How Do Rats Lose Their Teeth?
WouterLike humans, rats lose their teeth over time, but in different ways. The teeth of a rat have two types: the ever-growing incisors and the typical molars. In addition to an enamel-like coating that protects them from decay, these teeth have dentin below the surface. The dentin is much softer than enamel, and makes up the living part of the tooth.
If you think your rat might be losing its teeth, it’s best to take it to a veterinarian for treatment. If the teeth are eroding, they may require filing, cutting, or extraction. The process may be painful for the rat, so the veterinarian may administer anesthesia for safety.
Malocclusion is a condition in which teeth are not aligned correctly and can cause pain or injury. Malocclusion can affect a rat’s oral cavity and impair its ability to grind. This can lead to an infection or abscess, as well as starvation. Other factors that can lead to malocclusion include genetics, dental disease, and trauma.
One way to spot whether your rat is losing teeth is to look at the size of its mouth. If the teeth are misaligned, they may become too long and interfere with chewing. Unaligned teeth can lead to an oral abscess that spreads to the epidermis. In this case, a veterinarian may decide to open the abscess and extract the infected tooth. Once the abscess is healed, the rat may be given a soft diet.
