How many teeth does a mouse have? - briefly
A mouse has 16 teeth in total—four ever‑growing incisors and twelve molars.
How many teeth does a mouse have? - in detail
A mouse possesses a total of sixteen teeth. The dental arrangement follows the formula (\frac{1\;1\;0\;3}{1\;1\;0\;3}), indicating one incisor, one canine (vestigial and non‑functional), no premolars, and three molars in each quadrant. Consequently, each side of the upper and lower jaw contains:
- 1 incisor
- 1 canine (often reduced)
- 3 molars
All incisors are continuously growing, enabling the animal to gnaw without wearing the teeth down. The enamel covers only the front surface, leaving the back exposed to dentin; this structure creates a self‑sharpening edge as the softer dentin erodes more quickly than enamel. Molars are rooted and do not grow after eruption; they are adapted for grinding seeds and plant material.
Mice belong to the order Rodentia, a group characterized by the absence of premolars and the presence of a single pair of ever‑growing incisors. The number of teeth remains consistent across common laboratory and wild species, although occasional genetic mutations can produce dental anomalies such as extra incisors or missing molars. Dental health directly influences feeding efficiency, growth rates, and overall survival, making the precise count and structure of teeth a critical biological parameter.