Bearded dragons make great pets. They’re interesting and unique creatures who enjoy a diet of vegetables combined with live insects. Many pet owners wonder whether or not bearded dragons have teeth.
Yes, these reptiles do have teeth. In fact, they have lots of little, sharp teeth that make them great at eating small insects like mealworms, crickets, and other bugs, as well as vegetables.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about bearded dragons teeth and how to make sure bearded dragon owners know all about their dental hygiene needs.
Do Bearded Dragons Have Teeth?
As we said above, these reptiles have lots of teeth and they use them to eat their diet of bugs and vegetables. Occasionally, bearded dragons bite – but this only happens when they feel under threat. Generally speaking, they’re calm creatures.
If you’re considering getting a bearded dragon as a pet, you’ll need to know about its teeth. Without proper dental care, a bearded dragon won’t be able to eat properly or capture its food. If this happens, they will develop health problems or become ill. It’s essential, therefore, to know about bearded dragon teeth and how to look after them.
How Many Teeth Do Bearded Dragons Have?
Depending on their dental hygiene and health, and their DNA, a bearded dragon will have somewhere between twenty and forty teeth. You might not be able to see their teeth, but they’ll be there.
When looking for your bearded dragon’s teeth, you might have a hard time finding them. If it doesn’t seem as though he has any and you’ve not seen any fall it, it could be that the teeth are worn down.
When baby beardies grow and get older, they start to eat more vegetables. Due to how hard these are, they can wear down their teeth. Insects are softer and so won’t wear down teeth as quickly.
Though fruit is typically softer, it isn’t necessarily better as the high sugar levels are not good for them in large quantities.
Types of Bearded Dragon Teeth
Bearded dragons teeth are one of two types. One type is acrodont teeth, which are attached permanently to their jawbones. Bearded dragons acrodont teeth are at the back of the mouth. These acrodont teeth are mainly used for chewing food.
The other type of teeth are pleurodont teeth. Unlike acrodont teeth, these have roots and fall out. Pleurodont teeth are the front teeth. Bearded dragons don’t have many of these teeth but they use them to bite foods.
Species depending, pleurodont teeth vary in size and shape. They tend to be longer and sharper unlike acrodont teeth, which are shorter and have a triangular shape. With these two types of teeth, they can beat a range of different plants and insects.
In their natural habitat, bearded dragons have a variety of insects to eat, with the combination of their teeth, they are well-suited to consume anything they come across.
Do Bearded Dragon’s Teeth Grow Back?
When bearded dragons lose teeth, they don’t tend to grow back. However, their teeth are robust, which means they often keep them their whole lives. With older bearded dragons, you might see their teeth wearing out, and you could even see an older beardie wearing down his jaw bone.
As long as you feed your bearded dragon well, you don’t need to worry about him losing teeth. Bearded dragons need a diet rich in calcium so that they can maintain the health of their teeth and bones.
If you do see your pet losing any teeth, it might indicate a problem. When this happens, early identification of the problem can prevent further tooth loss or even death.
Do Baby Beardies Have Teeth?
Unlike humans, baby bearded dragons need to catch food and chew it from being young. Because of this, they are born with teeth. The teeth they have as a baby won’t look like the teeth of an older bearded dragon.
When they’re born, their teeth are much sharper and even if you look after them properly, they will become blunter and smaller as they age.
This is because they chew continuously on a range of foods, which means they become rounder and less sharp.
Common Dental Health Problems in Bearded Dragons
Some common dental problems in bearded dragons include infections, tooth fractures, and periodontal disease. If problems aren’t found and treated, they can lose teeth.
Periodontal disease is common in bearded dragons and other lizards. This is mainly caused by a build-up of plaque that leads to infection and inflammation.
Signs of bearded dragon periodontal disease include:
- Anorexia (not eating)
- Bleeding inside their mouths
- Lethargy
- Gingivitis
- Gum recession
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Mucus building up in the mouth
- Mouth sores
- Loss of teeth
- Problems with swallowing food
If you notice any of these signs in your pet bearded dragon, make sure you get in touch with a vet. A vet will usually want to give your beardie a thorough physical and oral examination.
How to Keep Your Bearded Dragons Teeth Healthy
For bearded dragons teeth to be in top condition, you should ensure they are fed a well-balanced diet. If their diet is poor, they can develop dental problems.
A bearded dragon’s diet should include both soft foods and hard foods. They shouldn’t only consume soft insects as plaque and germs can accumulate in between their teeth if they only consume soft foods.
Also, if bearded dragons experience stress, they can end up with dental problems. This is because of things like glass surfing, fighting, and bashing their heads. These activities are caused by stress and often result in tooth injury.
