Now that spring is in full swing, plants are in full bloom and animals have emerged from their burrows. In honor of one of our favorite Easter creatures, today we want to share five interesting facts about bunny teeth. Whether you prefer your bunnies of the Easter variety, you’re a proud pet owner, or you prefer to dine on rabbit, you’re bound to learn some new facts about bunny teeth!
1. Rabbits Have Incisors & “Cheek Teeth”
Rabbits have 28 teeth, four fewer than humans. While humans have a variety of types of teeth that perform different functions, the types of teeth rabbits have are less varied. In fact, they only have incisors, premolars, and molars (also known as cheek teeth). Rabbit incisors steal the show, however: rabbits have six incisors total, with two large ones on the upper jaw, two large ones on the lower jaw, and a smaller pair on each side of the front upper incisors.
2. Rabbit Teeth Continually Grow
Rabbit teeth are aradicular hypsodont teeth. This means that they grow continuously throughout the lifetime of the animal.
3. Fibrous Foods Control Tooth Growth
Because rabbit teeth grow continually, problems can arise if tooth length is not kept to normal levels. For this reason, rabbits have a diet full of foods high in fiber. Fiber helps wear away at their teeth and maintain them at a healthy length.
4. Rabbits Frequently Break Their Teeth
Rabbits are known to frequently break their incisors. Just like humans, diet is often the culprit — sometimes all it takes is one wrong bite of a crunchy food.
5. Rabbits Have Baby Teeth & Permanent Teeth – Just Like Us!
Just like humans, rabbits are diphyodonts, meaning they have two sets of successive teeth. Human children typically do not lose their first teeth until around six years of age, while rabbit babies lose their primary teeth when they are a few months old.
We hope you enjoyed these facts about bunny teeth! If you have any questions about the health of your own teeth or want to schedule your next visit at Overland Park Family Dental, contact our office today!