Sharks - The best teeth in the animal kingdom

• Volusia County, FL has had more shark attacks than anywhere else in the world (210 attacks since 1882) #sharkweek

• Volusia County, FL has had more shark attacks than anywhere else in the world (210 attacks since 1882) #sharkweek

Photo courtesy of NationalGeographic.com

Did you know Volusia County, Florida is the home to the most reported shark attacks in the world?  That's way too close for comfort.  In celebration of Shark Week, I decided to educate my patients on this beautiful biologically efficient machines and dispel some myths about their most feared anatomical feature: their fantastic teeth!

Let's face it, sharks are not everyone's favorite fish.  They have a bad reputation, and they're looks typically aren't on their side.  However, when it comes to teeth, sharks are the most superior living animal.  Here are some awesome facts about the incredible mouth of the shark:

Different kinds of shark teeth

-Sharks teeth are not mature teeth like most animals, they are a constant regeneration of baby teeth.  Three rows of them actually, so they will NEVER go without the proper equipment to eat or catch their food!

-A great white shark bites at 1.8 tons of force.  His prehistoric relative, the Megalodon, used up to 18.2 tons of force.

-Unlike humans, sharks can unhinge their bottom jaws AND top jaws for better control of biting while trying to catch a fish.

-Luckily, if you can call it that, more than 80% of all human victims survive their attack.

-Sharks have built-in toothpaste!  The exterior of a shark's is made of fluoride. We recommend fluoride to patients to prevent decay.  In fact, sharks cannot even get cavities.  That's how beautiful their teeth are.

-A goblin shark can collapse his jaws in his mouth if he is not currently eating.

-Sharks generate 40,000 psi in a single bite.  That's enough to remove a limb.

-A shark date consists of a male finding a desired female and biting her.  OUCH!

-Not all sharks have a mouth full of large, serrated teeth. The basking shark have tiny teeth that aren't even designed for feeding.  The horn shark has molar-like teeth that it uses to crush hard-shelled prey.

Hope you enjoyed some of our shark facts.  Hope you enjoyed Shark Week!


"Top 100 Shark Facts" discovery.com. discoverycommunications,LLC, 18 Aug 2014. Web.        <http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/shark-facts/top-100-shark-facts.htm>