Do bearded dragons have enamel? As a matter of reality, they do! And bearded dragons don’t simply have your common backyard selection enamel both. Beardies, as they’re generally nicknamed, can really regrow a few of their enamel all through their lifetime.
If you may have by no means seen bearded dragon enamel earlier than, you may not know what to anticipate or even what to search for. In this text, you’ll be taught the whole lot it’s essential to find out about bearded dragon enamel, together with mouth issues and correct preventative oral care.
Do Bearded Dragons Have Teeth
Bearded dragons have two kinds of enamel, acrodont and pleurodont. And they’re each fairly fascinating!
Acrodont bearded dragon enamel
The majority of a bearded dragon’s enamel are acrodont enamel. These enamel will look pointy and are designed to chew meals. They are positioned alongside the edges of the higher and decrease jaws. Acrodont enamel aren’t very sturdy, sadly. They have very quick roots and are connected fairly superficially to the jawbone itself.
Because of this, acrodont enamel are the sort almost certainly to interrupt off and develop an infection or rot. If they break off, acrodont enamel is not going to regenerate. However, younger beardies might develop additional acrodont enamel in the back of the jaw so long as there may be area out there.
Pleurodont bearded dragon enamel.
Bearded dragons even have pleurodont enamel, however far fewer of them than acrodont enamel. In reality, beardies solely have 4 pleurodont enamel in complete – two up entrance on the higher jaw and two up entrance on the decrease jaw. The pleurodont enamel differ from acrodont enamel in two essential methods: they’ve longer roots and they’re extra securely connected to the jaw bone.
In bearded dragons, the 4 pleurodont enamel seem like tiny higher and decrease entrance fangs – what we would name incisors in a canine or cat. If a pleurodont tooth breaks off, a brand new one will usually regenerate in the identical place as the unique tooth.
How Many Teeth Do Bearded Dragons Have
Bearded dragon enamel will not be like folks enamel. This is as a result of beardies don’t have tooth sockets like folks do. Tooth sockets anchor the enamel extra firmly within the jaw and make them much less prone to crack, break or fall out. But as we talked about earlier right here, not like folks, bearded dragons can develop some new enamel, a superpower science varieties name polyphyodonty.
While bearded dragons aren’t the one vertebrate animals with this capacity, they’ve higher tooth regenerative talents than many species. However, beardies can’t regrow all their enamel. They can solely regenerate the 4 pleurodont entrance enamel.
There are six species of lizards often known as Pogona, or bearded dragons (the central or inland bearded dragon is the commonest within the pet commerce at the moment). When we’re speaking about bearded dragon enamel, it is very important know the precise species of dragon you may have, as a result of totally different species can have totally different numbers of enamel.
For basic functions, an grownup bearded dragon might have anyplace from 17 to twenty enamel alongside all sides of the higher and decrease jawlines. This can imply the grownup animal with a wholesome mouth and enamel might have as many as 80 enamel of their mouth at any given time!
Baby Bearded Dragon Teeth
Unlike child people, child beardies are born with a full set of enamel. Why is that this? Baby beardies, or neonates, must handle themselves as quickly as they hatch. They don’t have the mama beardie looking for them and bringing them meals.
Interestingly, child bearded dragons get their full set of enamel earlier than they even hatch. So the second they exit the egg, they’re able to hunt for meals and chew their meals.
A child bearded dragon may also have what is named an egg tooth proper on the tip of their nostril. This isn’t an actual tooth, nonetheless. Hatching beardies use the egg tooth to assist them make their approach out of the egg. The egg tooth falls off shortly after hatching.
Why Do Bearded Dragons Open Their Mouths
Bearded dragons can typically be seen sitting with mouths gaping extensive open. Why do bearded dragons open their mouths like this? The predominant motive bearded dragons will gape their mouths open is for self-cooling. This will not be not like how a canine will pant to chill themselves down in scorching climate.
Like canines, bearded dragons have a Jacobsen organ on their higher palate that reinforces their sense of scent. The beardie’s specialised tongue helps direct airflow to the Jacobsen’s organ. Bearded dragons might open their mouths to investigate scents from their setting.
And when bearded dragons really feel threatened, they might open their mouths to hiss whereas flattening their our bodies and puffing out their “beards.”
What Does A Healthy Bearded Dragon Tongue Look Like
The colour of your bearded dragon’s mouth, enamel and tongue generally is a warning signal of well being points. So it is extremely essential to pay attention to what a wholesome bearded dragon tongue seems like.
Because of selective captive breeding, fashionable pet bearded dragons are available in many morphs, or colour variations. These kinds of breeding applications can change the coloration of every particular person beardie’s mouth and tongue considerably. But for basic functions, a wholesome bearded dragon’s tongue will probably be lengthy, thick and pink with a slight yellow tinge to it.
The tongue tip will probably be a unique colour and texture than the remainder of the tongue. The tip could have a sticky high quality to it and a slight pincer-like formation within the middle, each of that are helpful for feeding.
Bearded Dragon Dental Problems
What are the commonest bearded dragon mouth issues? Surprisingly, bearded dragons can endure from most of the similar dental and mouth issues folks do!
Gingivitis
This situation causes infected gums that ultimately recess and expose the underlying jawbone to an infection and irritation. Gingivitis is a precursor to periodontal illness.
Periodontal illness
Periodontal illness usually begins on account of poor routine oral care. When plaque builds up on the enamel it causes gum irritation and an infection.
This in flip can result in recession of the gumline and bone publicity. From there, an infection and swelling of the gums and jawbone can happen.
Stomatitis (mouth rot)
The predominant signs of stomatitis, a bacterial an infection, embody thick cottage cheese-like mucus, infected gums, jaw swelling and/or small spots of bleeding alongside the jawline.
Proper Bearded Dragon Teeth Care
Should you be doing any mouth and enamel care on your bearded dragon? Yes! You can brush your bearded dragon’s enamel as typically as day by day utilizing a mushy moistened Q-tip. Ask your unique pet veterinarian whether or not to make use of plain water or a particular resolution to scrub your bearded dragon’s enamel.
Bearded dragons also needs to have their enamel examined and cleaned as soon as per 12 months throughout their annual bodily and veterinary checkup. If you discover any change to your bearded dragon’s mouth, gum, tongue or tooth colour, consuming habits or weight, these are all potential warning indicators of extra severe oral well being points. These are all the time signs to speak together with your unique veterinarian about.
By taking time to look at your beardie’s mouth, gums, tongue and enamel at dwelling day by day, it can save you your pet quite a lot of preventable struggling.
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References
- Salomies et al. 2019. The different regenerative technique of bearded dragon unveils the important thing processes underlying vertebrate tooth renewal. ELifeSciences.
- Willems, D. DVM. 2021. Bearded Dragon Periodontal Disease. Aurora Animal Hospital.
- Axelson DVM, et al. 2021. Bearded Dragons Diseases. VCA Animal Hospital.
- Case, R. Reptile Dentition. Reptiles Magazine, 2019.
- Voell, DVM. The Bearded Dragon Files. PenderVet, 2021.
- Mader, MS, DVM, DACVM. A practitioner’s information to bearded dragons. Veterinary Practice News, 2021.
- McCracken, BVSc, BSc(Vet), MVS, et al. Periodontal Disease in Lizards – A Review of Numerous Cases. Proceedings American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 1994.