Keeping your dog's teeth clean is one of the kindest things you can do for them, and it gives back so much more than fresh kisses. Healthier gums, a happier tummy, and a dog who simply feels good in themselves. And with up to 80% of dogs and cats showing signs of dental disease by the age of three, Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), it is one of the easiest things to let slide, and one of the most worthwhile to prioritise.
But keeping on top of it, between brushing, vet visits and a shelf full of different products, is hard when life is already busy enough. That is not a failure. That is just real life.
For generations the answer has been a bone. It is natural, dogs love it, and it keeps them happily busy for an hour. But once we started looking properly at what a bone actually does to teeth, we knew we wanted something kinder that could be given every single day. So we worked closely with trusted vets and industry experts to create a daily chew that genuinely supports their dental health. That is what building Bell & Bone has been about from the start.
Starting with the question we get asked the most 💜
"Can't I just give them a bone?"
It is a completely fair one, and we used to think exactly the same thing.
Louie would happily work away at a bone for an hour, and I assumed his teeth were being taken care of while he did it. It was only when we started asking vets what they actually see that we realised how much we had been missing.
Do Bones Actually Clean Your Dog's Teeth?
Short answer, yes. Chewing lifts built-up tartar off the tooth, and we will always say that plainly.
What we learned is what comes with it. Bones are hard, and the big chewing teeth at the back take the load, which is how they end up chipped or cracked. It is why RSPCA Australia says bones "are not recommended as they can break teeth and cause internal blockages", and it is why we now keep them as an occasional, closely supervised treat rather than an everyday one.
What we found is that cleaning teeth was never about force. It is about the rubbing action of the chew itself, lifting plaque away before it has a chance to harden into tartar, and reaching right along the gum line where dental disease actually begins.
As Dr Kelly puts it, "we want to provide mechanical cleaning of the teeth through gentle abrasion". It also has to happen often, because plaque starts hardening within days, and once it hardens only a vet can remove it.
So that is why we created a Dental Stick that is gentle on their gums and teeth while still helping remove plaque and tartar, and can be given every single day.
Why Our Dental Sticks Are Different
We wanted a daily chew built around what their mouth actually needs every day. Something formulated to reduce plaque and tartar, freshen breath and support healthy gums, made to help prevent dental issues rather than only deal with them once they have arrived, and kind enough to hand over again tomorrow.
The Shape Came First
This is the part we spent longest on. Our sticks are a dense, chewy, three prong shape, so instead of one hard surface grinding against a tooth, there are three softer edges working across it and into the gum line at once.
Firm enough for real abrasion where it counts. Soft enough to give under pressure instead of sending it back into a carnassial. The rule we use on any chew, and the one we gave in our daily dog dental care tips: if you cannot press a thumbnail into it, it is too hard for their teeth.
Oral Actives, Not Just Cleaning
A chew can only clean for as long as it is in their mouth, so we went a step further and added oral actives, ingredients that work on the mouth itself rather than only the surface they touch, going after the bacteria and mineral build-up behind plaque and tartar. Ingredients such as seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum), zinc and sodium tripolyphosphate, clinically proven to help reduce plaque and tartar. They keep working long after the last bite, and they reach the teeth and the gum line pockets a chew physically cannot. There is more on how each of them works in 4 reasons why your pet needs oral health actives.
In our view, a chew with no actives is similar to a toothbrush with no toothpaste.
Real Meat First, No Grains or Fillers
Starch is sticky. It clings to the teeth and feeds the very bacteria that turn plaque into tartar, so we leave grains and fillers out entirely.
Every Bell & Bone stick leads with real meat as the first ingredient, backed with superfoods like chia, sweet potato, coconut, parsley and mint. Low in fat, low in calories, and nothing sticky left behind on the teeth we have just cleaned. It is a rule we hold ourselves to on every single stick, and we go into exactly why in why meat first dental treats are the best choice for your pet's health.
Tailored to Every Dog's Life Stage
A puppy's teeth, an adult's teeth and a senior's teeth are not the same job, so we did not make one stick and leave it at that. There is a puppy, adult and senior version, each one sized and textured for the mouth it is meant for.
Safe to Give Every Single Day
This is the one that matters most, and it is the reason the others had to be right. Dental care only really works when it is something you do most days, which is the whole reason our sticks exist. It is not enough for a chew to clean well once. It has to be kind enough to hand over again tomorrow, and the day after that.
As Dr Kelly puts it:
"With Bell & Bone, you're not just cleaning teeth, you're preventing disease and protecting your pet's health from the inside out."
Bones and Dental Sticks, Side by Side
So, Can You Still Give Your Dog a Bone?
In short, that decision is entirely up to you and the guidance of your vet.
My only hope is that these tips and insights have shed a little more light on the safer alternatives out there, which is the sole reason why I created Bell & Bone in the first place: to support our pets' dental health in a way that is healthy, natural and effective, and kind enough to give them every single day.
Building Their Daily Dental Routine 💜
Consistency is key. A Dental Stick a day is the best way to keep on top of their dental health, and as with anything your dog has in their mouth, just keep an eye on them while they chew. If you want to go further, our Dental Topper is the perfect add on, since a lot of what shows up in the mouth is closely connected to the gut. In our own 30 day trial across 60 pets, 89% of dog parents reported fresher breath within a month.
If you are ever unsure where to start, please reach out to us. We are always here if you have any questions 🐾💜
Build their daily dental routine here:
Arianne Sackville, Founder & Owner, Bell & Bone
Common Questions About Bones and Dental Sticks
Are Raw Bones Better Than Cooked Bones for Dogs?
Raw is safer than cooked, because cooked bone splinters. But raw bone is still hard enough to fracture a tooth, and RSPCA Australia does not recommend either.
Do Dental Sticks Work as Well as Bones?
For daily plaque control, better. A bone only scrapes. A dental stick with oral actives scrapes and keeps working afterwards, and it is safe to give every day, which is where the real results come from.
Can Dental Sticks Break My Dog's Teeth?
No. Our Dental Sticks are designed not to. They are dense and chewy rather than rigid, soft enough to give under pressure as your dog chews, but firm enough to work against plaque along the gum line. The thumbnail test is the quick check on any chew: if you cannot press a nail into it, it is too hard.
How Often Can I Give My Dog a Dental Stick?
One a day, every day. That is exactly what they are designed for, and daily is where dental care actually works.
My Dog Already Has a Chipped Tooth. What Now?
See your vet. A chipped tooth can expose the pulp and become painful or infected, and it is not something a chew can fix. Once it is sorted, a daily routine is what protects the rest.
