The Massive
With the wide variety of diets and lifestyles that animals
live, there are several who have a very interesting and unique dental
structure. Hippos have many hidden teeth. Though on first glance it may seem
that they only have 4 big teeth, they commonly have 40 in total. Hippos also have the longest canine teeth of any animal, reaching up to 3 ft long. Their incisors are capable of biting right through a small boat.
Amongst
the many fascinating creatures out there, Narwhals are truly intriguing. They
are born with a horn on top of their head which is actually a tooth that can
grow to 8 feet or longer. Narwhals use their horn to taste and measure the
concentration of chemicals in the water around it in order to find food.
The Many
Animals like giraffes, dogs and cats have a similar number
of teeth to us, but some animals have even more. Like humans, there are many
creatures that also lose their teeth throughout their life, for example
elephants and sharks. Elephants can have four sets of teeth in their lifetime
and their tusks are the longest teeth in the world.
Similarly, Sharks can have
over 30,000 teeth in their entire lifetime and on average lose one tooth a
week, which is then replaced with a fresh new tooth. Sharks also don’t get
cavities because their teeth are protected with a layer of fluoride. The main difference
is that unlike humans, they never stop producing new teeth. But for us, our
adult teeth are all that we get, which means that we have to take good care of
them. On the other hand, Dolphins only have one set of teeth for the entirety
of their life and just like humans, they need to take care of the teeth they
have too.
The Maintenance
Animals have their own ways to care for their teeth, just
like us, ensuring they stay healthy and free of cavities or other issues. But unlike
humans, animal diets are naturally low in sugar and therefore are less likely
to develop severe teeth problems. Some animals like zebras, beavers, squirrels and
other rodents have teeth that never stop growing. They chew on tough foods like
nuts, leaves and bark, which helps to wear down their teeth and keep them from
growing too long. In fact, most animals have a habit of chewing on materials
like bone or tree bark which helps to keep their teeth clean and healthy.
Just
like animals who are naturally proactive at cleaning and taking care of their
teeth, we need to make sure that we are doing the same. Due to the commonly
high amount of sugar in our diets, our teeth are extremely vulnerable, and it
is very important to clean thoroughly and with care several times a day. It is
also a good idea to have regular check ups with your dentist, in order to
prevent any serious issues from arising and causing long term problems and hassle.
Don’t take your teeth for granted, because it’s the only set
you get. Midlands Smile Centres is here to guide and help you along your dental
journey, providing you with the right treatments and offering you the support
you need.