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What do elephants and warthogs have in common? Kits Family Dental answers!

What do elephants and warthogs have in common?

Tusks! They use their tusks to catch and eat their prey. Humans don’t have tusks, but we do have canines!

Canines are also known as cuspids, eye teeth, dogteeth, or even fangs, and are longer and more pointed than our other teeth. We have four canines: two in the upper (or, if you want to learn big words, the maxillary) arch and two in the lower (or, big word number two: the mandibular) arch. In humans, the upper canines are larger and longer than the lower ones, and typically emerge at around ages 11 to 12. Our lower canine teeth are closer to the middle line than the upper ones, and usually erupt between the ages of 9 and 10. Canines, which have roots that sink deep into the gums, are often the largest teeth in the mouth of a mammal and are stronger than the incisors. Evolution has left primates, including humans, with smaller canines than other types of mammals because we’re omnivores (meaning we eat plants and animals!).

While elephants and warthogs have multiple uses for their tusks – as weapons and to aid foraging, digging, and moving objects, for example – our canines are more like incisors now, and we use them primarily for holding food to tear it apart.  Take notice – what do you use your canines for?

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