Brushing will most definatly do a better job than chews. I'll admit to not brushing the teeth of my 5 pets everyday, I usually get it in there about twice a week (cats too
).
I do give chews to my dogs also though. I like CET chews, bullysticks and the best thing I've found that does an amazing job is raw turkey necks. I know it sounds gross but it's good for them (just like a raw diet is) and really gets the tartar off the teeth better than any "chew" can. I use the Nature's Variety ones. You buy them frozen, then I'll run it under hot water for a few minutes to thaw it a little bit, then my husband cuts about 2" off of one for my yorkie, my beagle gets the rest of that one and our Akita gets a whole one. I ONLY let them have these OUTSIDE becuase it is gross, but they love it
(Alice was a little confused the first time I gave her one lol, but figured it out quickly) and as far as I can tell it works even better than my brushing. I give them the turkey necks about once every 2 weeks, a dental chew about twice a week and I brush the teeth about twice a week. Everyone's teeth look really good, no dentals needed