10 Incredible Shark Teeth Facts

If there’s one thing that everyone knows about sharks, it’s that they have incredible numbers of extremely sharp teeth. But, shark teeth are even more interesting than that. Their teeth are an integral part of their hunting strategy and can even help scientists identify extinct species from tens of millions of years ago.

#1 Sharks have working teeth and growing teeth

At one point in a Great White shark’s life, it can have fifty working teeth and over 300 teeth in different stages of development. These teeth fall out and have to be quickly replaced. The working teeth are those which are actively in use while the growing or developing teeth are located behind them, preparing to take over when a working tooth falls out. 

#2 Shark teeth aren’t as strong as human teeth

Shark teeth, surprisingly, are far less durable than human teeth. This is part of the reason why they are so easy to find on the ocean floor and beaches around the world. The teeth fall out and are replaced by the other teeth in different stages of development. 

Sharks’ teeth don’t have roots, so they break off easily. Some last as little time as a week before being replaced. The rows of teeth behind the lost tooth move forward as if the shark’s mouth is one big conveyor belt. Even though their teeth are rootless, their strong jaws make them powerful predators with devastating bites. 

#3 Shark teeth are preserved in sedimentary rocks

This is true for any and all fossils, including shark teeth. Scientists study the teeth, and the sediment is able to determine the age of the teeth and the period from which they came. They are usually found between the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. It takes around 10,000 years for a shark’s tooth to be fossilized. 

#4 Megalodon teeth are the most valuable 

Of all the fossilized shark teeth that can be uncovered in oceans and beaches worldwide, the Megalodon’s teeth are by far the most coveted. A megalodon tooth can measure up to 18 centimeters or 7.1 inches in height and is the largest of any shark’s teeth in existence.

#5 Sharks can go through tens of thousands of teeth in a lifetime 

When a shark bites into its prey, its rootless teeth often come loose, falling off and floating down to the oceanfloor or getting lodged in their prey. These teeth are easily replaced by those behind them, sometimes within 24 hours. Due to their vast numbers of teeth, up to 50,000, sharks’ teeth are plentiful and quite easy to find. Shark tooth hunting has become a popular and entertaining pastime.

#6 Their teeth are layered in rows 

Unlike human teeth, shark teeth are layered. This means that the newer teeth grow in behind the old. They can have up to as many as 15 rows of teeth or as few as two to three. Interestingly, the size of the teeth can be determined by the sex of the shark. Female sharks tend to have larger teeth due to the increase in overall body size. Sharks have some of the most impressive gums in the oceans, constantly producing minerals for new teeth.

#7 There are four types of shark teeth 

A shark’s tooth type will vary depending on what they eat and its size. The four types of shark teeth are:

• Dense flattened
• Needle-like
• Pointed lower and triangular upper
• Non-functional

Dense flattened teeth are used for crushing prey, such as crustaceans. They are commonly found in nurse sharks and angel sharks. These can be found by scientists on the bottom of the ocean floor.

Needle-like teeth are used to easily grip slippery prey. They are found in blue sharks and bull sharks, allowing them to eat squid, stingrays, and more. 

Pointed lower and triangular upper teeth are used to cut prey like large mammals and fish. They are found in great white sharks and are recognizable due to their serrated edges. They are helpful when the shark wants to feed on sea lions, dolphins and small sharks.

Lastly, some species of sharks have teeth that have entirely lost their original function. These non-functional teeth are commonly found in filter-feeders such as basking sharks and whale sharks. Non-functional teeth no longer play a role in the feeding process.

#8 Teeth are used to understand ancient sharks

Fossil shark teeth are often the only remains scientists have to study. By comparing these ancient teeth to modern ones, Paleontologists can figure out what those sharks ate and how they lived millions of years ago. This helps us understand how sharks have evolved over time.

#9 In 1611, shark teeth were recognized for what they were 

Pliny the Elder is cited as discovering the oldest known fossil shark’s teeth. He thought the teeth fell from the sky during lunar eclipses. They were found in rocks and thought to be the tongues of dragons and snakes. The teeth were therefore referred to as “tongue stones.” They were used as a remedy for potions and toxins. Some wore them as pendants to ward off bad luck.

It wasn’t until Fabio Colonna corrected the interpretation of “tongue stones” that the world knew shark teeth for what they are. They were later illustrated by Nicolaus Steno in his book The Head of a Shark, showing the teeth in a shark’s mouth. 

#10 Shark teeth were used as tools by humans in Oceania and America 

Long before the invention of metal tools, numerous coastal cultures turned to a surprising resource: shark teeth. These sharp, durable teeth were used for all sorts of things:

• Tools: Cutting, scraping, and shaping materials.
• Weapons: Tipping arrows and lining the edges of clubs.
• Food prep: Preparing and eating meals.
• Art: Even carving inscriptions, like on Easter Island!

Shark teeth have been found in archaeological digs all over the world, showing just how important they were to ancient cultures. Some scientists even think that shark teeth were traded as valuable objects, like rare collectables.

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