We’ve already shared some fun trivia facts about your own mouth.
But, did you know that humans aren’t the only species with really interesting teeth?
Every animal has its own dental problems and quirks, and some of them can be downright weird.
Here are 10 fun facts about animal teeth:
1. Snails have the most teeth of any animal
Snails teeth are not like regular teeth. A snail’s teeth are arranged in rows on its tongue. A garden snail has about 14,000 teeth while other species can have over 20,000. But that’s not even the most shocking part: The teeth of an aquatic snail called the limpet are the strongest known biological material on Earth, even stronger than titanium!
2. You can tell a dolphin’s age by its teeth
Just like trees, dolphin’s teeth have rings inside them that tell how old they are. Their teeth are permanent, but they don’t use them for chewing—dolphins swallow their food whole because they have no muscle in their jaws.
3. Giraffes have no upper front teeth
Just like humans, giraffes have 32 teeth, but most of them are positioned in the back of their mouths. They use their lips and 20-foot long tongues to grab leaves and twigs and grind them up with their back teeth.
4. Sharks constantly lose their teeth
Sharks’ teeth are positioned in rows within their mouths that simply move forward as they lose them. They usually lose at least one tooth per week—that’s why you can find so many shark teeth on the beach.
