Do Bearded Dragons Have Teeth (Full Dental Health Guide)

Bearded dragons are unique and interesting creatures that are becoming increasingly popular as pets. They eat live insects as well as veggies. With all of this munching going on, you may find yourself wondering about their teeth.

This article will teach you everything you need to know about your bearded dragon’s dental health. Let’s take a look.

Do they have teeth?

Yes, bearded dragons do have teeth. They have a lot of small sharp teeth which are perfect for eating vegetables and small insects such as crickets, mealworms, and other small bugs.

Except when frightened or in danger, bearded dragons rarely bite humans. Though beardies are calm in nature, they can become violent if they are in danger. When threatened, they typically freeze and puff up necks, and they rarely bite.

If you are considering owning a bearded dragon, their teeth are a crucial factor that should not be overlooked. They will have difficulty capturing and eating their food if they do not have teeth.

This could cause them to become ill and develop other health problems. As a result, it is critical that you understand a little bit about their teeth and how to properly care for them so that they can live a happy and healthy life.

How many teeth do they have?

Depending on DNA, dental health, and a few other criteria, bearded dragons have between 20 and 40 teeth.  Some bearded dragons may not have visible teeth, but they will be in there somewhere.

When inspecting your bearded dragon’s teeth, take your time because they aren’t always visible. If your beardie doesn’t have teeth and you haven’t spotted them falling out, it’s possible that they’ve simply been worn down.

But, before you jump to this conclusion, take a closer look at their teeth.

As baby beardies get older and grow into full-sized adults, they eat more veggies, which can be hard on their teeth. Vegetables wear down their teeth faster than other meals, such as insects.

Fruit is normally softer, but it can also cause problems with dental health, so it’s no better. In excessive quantities, the high sugar level is also not beneficial for the rest of their body. 

Bearded dragons have two types of teeth. Acrodont teeth are one of these types. These teeth are permanently attached to the jaw bone. Acrodont teeth are located in the back of their mouths.

They are mostly used to chew food. The other teeth, known as pleurodont teeth, have roots and can fall out. These are found in the front of the mouth. There aren’t many of them, and they’re mostly used for biting foods.

Depending on the species, their teeth will vary in shape and size. Pleurodont teeth are long and sharp, but acrodont teeth are short and triangular in shape. Their teeth enable them to consume a variety of insects and plants.

In the wild, there are many different insects to consume. Because they will come into contact with a variety of insects every day, their teeth are well-suited to eating anything that crosses their path.

Ultimately, eating is essential for all living things. It isn’t much you can do to prevent your bearded dragon’s teeth from naturally deteriorating, especially since you must feed them. You can, however, make an effort to keep their teeth as healthy as possible.

Can their teeth grow back?

No. If a bearded dragon begins to lose their teeth, they rarely grow back. Their teeth are quite robust and will serve them for the rest of their lives.

However, as the bearded dragon grows older, its teeth will begin to wear out. It is usual for older bearded dragons to wear their jawbone at times. 

You should never have to worry about the bearded dragon losing teeth as long as it is well fed. Calcium is one of the most vital nutrients for bearded dragons since it helps maintain their bones and keep their teeth strong.

However, if you find the bearded dragons are losing teeth, there is a problem. It is critical to identify the problem as soon as feasible. Allowing the problem to persist may result in greater tooth loss and perhaps death.

Do baby bearded dragons have teeth?

Baby bearded dragons must be able to chew and catch their own food at a young age. As a result, they do not get to experience the stage of having a gummy little smile.

If that were the case, they would have a difficult time getting enough nutrients to survive. 

To defy these odds, they must have their teeth from the start. This implies that the baby bearded dragons emerge from their eggs with a slew of tiny teeth.

Having said that, the teeth of a newborn infant bearded dragon and an elderly bearded dragon will differ in appearance. Even with proper maintenance, they won’t be able to maintain their sharp teeth indefinitely.

Although their teeth are always little and difficult to notice, as they age, they become smaller and blunter. This isn’t due to any substantial physical changes, however.

This is because of the nature of their life. If you continually chew on a variety of foods, your teeth will eventually become rounded off as a result of wear and tear- the same goes for bearded dragons.

Bearded Dragon Common Dental Problems

Bearded dragons are prone to tooth fractures, infections, and periodontitis. They may lose their teeth if these tooth problems are not treated or cared for.

