Humans treat pets as if they are part of the family.It doesn’t matter if it is a dog, cat, or a tiny hamster, humans treat these animals really well. So when these pets are in pain, it is a huge issue for the pet owners too.Hamsters are cute little pets that will chew on some wooden toys and run around their little cage. If you notice that your pet hamster is starting to chew their food in a weird way, it is bound to cause concern. To prevent such a fate, it is important to regularly check your hamster’s teeth and pay attention to how they chew their food. Let us learn more about hamster teeth and what signs to look for if they become overgrown. That way, if we find them having a hard time chewing, we will know what to do. Afterward, do read about duck teeth and Anaconda teeth.How many teeth do hamsters have?One look at this cute little hamster and you would imagine that they will have one or two teeth in their mouth. But surprise, surprise! Hamster’s teeth are not so low in numbers. In fact, hamsters have a total of 16 teeth in their mouth. You didn’t expect that, did you? These are common hamster teeth facts that might seem shocking but if you already have a pet hamster, then this would not come as a surprise to you.Hamsters are born with 16 teeth in their mouth. Your pet hamster has four front teeth. The front teeth are called incisors. There are 12 teeth towards the back of the hamster’s mouth. These are molars. Contrary to humans, hamsters are born with these sets of 16 teeth. A baby hamster teeth count is also the same. In fact, these teeth in the hamster’s mouth grow throughout its life. This can even lead them to have overgrown teeth. You won’t see a hamster’s teeth white in color. You will find that a hamster’s teeth are yellow in color. If you find a hamster’s teeth in yellow color, don’t worry. For these animals, yellow teeth mean healthy teeth.It is the normal color of the teeth. You should be concerned if they are not yellow. The enamel in the teeth that gives this color actually protects the hamster’s teeth by helping them chew and bite harder so they can eat harder food items. Even though the hamster’s teeth are small in size, a close look into the hamster teeth anatomy reveals the 16 small teeth that they have. It is actually amazing to see such a small animal with so many teeth. Nobody would have assumed hamsters have so many teeth. It also means that your pet needs proper dental care to look after their teeth to prevent any health problems.How to take care of hamster teeth?Your pet hamster’s teeth can become overgrown if not taken care of properly. To keep your hamster’s teeth healthy, it is important to prevent overgrown teeth. We have already discussed how the teeth of this rodent can grow continuously throughout its life. If their teeth are not checked regularly there is a chance of overgrown hamster teeth-related problems. So, how do you keep your hamster’s teeth healthy and stop them from becoming overgrown?You have to help the hamsters keep their teeth at a normal length by helping them gnaw down their teeth. It is possible for them to prevent overgrown teeth by chewing and eating. To facilitate this, provide your pet rodents with an appropriate diet and also give them plenty of toys. The hamsters will chew toys that will keep their teeth healthy. If your hamster’s teeth grow even after chewing toys and eating a good diet, it is better to take your pet to a vet to treat them. It is normal for hamsters to gnaw. When they find toys made of wood, they will chew into them.The way they chew toys will ultimately benefit the teeth by not letting them become overgrown. Hamsters need proper dental care which is why hamster teeth trimming is done to prevent overgrown teeth. Rough food can also help to keep the teeth healthy. But we should be careful not to overfeed fruits and other treats that can decay the hamster’s teeth. Also, soft food does not help the wearing down of their teeth and will not help prevent them from becoming overgrown. When giving your hamster wooden toys to chew, ensure that they are suitable for your hamster and they can not harm themselves with them.The gums and teeth of these rodents can have infections. To keep these animals from dehydration-related problems, always give them clean drinking water. This will help to promote healthy gums. The proper care of your pet animal will not be complete without making sure that they are active. Hamsters are in a cage most of the time. It is possible for them to feel very bored inside the cage. Extreme boredom can lead these pets to chew the cage. This cage chewing can cause more dental problems to your pets. So, always make sure that your pet hamster is happy and active which will positively affect their health.Dental Problems In HamstersHamsters are exotic pets that can have many dental health problems if their mouth and teeth are not properly taken care of. If your hamster does not wear down their teeth by themselves, it is important that we keep them properly trimmed. If the hamster does not trim their teeth, they can develop many dental problems. What are some of these problems that can be seen in hamsters?Hyposondont teeth, in other words, known as overgrown teeth, are a common issue in hamsters. Unlike a dog and other animals, hamsters can have their teeth grow far out of their gums. This issue is rectified naturally by hamsters when they start gnawing on wooden toys or other rough foods. The incisors of the hamsters can easily be seen in their overgrown state. Unlike the molar teeth, the incisor teeth are more prone to grow continuously.To prevent this dental issue, we can trim the teeth of these exotic pets. The incisors and molars are trimmed. The procedure is done by a vet and the procedure should not be painful for your hamster. Apart from overgrown teeth, the hamsters can have other dental issues like broken teeth and also malocclusion. Malocclusion could develop when the hamster teeth are out of alignment. It is important to your research to be aware of the symptoms in your pet’s teeth and take them to a vet to prevent further infection.Symptoms Of Dental Issues In HamstersHow do we identify unhealthy hamster teeth in our pet hamsters? Simple, we look for even a single sign that will show us that these small pets are having a hard time. Each sign can be a health concern that needs treatment. Some are less frequent than others. So if your pet hamster is suffering from any dental infections, it is our duty as its owner to search for any discomfort in them and treat them accordingly.If a hamster is suffering from any dental issue, its eating and chewing pattern can change considerably. That is your first sign to take them to the vet. If gnawing becomes painful for these small exotic pets, they will stop eating the normal amount that they used to consume. Other than that, you will have to keep a check on their dental health from time to time. Check if their yellow teeth have any discoloration. The incisors and molars of the hamster teeth should be properly aligned also. Broken teeth in hamsters show certain symptoms.Hamster’s broken teeth can cause an abscess. The tooth will start swelling and sometimes it will leak with blood and other discharge. If you notice such symptoms, immediately take the hamster to the veterinarian. Chances are your hamster has a broken tooth somewhere. The vet treats such issues by giving your hamster antibiotics or by removing the tooth that has an infection. Bleeding gums and teeth falling out of the mouth of hamsters are common signs of malocclusion. If you find that your hamster has started dribbling from its mouth then you must also visit your veterinarian to get them checked over. The veterinarian will ensure that there is no infection in the hamster. A happy and healthy hamster will chew food and eat very well. If you find that your pet is having a hard time chewing their food, it is a clear sign that something is wrong. Other symptoms are further confirmation of this.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for hamster teeth then why not take a look at beaver teeth, or hamster facts.
Humans treat pets as if they are part of the family.