In an animal without lips to moisturize the teeth, what would be the best structure for the teeth to be made out of?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Our teeth are prone to fractures when dry due to their crystalline internal structure. Because of this, a majority of terrestrial animals with a similar tooth makeup have lips to keep the teeth moist.
What composites for a tooth could be made to circumvent this issue? Ideally, this structure wouldn't be too metabolically expensive, and horns, claws and potentially fur could be made with some of the materials.
science-based biology
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Our teeth are prone to fractures when dry due to their crystalline internal structure. Because of this, a majority of terrestrial animals with a similar tooth makeup have lips to keep the teeth moist.
What composites for a tooth could be made to circumvent this issue? Ideally, this structure wouldn't be too metabolically expensive, and horns, claws and potentially fur could be made with some of the materials.
science-based biology
2
whatever tusks are made out of?
â ratchet freak
4 hours ago
@ratchetfreak Tusks still crack when dry. That's why ivory requires maintenance after removed.
â Tardigreat
4 hours ago
1
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use Jurgens Teeth Moisturizer myself. I feel bad because of how they test it on emus, but nothing quite gets my teeth quite so soft and pliant as their product. Other teeth moisturizers don't compare.
â John O
4 hours ago
1
What kind of animal is that? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Please, specify a little bit more about him.
â Faed
50 mins ago
1
@Faed This one specifically is a herbivore (non-obligate), and eats like how an iguana eats. However, there are relatives to this animal that are carnivorous. They grind up their food in a crop-like organ.
â Tardigreat
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Our teeth are prone to fractures when dry due to their crystalline internal structure. Because of this, a majority of terrestrial animals with a similar tooth makeup have lips to keep the teeth moist.
What composites for a tooth could be made to circumvent this issue? Ideally, this structure wouldn't be too metabolically expensive, and horns, claws and potentially fur could be made with some of the materials.
science-based biology
Our teeth are prone to fractures when dry due to their crystalline internal structure. Because of this, a majority of terrestrial animals with a similar tooth makeup have lips to keep the teeth moist.
What composites for a tooth could be made to circumvent this issue? Ideally, this structure wouldn't be too metabolically expensive, and horns, claws and potentially fur could be made with some of the materials.
science-based biology
science-based biology
asked 4 hours ago
Tardigreat
1549
1549
2
whatever tusks are made out of?
â ratchet freak
4 hours ago
@ratchetfreak Tusks still crack when dry. That's why ivory requires maintenance after removed.
â Tardigreat
4 hours ago
1
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use Jurgens Teeth Moisturizer myself. I feel bad because of how they test it on emus, but nothing quite gets my teeth quite so soft and pliant as their product. Other teeth moisturizers don't compare.
â John O
4 hours ago
1
What kind of animal is that? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Please, specify a little bit more about him.
â Faed
50 mins ago
1
@Faed This one specifically is a herbivore (non-obligate), and eats like how an iguana eats. However, there are relatives to this animal that are carnivorous. They grind up their food in a crop-like organ.
â Tardigreat
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
2
whatever tusks are made out of?
â ratchet freak
4 hours ago
@ratchetfreak Tusks still crack when dry. That's why ivory requires maintenance after removed.
â Tardigreat
4 hours ago
1
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use Jurgens Teeth Moisturizer myself. I feel bad because of how they test it on emus, but nothing quite gets my teeth quite so soft and pliant as their product. Other teeth moisturizers don't compare.
â John O
4 hours ago
1
What kind of animal is that? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Please, specify a little bit more about him.
â Faed
50 mins ago
1
@Faed This one specifically is a herbivore (non-obligate), and eats like how an iguana eats. However, there are relatives to this animal that are carnivorous. They grind up their food in a crop-like organ.
â Tardigreat
46 mins ago
2
2
whatever tusks are made out of?
â ratchet freak
4 hours ago
whatever tusks are made out of?
â ratchet freak
4 hours ago
@ratchetfreak Tusks still crack when dry. That's why ivory requires maintenance after removed.
â Tardigreat
4 hours ago
@ratchetfreak Tusks still crack when dry. That's why ivory requires maintenance after removed.
