While we humans must practice diligent dental hygiene, our furry friends seemingly enjoy a lifetime of cavity-free chewing. Have you ever thought about why animals get by without brushing their teeth? A new study, conducted by Northwestern University and focusing on beavers, gives us insight into why animals have a natural defense against tooth decay that is built right into the structure of the teeth.
It’s iron. Researchers found out that beavers have more resistant teeth because it’s actually pigmented and contains iron, making their teeth more resistant and harder. Also, iron actually resists acid more than human enamel and even fluoride.
But what does that mean for us humans? The findings could help researchers to formulate better fluoride treatments. It could also reveal some secrets about early tooth decay detection.
During the study, the scientists inspected rabbit, mouse, and rat enamel and learned that the structure was quite similar to human enamel, while beaver enamel was able to better guard against acid exposure.
Structurally beavers teeth is also similar to humans, however, biology indicates that the enamel is quite different, which could lead the way when it comes to improving future fluoride treatments.
To learn more about dental health, contact The Best Dentist in Salt Lake City, UT today