Beardies and a few other lizard species are commonly affected by periodontal disease. It is primarily caused by plaque buildup, which causes inflammation and infection. Periodontal disease signs and symptoms include the following:

If your bearded dragon shows any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian will most likely want to perform a thorough oral and physical examination on your beardie. 

To keep your beardie’s teeth in good shape, feed them well-balanced food, reduce stress, and clean their teeth on a regular basis. A poor diet can cause tooth problems in bearded dragons.

Make sure their diet includes a variety of hard and soft foods. Make sure their diet doesn’t only consist of soft-bodied insects. When pieces of soft food become caught between the teeth, germs and plaque will begin to accumulate.

Hard foods, on the other hand, help to strengthen the oral tissues.

Another main cause of tooth injury is stress, which can occur when bearded dragons bash their heads, fight, or glass surf. If you have more than one bearded dragon, make sure they are kept in different enclosures.

Bearded dragons are territorial and solitary creatures, so keep that in mind. Keeping them together will result in a battle for food or a territorial claim.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease, which includes tartar and gingivitis, is becoming more widespread in bearded dragons and other lizards with similar dentition.

The specific causation of periodontal disease is unknown, but there is speculation that it has a hereditary and/or nutritional component.

Perhaps confined lizards are fed more soft meals than wild counterparts, allowing tartar to form more easily. In the wild, they eat a range of coarse plants and hard-bodied insects.

Periodontal disease occurs in 5 stages, or “grades.”

Grade 1 – At this stage, there is minor brown discoloration of the teeth. Brushing the teeth 1-2 times a week should be started. 

Grade 2 – Brown discoloration affecting multiple teeth, mild yellow tartar buildup, or redness of the gums. Brushing teeth should be increased to every 1-2 days.

Grade 3 – Moderate tartar buildup, gums may start to recede away from the teeth. Anesthetized dental cleaning needed in addition to brushing teeth.

Grade 4 – Severe tartar buildup, gingival recession, or osteomyelitis (infection in the bones of the jaw). Anesthetized dental cleaning, brushing teeth, or antibiotics needed.

Grade 5 – Osteomyelitis has progressed to causing parts of the jaw bone to die and break off. Severe infection requiring dental cleanings, bone debridement, lifelong antibiotic treatment, or humane euthanasia. 

Gingival Recession

The receding of the gum line is referred to as gingival recession. It is considered a severe condition that can be excruciatingly painful in its advanced stages.

This disease is usually caused by untreated periodontitis. The nerves and jawbones will become exposed if the gums recede too much. 

If your bearded dragon has sensitive or loose teeth, as well as any of the other periodontal symptoms listed above, you should have them inspected for gingival recession.

Loss of teeth and exposed nerves in the mouth will almost certainly cause your beardie to lose appetite. Drinking water may be painful depending on the severity of the disease.

If you suspect that your beardie is suffering from gingival recession, you should seek advice from a veterinarian.

Calculus Deposits

Plaque accumulation eventually leads to calculus deposition. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the surface of teeth and contains bacteria.

Plaque is easily removed at home, but the longer it remains on the teeth’s surface, the more difficult it is to remove, and the risk of requiring professional assistance increases.

Soaking a cotton ball in a diluted chlorhexidine solution is an easy and approved approach to remove plaque from your bearded dragon’s teeth.

This treatment is completely safe to use and will aid in the prevention of bacterial growth in your pet’s mouth. Simply run the cotton ball along with the teeth and gum line. Tartar is formed when plaque hardens on the surface of the teeth.

Tartar buildup is harder to eliminate and indicates a lack of dental hygiene. Calculus deposition is the term used to describe tartar formation that has progressed.

Calculus deposition is harmful to the teeth and gums and is notoriously difficult to remove. In severe circumstances, lizards suffering from this illness will require general anesthesia.

To ease the issue, a veterinary medical practitioner will remove as much calculus as possible from the teeth.

Tooth Decay

Neglecting your bearded dragon and allowing these oral disorders to spread will result in abscesses and tooth decay. When dental disorders such as rotten teeth or gum disease are left untreated, abscesses can form at the tooth base.

These abscesses are extremely painful and must be treated by a vet immediately. On rare occasions, the abscessed tooth will need to be extracted. This is never a favorable situation, especially in an animal that can never grow new teeth.

How to Improve Bearded Dragon Dental Health

Certain things will have an effect on the health of your bearded dragon’s teeth. Being aware of such things will allow you to handle and care for them ahead of time before any difficulties arise.

