t swallow but small enough that they can easily chew it. Always supervise your dog while they nibble on bones. Once your dog can fit an entire bone or piece of bone into their mouth, take it away and give them a new one.^{[8]
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- Raw bones are great for fighting tartar because they don’t splinter and won’t damage your dog’s teeth.
- Use the “knee cap” test to check if bones are soft enough for your dog—if you hit your knee cap with a bone and it hurts, it’s too hard for your dog to chew on.
- Keep an eye on your dog’s chewing behavior. They can fracture their teeth on a hard bone if they're an aggressive chewer.

7

Give your dog a treat after cleaning their teeth.

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Rewards can make your dog happy to participate in regular oral care. Once you’ve finished with your preferred method of fighting tartar, reward your dog with a treat for being cooperative. Then, praise and pet your dog or play a round of fetch so they have positive associations with teeth cleaning.^{[9]
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- Use an upbeat, energetic tone to motivate your dog and help them feel more excited about teeth cleaning.
- Give your dog the same compliments you give them for good behavior. For example, you can say, “Good boy!” or “Who’s the best doggo? You are!”
- Don’t give your dog more than the recommended amount of treats in a day – usually about 10% of their daily calories.

8

Use coconut oil to prevent tartar buildup.

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The antibacterial properties of coconut oil help fight plaque and tartar. Put 1 tbsp (14 mL) of coconut oil on a soft-bristled “doggy toothbrush.” Brush your dog’s teeth in a circular motion for about 2 minutes. When you’re finished, praise your dog and give them a good, long scratch.^{[10]
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- For best results, brush your dog’s teeth with coconut oil once a day.
- Avoid giving your dog a treat before cleaning their teeth to make the process easier.
- Play a fun game, like fetch or tug, so your dog gets excited for tooth brushings.
- Check with your vet before introducing coconut oil into your dog’s diet. If your dog carries a few extra pounds, try a different approach to oral hygiene.
- Add coconut oil to your dog’s food to help with tartar prevention.
Jessica Vogelsang, Veterinarian

To help soften stubborn tartar on your dog's teeth before brushing, mix equal parts coconut oil and water into a thin, spreadable paste. Gently rub this homemade solution along the gumlines and over surface deposits for 2-3 minutes before brushing as usual. The coconut oil helps loosen plaque so more comes off during regular brushing.

9

Spritz your dog’s teeth with an oral rinse.

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The main ingredient in oral rinses, chlorhexidine, kills bacteria and helps prevent tartar.^{[11]
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Go to source} Pull up your dog’s lip and squirt one drop of the oral rinse inside each of their cheeks. Your dog’s saliva mixes with the oral rinse and coats their teeth and gums to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
- Most chlorhexidine oral rinses are flavored, so your dog may enjoy the taste.
- Oral rinses also kill bacteria and will help freshen your dog’s breath.
- These rinses are formulated to be antimicrobial, anti-plaque, and anti-calculus, so they’ll help protect your dog from tooth and gum disease.
- Play with your dog and reward them with affection after you apply the oral rinse!

10

Pour a dental additive into your dog’s water to reduce tartar.

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A dental additive helps keep the water free of tartar-causing bacteria. First, ask your vet if they recommend daily water additives for your dog. If they give you the okay, read the label of your dental additive and pour the suggested amount into your dog’s water bowl.^{[12]
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- When your dog drinks water, the dental additive acts as a mouthwash that cleans their gums and teeth.
- Many dental additives are odorless, so your dog won’t notice anything different about their water.
- Clean your dog’s water bowl after each use to make sure it’s sterilized.
- Since a dental additive kills bacteria, it helps prevent tartar and mouth infections.
- Ask your vet if your dog has pre-existing conditions or is on medications that may interact with water additives.

11

Bring your dog to the vet once a year for teeth cleaning.

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Most vets recommend an annual professional cleaning to fight tartar buildup. Tartar buildup can lead to gum disease, infections, tooth loss, and decay. These conditions are often painful and can affect your hound’s quality of life. If your dog shows signs of thick tartar buildup, schedule a dental appointment with your vet. They’ll give your dog a thorough cleaning under anesthesia to remove all the tartar.^{[13]
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- Dogs need regular dental visits to maintain oral health, just like humans!
- If your dog develops tartar quickly, you might need to schedule a dental appointment every 6 months.
- Practice good oral hygiene between your dog’s regular cleanings to help prevent tartar buildup.