Do Dolphins Have Teeth?

Dolphins have teeth — about 80 to 100 of them — which they use to trap prey. Their prey generally consists of fish that they swallow whole rather than chewing. Dolphins’ teeth are conical in shape, and they have only one set during their lifetimes, unlike humans, who first have baby teeth that they lose before getting their permanent teeth. As dolphins age, their teeth grow longer from under the base of the gums down further into the roots, so marine biologists often examine the length of a dolphin’s teeth from the gums to the roots in order to determine its age. It is estimated that dolphins grow one layer of tooth under the root each year.

More about dolphins:

• Dolphins are able to hold their breath for as long as 10 minutes at a time.
• A dolphin typically eats as much as 9% of its body weight in fish each day, or about 50 pounds (22.68 kg).
• Dolphins live in water, so they can never sleep. Instead, a dolphin has the ability to shut down half of its brain at a time to rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all dolphin species have teeth?

Yes, all dolphin species have teeth, but the number and type of teeth can vary significantly between species. For instance, the Bottlenose Dolphin typically has 80-100 conical teeth, while a Risso's Dolphin may have only 14 teeth, and some species like the Orca, which is a type of dolphin, can have up to 50 large, sharp teeth.

What do dolphins use their teeth for?

Dolphins primarily use their teeth to grasp prey, but not to chew it. They tend to swallow their food whole. Their teeth are also important for defense and can be used in displays of aggression or during social interactions, but they are not used for mastication as dolphins lack the jaw movement necessary for chewing.

How do the teeth of dolphins differ from those of other marine animals?

Dolphin teeth are generally conical and interlocking, designed for grasping rather than chewing. This contrasts with marine mammals like seals, which have more differentiated teeth for slicing and crushing. Sharks, on the other hand, have replaceable rows of sharp teeth suited for tearing flesh, highlighting a significant difference in dental structure and function.

Do dolphins ever lose their teeth?

Unlike sharks, dolphins do not continuously shed and replace their teeth. They have only one set of teeth for life. Tooth loss can occur due to age, injury, or disease, but it is not a regular, cyclical process. Consequently, tooth health can be an indicator of a dolphin's age and overall health.

Can you determine a dolphin's age by its teeth?

Estimating a dolphin's age by examining its teeth is possible through a process similar to counting tree rings. Layers of tissue called growth layer groups (GLGs) accumulate on a dolphin's teeth annually. By examining these layers in a tooth cross-section, researchers can estimate the age of the dolphin, according to studies on marine mammal dentition.

Do dolphins have baby teeth?

Dolphins do not have baby teeth, or deciduous teeth, as humans do. They are born with a set of teeth that will last them their entire lives. These teeth emerge shortly after birth and continue to grow as the dolphin matures. The absence of a second set of teeth underscores the importance of tooth preservation in dolphins.