What is the big deal about dental health?

The big deal about keeping your dog's mouth clean and healthy is the importance this plays to overall good health. The mouth contains a large blood supply that is very close to the surface. When the teeth have plaque or tartar on the surface, the gums become inflamed. This inflammation can lead to small areas of bleeding, which in turn allows the bacteria from the mouth easy access into the bloodstream. If this is happening frequently, or on a large scale, it will overwhelm the body's ability to destroy the bacteria. These bacteria can then end up in important organs such as the heart, liver or kidneys. Infections in these critical organs can lead to one very sick dog. Permanent damage can be done to these organs, requiring expensive care throughout the life of your pet. Keep your pet's mouth clean and you will help him stay happy and healthy.

After many experimental formulations, the ideal combination of ingredients led to these treats. This recipe is soluble and highly digestible, making it safe for your dogs. This was an important priority, but the other priority was to make a pliable texture that would allow the teeth to sink in, effectively scraping the surfaces to remove plaque. When dogs chew the treat, they will remove existing plaque from the surface. This is important to prevent the build-up of tartar. Plaque turns into tartar when it is allowed to stay on the surface of the teeth by binding with minerals in the saliva. Another important aspect of these treats is the inclusion of tetrasodium pyrophosphate. This ingredient binds the minerals in the saliva so that they are unable to bind with the plaque on the teeth. Mechanical action is the most important way these treats keep the teeth clean, but the special formula also has added features to work even harder for dental health.

Actually, yes. In addition to the freshening powers of these natural flavors for your dog's breath, your dog will actually enjoy eating these treats. How did we know this? Well, we started with the idea of what we use to freshen our own breath. Making small batches of treats including different levels of the flavoring, we tested the treats on our own dogs to find out what they really liked. After we determined that dogs really do like these three flavors, we selected the level of flavoring and away we went! Your dog may prefer one flavor to another. Buying individually wrapped treats in the 3 available flavors is a great way for you to run your own flavor test at home. Once you determine which flavor your dog prefers, you can purchase the larger package if you choose.

These treats come in 3 different sizes to best suit different sizes of dogs. It is best to feed the treat after your pet's main meal or meals. So, if your dog eats twice daily, offer a treat after each meal. If your pet only eats once per day, you can give one treat after that meal and then offer another later as a special treat. "Brushing" the teeth with these treats twice daily is the best choice for keeping the mouth clean and healthy. However, feeding just one treat per day is much better than doing nothing at all.

Remember, these treats are not a complete and balanced diet so they should not replace your dog's regular food.

To obtain the prestigious Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance, a study had to be performed on these treats to prove that they really did work to keep the teeth free from plaque and tartar. The study compared the amounts of plaque and tartar on the teeth of dogs who had been eating these treats compared with dogs that were not eating the treats. The VOHC has very specific guidelines for running these studies and you can learn more by visiting their website.

When the results were compared, the levels of plaque and tartar on the teeth of dogs eating the Bright Bites treats were significantly lower than the levels on the control dogs' teeth. Tartar is the hardened compound that must be removed from the teeth by dental prophylaxis. Reducing the tartar on the teeth by almost 2/3 is amazing! This indicates that the regular use of these treats is going to prevent a buildup of this nasty substance. Plaque is what turns into tartar if it is not removed from the tooth in a timely manner. Reducing the plaque on the surface of the teeth by 21% corresponded with the 65% drop in tartar formation. Because plaque forms so quickly, it is impossible to reduce the plaque on the teeth as much as the tartar. That is why the numbers differ so much.

As with any statistics, it is important to look at the big picture, which is your dog's mouth. Preventing tartar buildup on the teeth will delay time between dental cleanings in your veterinarian's office. This saves you money and prevents your dog from having to undergo frequent anesthesia. Keeping the teeth clean also keeps your pet happier and healthier. Read more about the consequences of dental disease in our pet care articles and our other FAQ's.

All of the ingredients used in Bright Bites are sourced in the United States (with the exception of Titanium Dioxide, which is sourced from Finland).