I currently feed my two dogs Arden Grange + fresh foods (meat, veg).  I am considering switching to one of the dry completes formulated to help with dental care.   Dare I say the Hills Dental Care looks okay to me in terms of ingredients?  There is not a significant difference between the Hills and Arden Grange IMO.  My dogs do not have any food allergies or intolerances, so I am not concerned about any of the ingredients in the Hills in that respect.  Although I generally stay away from mystery or questionable ingredients, like "animal fat" or  "digest", it would be worth it to me to ignore them if the product actually does help to keep tartar under control.

My questions is - do these dental formulations really help?  I have not once heard my dogs crunch when they eat - so I'm questioning whether or not it matters?

Hills Oral Care
Chicken (minimum Chicken 30 %; minimum Chicken and Turkey combined 50 %): Ground maize, ground rice, chicken and turkey meal, cellulose, animal fat, soybean mill run, digest, dried whole egg, vegetable oil, potassium chloride, flaxseed, disodium phosphate, salt, taurine, vitamins and trace elements. Naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary extract.

Arden Grange with Chick and Rice
Chicken Meal* (min 27%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat*, Beet Pulp, Fresh Chicken (min 5%), Dried Brewers Yeast, Egg Powder, Fish Meal*, Linseed, Fish Oil*, Minerals, Vitamins, Nucleotides, Prebiotic FOS, Prebiotic MOS, Cranberry Extract, Chondroitin Sulphate, Glucosamine Sulphate, MSM, Yucca Extract. * Preserved with mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract.

I find that the large kibbles are more likely to be crunched if they're given as individual treats rather than as a meal in a dish, which just gets hoovered!

<I have not once heard my dogs crunch when they eat - so I'm questioning whether or not it matters?>

I think you've answered that one yourself really! IMO these "special" diets are nothing but a marketing ploy. I can't see how the Hills Oral Care will help with tartar control any more than the AG.

As most commercial dog foods are grain based (including the two you mention here) and as it is usually carbohydrates that create plaque plus dogs do not chew their food it is a mystery how anyone can seriously market their foods as dental care products!

If you want a dog that has sparkling gnashers give them a few recreational raw bones a week; alternatively you can clean them regularly, supplement with plaque off or try fragaria.

FWIW I would never feed a dog soy and AG is the better product on the basis of the ingredients.

On balance, if so-called "dental" formulations were effective a bit of soy is better than the two of them needing to have their teeth scaled every couple of years. 

I do use Plaque Off and have for years; but my two still get plaque.  The only raw bones I will feed are recreational marrow bones, but in my area they are as rare as hen's teeth.  I cannot use any of the so-called edible and "fully digestible" bones (name the brand, I've tried them all) because one of my dogs crunches and swallows large pieces and ends up throwing them up a couple of days later.  Proving they are not only not fully digestible - but that they have the potential to cause blockages.

What about something like raw breast of lamb (with the bones still in), which you should be able to get from a butcher? I understand you may not want to as I seem to remember you being "anti-bones", but it's just a thought, and your dog should be able to digest the bone content [not sure what you mean by "so-called edible and "fully digestible" bones (name the brand, I've tried them all)].

There's nothing like raw chicken wings, where the cartilage are more like rubber than bone, for keeping teeth clean and gums in good condition.

I only suggested the lamb ribs as the OP said her dog tends to swallow things whole, which is the same reason I avoid chicken wings with my lot. The size of a whole breast of lamb means he HAS to crunch rather than just swallow!

Pedlee,

Yes, I am "anti-bone" when it comes to my own dogs, with the exception of raw recreational bones.   The "edible" bones I mentioned are Greenies and similar types of chews; which I cannot use.

OP said her dog tends to swallow things whole, which is the same reason I avoid chicken wings with my lot.

So you hold one end while they chew the other ......  It might take a bit of time, but it works, rather than the chemical ridden processed stuff that doesn't. :(  But then I always prefer the more natural options than quick fixes. :)

>the chemical ridden processed stuff

Like battery-farmed chicken full of antibiotics? ;-)

Not from my local free range chicken farm where our eggs come from too. :)  These places are out there, it just takes some time to find them.  I suppose some people don't have time but what I eat is important to me and I give my dogs the same consideration. :)

I find the best way to look after my dogs teeth is to brush them each day with a tooth brush and dog tooth paste. I have done this since they first got their adult teeth through and they both have lovely teeth at age 4 years 3 months old and 2 and a halg years old. They are toy poodles which as a breed are well known at having poor teeth as I know from my last poodle whom I adopted from my mum at 5 years old so it is well worth the effort.

I feed my lot raw bones (the big leg/knuckle bones), ribs and raw chicken wings. They also have the usual array of hard and rope toys to help too. Never had an issue with plaque.