If you own more than one bearded dragon, you should ensure they are kept in separate enclosures. This is because bearded dragons are solitary and territorial creatures. When they are forced to share an enclosure they will fight for food and to claim territory.
Stages of Periodontal Disease
As mentioned above, this disease is common in bearded dragons. Many people believe that it is so prevalent because of their diet as well as genetics. There are five stages (or grades) of this disease. These are:
Grade 1: Minor tooth discoloration. Commence teeth brushing at least once per week.
Grade 2: Multiple teeth have brown discoloration or have a build-up of yellow tartar or gum redness. Brush teeth every day or every other day.
Grade 3: Tartar build-up is moderate, gum recession might be seen. Dental cleaning under anesthetic is needed alongside normal brushing.
Grade 4: Tartar build-up is severe. Gum recession is evident. Osteomyelitis (jaw bone infection) might occur. Dental cleaning under anesthetic is needed alongside normal brushing. Antibiotics may be given.
Grade 5: Progression of osteomyelitis causes bits of bone to break off. severe infection is present. Dental cleaning, a lifelong treatment of antibiotics, bone debridement or euthanasia might be needed.
Receding Gums
Receding gums is called gingival recession. This is a painful condition when it is advanced. Typically, this is caused by periodontal disease that has not been treated.
When the gums recede too much, they expose the jaw bones and nerves. This can cause your pet to lose his appetite. Even drinking water can be painful.
Plaque and Calculus Deposits
When plaque accumulates, it leads to deposits of calculus. Human teeth also get plaque. It is a bacteria-containing film that coats teeth and is removed by brushing. The longer plaque is left on the teeth, the harder it is to remove.
To remove plaque from your beardie’s teeth, use a cotton bud soaked in a chlorhexidine solution diluted. This is an approved method of removing plaque. It is safe and will help to prevent bacteria from growing inside your beardie’s mouth.
Removing plaque will prevent a build-up of tartar, which happens when plaque becomes hard.
When tartar build-up is extreme, it is known as calculus deposition. This is very difficult to get rid of and is harmful. When this is severe, a bearded dragon will usually need a general anesthetic to get it removed.
Tooth Decay
If you’re not mindful of your pet’s dental health, he can end up with tooth decay and abscesses. An abscess forms at the base in the tooth sockets when a problem goes without being treated.
An abscess is very painful and needs immediate treatment. Rarely, tooth extraction is needed, which means missing teeth that can’t grow back.
Improving Dental Health in Bearded Dragons
If you’re aware of bearded dragons teeth and their needs, you’ll be able to prevent problems. One benefit of a bearded dragon being in captivity is that we can make changes to prevent bearded dragon dental health problems. The main things to consider are fighting, lighting, and diet.
Fighting
Fighting problems only apply when there is more than one bearded dragon in an enclosure. If you do own multiple beardies, they must have their own enclosures. This is because these lizards are solitary reptiles – and they are very territorial too.
Owing to their territorial nature, they will have fights if they are housed in the same enclosure. They will fight for many reasons – over food and to claim or reclaim a territory.
When bearded dragons fight, they often damage or lose their teeth.
Lighting
Lighting is essential when you keep bearded dragons as pets. Many bearded dragon owners don’t realize that lighting is also critical for healthy teeth. With adequate UVB rays in their enclosure, a bearded dragon will be able to absorb enough calcium to keep their teeth and bones strong.
If the lighting isn’t right, they will have many health problems, including with their teeth.
A basking lamp is also essential for optimum health as it allows them time to digest and rest. They can extract and absorb the nutrients they need in this way.
Diet
Bearded dragons need nutritious diets. You can also supplement their diet with vitamins as needed. Like humans, they can develop plaque on their teeth without frequent cleaning. This hardens and forms tartar, which causes a whole host of dental problems.
It is recommended to avoid citrus and sugary fruits. Instead, provide more vegetables and soft food like insects for the best dental health. These foods help clean the teeth naturally too.
Generally speaking, these are the proportions of a good bearded dragon diet:
- Baby bearded dragons – 40% vegetation, 60% insects
- Adult bearded dragons – 20% vegetation, 80% insects
Do Bearded Dragons Have Teeth? – Conclusion
Now we know all about bearded dragons teeth and bearded dragon dentition, we can prevent lots of the problems they commonly suffer. Feeding a proper diet of soft-bodied insects and vegetables is the first step to a healthy life for your beardie.
To prevent problems like loose teeth, gum disease, and tooth damage, you should inspect your bearded dragon’s teeth regularly. Provide basic oral care and clean them as appropriate.
Always seek advice from a vet immediately whenever you notice anything untoward or you believe your pet has mouth pain.