â Tardigreat
4 hours ago
1
1
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use Jurgens Teeth Moisturizer myself. I feel bad because of how they test it on emus, but nothing quite gets my teeth quite so soft and pliant as their product. Other teeth moisturizers don't compare.
â John O
4 hours ago
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use Jurgens Teeth Moisturizer myself. I feel bad because of how they test it on emus, but nothing quite gets my teeth quite so soft and pliant as their product. Other teeth moisturizers don't compare.
â John O
4 hours ago
1
1
What kind of animal is that? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Please, specify a little bit more about him.
â Faed
50 mins ago
What kind of animal is that? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Please, specify a little bit more about him.
â Faed
50 mins ago
1
1
@Faed This one specifically is a herbivore (non-obligate), and eats like how an iguana eats. However, there are relatives to this animal that are carnivorous. They grind up their food in a crop-like organ.
â Tardigreat
46 mins ago
@Faed This one specifically is a herbivore (non-obligate), and eats like how an iguana eats. However, there are relatives to this animal that are carnivorous. They grind up their food in a crop-like organ.
â Tardigreat
46 mins ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Teeth can regenerate. Even humans have two sets of teeth: temporary and permanent. Having a constant regeneration cycle will allow for normal teeth to survive without lips to moisturize.
3
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
2
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
But tusk bearing animals have them for a pretty long time, elephants have them from 1 year old until they die at around 60.
The tusk's ivory is maintained by having blood circulation throughout internals of the tusk. The only real metabolic cost is the maintenance of the tissue and water evaporation.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
You can have normal teeth, just cover it with something other than lips. I'll propose something that will look aesthetically like bare tooth exposure, but I will cheat a little bit, so be free to down vote if you must.
Have them be covered on thin layers of keratin cells, just like the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, allow a system like the lymphatics that will keep the whole tooth system hydrated. The moisturizer should be the same chemicals as saliva.
Now the problem, every time your creature chews something, this layer will be destroyed. As it gets shredded it'll release more saliva on the teeth, as the saliva vessels will be open, contributing to a better digestion and swallowing, but more importantly, a continuous stream of moisture.
If you have an herbivore, the rate which the layers must be repaired needs to be faster, as they're always chewing. That will not be too energy consuming since there's not much surface to cover. If you have a carnivore, they might get days without eating and the regeneration could be slower. You'll have to calibrate that system. Also, iguanas don't chew that much, they basically bite and swallow, keeping the layers more or less intact.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
In order to properly answer this question, you have to first consider the process(es) put into place to allow this.
It would seem evident that it's simply much easier and more efficient to moisturize the teeth with the lips, and retain that moisture. Considering that teeth are a fundamental part of ones health. The energy cycle would need to implement this change in dynamic if other energy was being used to reconstruct, or to protect the teeth.
In the instance of the lips, the saliva is a somewhat double-medium and the lips offer multiple functions.
So, without the lips - you actually have more issues as well that the lips help simplify. Such as disease, breathing in of air from a polluted climate, and simply not being able to really control what goes inside of your mouth.
So really, while this is the problem you're trying to solve - this problem is relative within the nature of the true solution that lips provide.
In short, it may be simplest to simply remove the teeth altogether and grind your food in a morter in order to consume it.
Or,
If you could somehow integrate iron production within the body, and produce a form of titanium/steel - that would be the ultimate solution probably.
But really, this question is much bigger than simply caring for the teeth - because the lips offer many health benefits and evolution always finds the best fit.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
As comments and another answer have put it, do tusks.
Or use cheratin like a Rhino's horn or bird beaks, or chitin like spider fangs.
add a comment |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Teeth can regenerate. Even humans have two sets of teeth: temporary and permanent. Having a constant regeneration cycle will allow for normal teeth to survive without lips to moisturize.
3
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
2
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Teeth can regenerate. Even humans have two sets of teeth: temporary and permanent. Having a constant regeneration cycle will allow for normal teeth to survive without lips to moisturize.
3
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
2
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Teeth can regenerate. Even humans have two sets of teeth: temporary and permanent. Having a constant regeneration cycle will allow for normal teeth to survive without lips to moisturize.
