Despite its overwhelming impact on your pet’s overall health, pets’ dental hygiene is often neglected in both dogs and cats. Periodontal disease can have devastating effects on the liver, heart, and kidneys. And while brushing teeth remains the number one way to prevent gum disease, it isn’t always easy to do or effective enough on its own. Enter: dental chews. Dental chews are a fun treat meant to clean teeth and freshen breath – and my dogs are obsessed with one, in particular, that looks like a green toothbrush (you probably know the one I’m talking about!).

They love it so much that these dental chews are often used to lure them away from a room they shouldn’t be in, or an item they shouldn’t be touching. It makes them happy and causes them to behave, but does it actually work for its intended purposes? We asked the experts.

Dental treats and chews can and often will help keep plaque away and cut back on tartar buildup. “They work by scraping the teeth as the dog chews on them,” explains Dr. Gary Richter.