The Crazy World of Teeth

There are several similarities between our teeth and those of animals. As humans, we form two sets of teeth over the course of our lifetime, starting with baby teeth that are then replaced by adult teeth. On average, every person should have around 32 teeth in total; this includes four wisdom teeth, eight incisors, four canines, twelve molars and eight premolars. Similarly, many animals have a variety of these same kinds of teeth, depending on whether they are meat eaters, plant eaters, insect eaters or a combination. Both us and animals have teeth that are very strong and amazingly constructed, made up of a mix of calcium, phosphorus, and other assorted minerals. Beavers also have massive amounts of iron in their teeth, resulting in their teeth having a strong orange colour but helping to keep the teeth strong enough to gnaw on trees.  

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.