Can raw bones help keep your dog's teeth clean?

Dental disease is the most common health issue in dogs. The good news? One of the best tools for a cleaner smile may be the oldest one there is. Here’s what the science says, plus the raw bone rules every proactive pet parent should know.

See the bone rules ↓ See the bone rules ↓
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Why we love this study

What bone chewing really does to a dog's mouth.

Many pet parents worry that bones can crack teeth. Researchers X-rayed every tooth, root, and gumline before and after chewing to better understand its effects.

  • Chewing appropriate raw beef bones may help reduce dental calculus in dogs.1,2,3
  • Beagle dogs experienced substantial reductions in tartar buildup after chewing raw beef femur bones.1
  • Two kinds of beef bones, hard cortical bones and softer, spongy bones.1
  • 14 days, with a fresh piece of bone each day1
  • Dental x-rays were taken by a veterinary dentist before and after chewing.2

The Forever Dog raw bone rules

If you're feeding raw bones, follow these safety rules

Raw bones are a wonderful, natural toothbrush, as long as you choose and offer them wisely. Here’s how.

raw bone in dog bowl

Raw, never cooked

Cooked, smoked, or baked bones can splinter. Only offer raw bones.

dog eating raw bones

Size it right

Choose a bone at least as big as your dog’s head. Too-small bones are a choking risk.

dog eating raw bone with owner

Always supervise

Stay close while your dog chews. Start with sessions of about 15 minutes.

dog and raw bone

One dog, one bone

Separate dogs while they chew, and skip bones for dogs that resource guard.

dog wtih broken teeth

Know when to skip

No recreational bones for dogs with dental work, crowns, or broken or very soft teeth.

raw bone marrow scoop

Go easy on marrow

Marrow is rich. Scoop it out for dogs with pancreatitis or sensitive tummies.

Bones to never feed

  • Cooked or smoked bones
  • Weight-bearing leg bones, like the tibia or radius
  • Pork neck bones
  • Rawhide
  • Plastic or nylon chews

Your bone shopping list

Choosing the right bones

Find the best bones for your dog’s size, and where to buy them.

Raw bones for safe feeding, healthy teeth and play chart by Dr. Peter Dobias. It shows which raw bones suit small, medium and large dogs for food, dental care and play, from chicken necks and wings to lamb shanks, beef ribs and knucklebones. Marrow bones are marked do not feed for medium and large dogs because they can fracture teeth. It recommends that 25% of a dog’s food requirement be edible bones.

Spongy (cancellous) bone is found in ribs, vertebrae, the sternum (breastbone),, shoulder blades, kneecaps, and the ends of long bones, including the femur, humerus, and tibia (which can come from many sized animals, from lambs to buffalo). Beef femur bones are not recommended for aggressive chewers because of the risk of tooth fractures. Shank bones have spongy bone on the ends, too.

Chart by Dr. Peter Dobias. Visit peterdobias.com to learn more.

Where to find raw bones

  1. 1. Your independent pet store

    Look in the freezer section. Knowledgeable staff can help you choose the right size.

  2. 2. The butcher or meat counter

    Ask for raw knucklebones from beef, bison or venison, the safest choice. They’re sometimes sold as “soup bones” in the fresh or frozen section.

  3. 3. Keep them frozen

    Store bones in the freezer and thaw one at a time. Raw only, never steamed, smoked, boiled or baked.

From The Forever Dog

Three ways to support your dog's dental health

Think crunchy biscuits clean your dog’s teeth? They don’t! Crunchy treats don’t clean human teeth, and they don’t clean dogs’ teeth either.

  1. dog with dentist

    1. Professional cleaning

    The most effective way to get a truly clean mouth, though it usually involves anesthesia.

  2. dog brushing teeth

    2. Brushing at home

    A nightly brush after dinner. We’re big fans!

  3. dog chewing raw bone dental health

    3. Let your dog do the work

    Chewing a raw recreational bone, especially a meaty one, is like a good brushing and flossing session.

View sources Hide sources
  1. Marx FR, Machado GS, Pezzali JG, et al. Raw beef bones as chewing items to reduce dental calculus in Beagle dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal. 2016;94(1-2):18-23.
  2. Pinto CFD, Lehr W, Pignone VN, Chain CP, Trevizan L. Evaluation of teeth injuries in Beagle dogs caused by autoclaved beef bones used as a chewing item to remove dental calculus. PLOS ONE. 2020.
  3. Quinn R, Masters S, Starling M, et al. Functional significance and welfare implications of chewing in dogs (Canis familiaris). Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2025.
  4. Raw bone feeding chart by Dr. Peter Dobias, peterdobias.com