How Hard Are Rats Teeth?

Rats have three sets of teeth, namely molars and premolars. The first erupts around the 19th day after birth and is followed by a second set on the 20th day, allowing the rat to wean itself from the mother. The third set comes in around the 35th to 40th day. Then, the growth rate of the molars slows down significantly.

Rats have one of the strongest jaws of any rodent. Some studies have found that the muscles in the jaws of rats can exert as much as six hundred pounds of force per square inch. This is much stronger than human teeth, which can only generate about 70 lbs. per square inch of force. This means that rats can chew through some materials that humans simply cannot.

The molars of rats are similar to human teeth, with a thin layer of enamel covering the tooth’s inner core. The upper portion of the tooth is composed of dentin, which wears down faster than the lower. In addition, the teeth are covered by a layer of cementum, which is slightly softer than the rest of the tooth. This layer protects the living dentin, which is filled with blood vessels and nerves.

Rats’ teeth are made of two kinds: molars and incisors. The incisors are the front of the mouth and are usually pearly white. The molars are usually yellow and are used for gnawing.