Hamster Tooth Count and Characteristics
Here’s the dental information for hamsters, presented for easy reading:
1. Total Number of Teeth
- All hamster species (including Syrian hamsters) have 16 teeth in total, categorized as:
- Incisors (Front Teeth): 1 pair in both upper and lower jaws (4 teeth total).
- Molars (Cheek Teeth): 6 teeth in both upper and lower jaws (12 teeth total).
2. Tooth Traits
- Incisors grow continuously and need natural wear from chewing hard objects.
- Molars don’t grow indefinitely, but hard food is essential to prevent cavities.
- Baby hamsters are born toothless; deciduous teeth emerge within 1 week.
3. Health Checks
- A healthy lower incisor is about 3 times longer than the upper incisor.
- yellower teeth (from natural wear) usually indicate better dental health.
Note: All hamster breeds (e.g., Syrian, Djungarian) share the same dental structure.