How Do Rats Break Their Teeth?

If you think that your rat may have broken a tooth, it is essential to take it to the vet immediately. They can diagnose any possible underlying health problems before treating the broken tooth. Rat teeth can break for a variety of reasons, including injury or malocclusion (teeth that are not properly aligned). The proper way to treat malocclusion is to trim the teeth on a regular basis.

In some cases, rat teeth can break, but most commonly this is a minor abrasion. Rats can break their teeth by chewing or biting on a hard object, such as a twig. While the procedure is generally painless for a human, it is still difficult for the animal to handle. For this reason, anesthesia may be necessary.

If a rat’s incisors overgrow, it can interfere with proper feeding. It may even become malnourished if it is forced to gnaw at an unnatural angle. To fix this problem, a veterinarian may be able to trim the overgrown teeth.

Rats have the strongest jaws of any rodent species. The muscles in their jaws can exert 6,000 pounds of force per square inch. In comparison, the human jaw can exert about 70 pounds of force per square inch. The bite force of a hippo is about 1,800 PSI, while that of a Nile crocodile is around 5,000 PSI. Rats can also bite certain materials, such as metal pipes and cement.