Teeth in Mammals

Mammals are heterodonts, which means some of our teeth are different. In other creatures, like fish or reptiles, teeth are all basically the same shape. Some may be a little bigger or smaller, but basically the same shape. Mammal teeth evolved into several forms because we need our teeth to do many different jobs. Among the many things mammal teeth can do are grind, scissor, lift (elephant tusks), stab, and dig. In any mammal, teeth are the hardest part and the most often fossilized. Mammals have only two sets of teeth. The first are called "milk teeth" and the second is a larger set that grows in as an adult. Teeth do not last forever, and how fast they wear out depends on what the animal eats. And elephants, by the way, have the largest teeth in the world!