Ever thought about a squirrel’s teeth? Me neither! Turns out these tiny chompers are full of surprises…
- Baby squirrels are born toothless but develop their incisors by 3-4 weeks old.
2. A squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing, growing about 6 inches a year. Their incisors grow faster on the top than the bottom.
3. Squirrels constantly need to gnaw on things to keep their teeth sharp and short. If their teeth get too long, they’re likely to get hurt or eventually die of starvation!
4. A squirrel’s front teeth have an orange tint because they have an iron-rich coating on the front side, making them extremely strong. In fact, squirrels can bite with a force of up to 7,500 pounds per square inch.
5. Squirrel teeth are so tough that they can chew through bones to get to the nutrients inside, so they’re harder than human teeth.
6. Squirrels don’t just use their teeth for food—gnawing on branches marks their territory by showing others they’re here. And as they gnaw, they leave saliva on the branches as a chemical marker for these animals.
7. A squirrel’s incisors are slightly curved, so they always have a cutting edge when biting or gnawing.
8. When squirrels gnaw, their jaws move in a figure-eight motion for efficiency.
9. A squirrel’s teeth don’t meet when they gnaw, allowing the bottom incisors to sharpen against the top ones like natural whetstones.
10. Tooth wear is uneven depending on their diet—squirrels eating softer foods have less sharp teeth over time.
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