Rat teeth among rodent enthusiasts often become a cause for concern and a source of myths. Perhaps this organ along with the tail is one of the most amazing in the whole anatomy of the animal. They are not only incredibly sharp, but also capable of developing a pressure of more than 1500 kg per 1 cm 2 , which makes it easy to cut through pipes of lead, cinder blocks and other hard surfaces.
The article examined in detail what color the teeth of a rat are, how many they should be, structural features, possible problems and ways to solve them.
Anatomical features
What rat teeth are there? The chewing surface of this organ in all mammals has a specific structure. For many, this is:
- incisors;
- fangs
- premolars;
- molars (otherwise called indigenous).
The rat got only two species from the four indicated, namely: incisors and molars. In these animals, the gap in the jaw, where the second incisors, premolars and fangs should be located, is empty.
Incisors
Four long and sharp teeth are incisors. They are located in the front of the jaw. Distinguish between lower and upper. The upper ones are usually shorter than the lower ones. Their purpose is to gnaw food, as well as obstacles that arise in the way of the animal. It is the incisors that mean when they say that the teeth in rats grow all their lives.
Features of incisors
Incisors in babies erupt after 1 - 1.5 weeks from birth. In a rat, teeth grow very quickly, up to two to three millimeters per week. They grow to a normal size in two months, but do not stop growing. This feature is due to the fact that rats are banging their teeth. In order to avoid breaking off, the appearance of cracks, dulling, they must be ground in time.
If the animal does not have the opportunity to do this with the help of a special material, the rodent begins to bite its teeth. Otherwise, the incisors will begin to bend into a spiral and bend at an angle of eighty degrees. In the wild, this can cause discomfort to the animal, cause hunger, or even lead to the death of the animal. The same applies to individuals with malocclusion. In this regard, they cannot grind down the bottom edge of enamel correctly.
Home Care
Maintaining your pet’s oral cavity at home is much easier. He needs to be given special toys and whetstones for grinding. If overgrowth of the incisors is observed, enamel can be cut by a few millimeters. This procedure is fast enough, and it is not felt by the rats themselves, since the enamel does not have nerve endings. Thus, you can get rid of nightly tapping teeth, which publishes a pet.
Molars
In the back of the jaw of the rat molars are located. Their main function is grinding and chopping food before swallowing it. In order for the rat to be able to eat normally, it needs six molars on each side: three are located on the top, and three on the bottom. Contrary to the current belief that rat teeth grow throughout life, molars do not grow, do not change and do not fall out. They remain with the rat for the rest of their lives.
The structure of molars
How then does an animal use molars, and why do they not interfere with the work of incisors when chewing? Due to their wide and flat shape, it is convenient not to chew food, but to grind it. When a rodent absorbs food, its jaw does not move up and down, but one moves slightly backward. Therefore, the molars do not knock on each other, but rub.
In young animals, molars appear differently:
- the very first on the nineteenth day after birth;
- on the twenty first day - the second batch;
- in the fourth and fifth weeks, the third and last molars appear.
The baby has all the necessary molars and incisors already in the sixth week. The growth of molars continues until the fourth month, and then completely slows down and disappears. The enamel on them is very durable, on the Mohs scale its coefficient is 5.5 (a diamond having a hardness coefficient of 10 is taken as an absolute). Therefore, its abrasion occurs very slowly and practically does not affect the life of the animal.
Mineral composition
The rat tooth consists of three different layers:
The crown forms a solid enamel, which is located on top. Enamel consists mainly of calcium and other minerals. A softer substance is under it - this is dentin. It protects the pulp from adverse effects. Blood vessels and nerve channels are concentrated in the soft pulp. In addition, in the place where it connects with the jawbone and gum, a periodontium is formed, which provides reliable fastening with both adjacent molars and incisors, and with the alveoli. In rodents (gophers, mice and others), predominantly molars have a similar structure, while the incisors have slight differences.
Why do rats have yellow teeth?
Yellow pigment painted incisors in rats. First, rat pups have white teeth, but by the twenty-first day a light yellowish tint appears on the upper ones. By the twenty-fifth day, they are already acquiring a distinct yellow color, and the lower ones are just beginning to stain. By the thirty-eighth day, the lower incisors become saturated yellow. But the upper ones are still painted more intensely. This color difference persists throughout the life of the rodent. The upper teeth in adult rats are dark orange-yellow, and the lower ones remain yellow.
Disease prevention
To keep the pet healthy and alert, you need to monitor the condition of its teeth and jaws. The appearance of at least one of the following dangerous symptoms should alert the owner of the animal:
- sores on the mucosa of the lips and cheeks;
- a knock that appeared when eating;
- enhanced saliva;
- lack of appetite;
- swelling of the mucous membrane or tongue;
- a tooth fell out in a rat;
- the formation of abscesses.
In this case, contact a specialist immediately. In a veterinary clinic, an examination is usually carried out, studies on the bacterial microflora, the oral cavity is treated with local antiseptics. If necessary, the doctor can grind or trim the incisors, correct the bite and give all the necessary recommendations for the proper care of the pet.