It may be impossible to regulate these things in the wild, but in the comfort of your own house, you have a bit more authority. Three main factors that impact the dental health of bearded dragons include; diet, lighting, and fighting. 

Diet

Ensure that your bearded dragons are fed nutritious meals and that they receive vitamin supplements as needed. Bearded Dragons, like humans, may and do develop plaque if their teeth are not frequently cleaned and cared for.

Plaque hardens into tartar over time, producing tooth and gum problems as well as discomfort in your jaw.

Reptile specialists recommend limiting the amount of citrus and sugary fruits you serve your reptiles to avoid this. Instead, they should eat more insects and vegetables, which are good for their teeth.

When eaten, they also aid in natural cleaning. As a general guideline, here is what a good diet looks like at each stage of their lives:

• Baby Bearded Dragon – 60% Insects, 40% Vegetation
• Adult Bearded Dragon- 80% insect 20% vegetation

Lighting

Another critical requirement for healthy teeth in your bearded dragon is adequate lighting within their habitat. Using a suitable UVB lighting system guarantees that they can absorb calcium appropriately and effectively.

If the setup is incorrect, defective, or malfunctioning, it can have a wide-ranging impact on the health of your bearded dragon, with the teeth being only one example.

It is also important to set up the basking lamp at the proper temperature. This will allow them to rest and digest correctly, extracting and absorbing all of the nutrients they can and must from their meal.

Fighting

This will not apply to everyone; only those who desire to own more than one bearded dragon will be affected. If you do decide to have more than one, remember to keep them in separate enclosures.

They are typically solitary reptiles with territorial natures, which means they will fight if housed together. They may battle to assert their authority, for food, or to reclaim their territory. Teeth can be damaged or extracted in any of these situations.

Should I clean my bearded dragon’s teeth?

Yes, cleaning your bearded dragon’s teeth is recommended. It should be done as part of your regular regimen. Cleaning their teeth will aid in disease prevention and create a healthy lifestyle.

Just like humans, if they do not clean their teeth, the food they eat begins to form on their teeth, which is known as plaque. If not cleaned properly, all of this plaque will solidify into tartar.

Cleaning their teeth should be done at least twice a week. This will slow down bacterial activity. To clean the teeth of a bearded dragon, use a cotton bud moistened in a chlorhexidine solution.

Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic that is efficient against viruses, fungi, and bacteria. This solution is regarded as non-toxic and safe for cleaning the beardies’ teeth.

This treatment is only effective when applied in its entirety. The concentration must be at the proper level for it to be effective and not hurt the bearded dragon.

It is possible that the concentration is as low as 0.05 or 0.2 percent. If you are doubtful, consult a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.

Do bearded dragons bite?

Bearded dragons are well-known for their gentle demeanor. Even in the wild, it is effortless to pick one up off the ground and securely handle it.

These critters are not as hasty or frightening as their name suggests. Unfortunately, while this is true for the ordinary bearded dragon, we all know there are outliers. There are some bearded dragons who are a little more feisty than others.

These outliers to the rule can wind up in your terrarium at home, just as they do in the wild. They do bite on occasion, and while it will not leave as large a scar as a komodo dragon or tiger, it can still be painful.

While some animals dislike being touched and bites are unavoidable, there are several precautions you may take to avoid being bitten. 

For starters, understand how to properly care for your bearded dragon. Handling them correctly entails limiting the amount of stress placed on the animal.

You should also approach the animal with caution and regard its feelings when interacting with it. In general, if you take these procedures to guarantee that people feel at ease when you approach them.

Another method to keep bearded dragons stress-free is to keep them healthy. When their cages are clean and they have sufficient food and water, they will be in a better mood to interact with guests.

Their nature makes them docile for the most part, and they like being held and handled on a regular basis.

Do bearded dragons have venom?

Many lizards have evolved to have venom. Theoretically, this would imply that almost all lizards have a venom gland – or at least remnants of one.

Because these animals are sociable, many people would assume they were harmless and lacking poison. The startling fact is that these creatures do in fact have little venom glands.

Before you start panicking, know that you have nothing to worry about. Bearded dragon poison is so mild that it will not even damage humans.

In fact, the only thing it can truly harm is very small prey. However, unless you are a cricket, they are not considered hazardous animals. 

Conclusion

Understanding your bearded dragon’s teeth and just doing basic oral care is an important element of bearded dragon ownership. Your bearded dragon’s teeth should be cleaned and inspected on a regular basis.

They can suffer from tooth loss, mouth pain, and/or gum disease if they are left untreated.