Do Rats Have Molars?
WouterRats have three sets of molars, but unlike humans, they lack pointed canines. These molars are used to grind food before ingestion. They are composed of enamel on the outer layer, which is the hardest substance in the body, and dentin on the interior, which resembles bone.
Rats are equipped with 16 teeth. The lower jaw moves forward toward the nose, which allows them to avoid splinters in the stomach. Their jaws also feature a diastema, which separates their incisors from the rear part. This allows them to deliver powerful bites.
Rat incisors are yellow in color. They are harder than human teeth. They should be about four millimeters long on the upper part and seven millimeters long on the bottom. If you want to examine your rat’s teeth, gently pull the lower jaw forward to check its incisors.
In a healthy rat’s mouth, the bottom incisors are twice as long as the top incisors. They meet and grind against each other to create a strong bite. However, rats rarely use their incisors as a primary tool, using them only when threatened or trapped. Instead, they use their molars, which have six teeth on each side, for grinding food.
Rats and mice have molars but no premolars. They have a dental formula that explains the number of teeth on the top and bottom jaw. Rats have four incisors, two premolars midway back in their bottom jaw, and six molars in the back. These are commonly referred to as cheek teeth.