Teeth can regenerate. Even humans have two sets of teeth: temporary and permanent. Having a constant regeneration cycle will allow for normal teeth to survive without lips to moisturize.
answered 4 hours ago
keiv.fly
49415
49415
3
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
2
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
2
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
3
3
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
So basically be like sharks? IE: OP shouldn't make the teeth different, but just let them break and keep growing new ones all the time?
â Aaron
3 hours ago
2
2
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
Yes exactly. Same teeth, but constant growing of new ones.
â keiv.fly
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
But tusk bearing animals have them for a pretty long time, elephants have them from 1 year old until they die at around 60.
The tusk's ivory is maintained by having blood circulation throughout internals of the tusk. The only real metabolic cost is the maintenance of the tissue and water evaporation.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
But tusk bearing animals have them for a pretty long time, elephants have them from 1 year old until they die at around 60.
The tusk's ivory is maintained by having blood circulation throughout internals of the tusk. The only real metabolic cost is the maintenance of the tissue and water evaporation.
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
But tusk bearing animals have them for a pretty long time, elephants have them from 1 year old until they die at around 60.
The tusk's ivory is maintained by having blood circulation throughout internals of the tusk. The only real metabolic cost is the maintenance of the tissue and water evaporation.
But tusk bearing animals have them for a pretty long time, elephants have them from 1 year old until they die at around 60.
The tusk's ivory is maintained by having blood circulation throughout internals of the tusk. The only real metabolic cost is the maintenance of the tissue and water evaporation.
edited 1 hour ago
answered 4 hours ago
ratchet freak
2,714818
2,714818
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
You can have normal teeth, just cover it with something other than lips. I'll propose something that will look aesthetically like bare tooth exposure, but I will cheat a little bit, so be free to down vote if you must.
Have them be covered on thin layers of keratin cells, just like the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, allow a system like the lymphatics that will keep the whole tooth system hydrated. The moisturizer should be the same chemicals as saliva.
Now the problem, every time your creature chews something, this layer will be destroyed. As it gets shredded it'll release more saliva on the teeth, as the saliva vessels will be open, contributing to a better digestion and swallowing, but more importantly, a continuous stream of moisture.
If you have an herbivore, the rate which the layers must be repaired needs to be faster, as they're always chewing. That will not be too energy consuming since there's not much surface to cover. If you have a carnivore, they might get days without eating and the regeneration could be slower. You'll have to calibrate that system. Also, iguanas don't chew that much, they basically bite and swallow, keeping the layers more or less intact.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
You can have normal teeth, just cover it with something other than lips. I'll propose something that will look aesthetically like bare tooth exposure, but I will cheat a little bit, so be free to down vote if you must.
Have them be covered on thin layers of keratin cells, just like the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, allow a system like the lymphatics that will keep the whole tooth system hydrated. The moisturizer should be the same chemicals as saliva.
Now the problem, every time your creature chews something, this layer will be destroyed. As it gets shredded it'll release more saliva on the teeth, as the saliva vessels will be open, contributing to a better digestion and swallowing, but more importantly, a continuous stream of moisture.
If you have an herbivore, the rate which the layers must be repaired needs to be faster, as they're always chewing. That will not be too energy consuming since there's not much surface to cover. If you have a carnivore, they might get days without eating and the regeneration could be slower. You'll have to calibrate that system. Also, iguanas don't chew that much, they basically bite and swallow, keeping the layers more or less intact.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
You can have normal teeth, just cover it with something other than lips. I'll propose something that will look aesthetically like bare tooth exposure, but I will cheat a little bit, so be free to down vote if you must.
Have them be covered on thin layers of keratin cells, just like the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, allow a system like the lymphatics that will keep the whole tooth system hydrated. The moisturizer should be the same chemicals as saliva.
Now the problem, every time your creature chews something, this layer will be destroyed. As it gets shredded it'll release more saliva on the teeth, as the saliva vessels will be open, contributing to a better digestion and swallowing, but more importantly, a continuous stream of moisture.
If you have an herbivore, the rate which the layers must be repaired needs to be faster, as they're always chewing. That will not be too energy consuming since there's not much surface to cover. If you have a carnivore, they might get days without eating and the regeneration could be slower. You'll have to calibrate that system. Also, iguanas don't chew that much, they basically bite and swallow, keeping the layers more or less intact.
You can have normal teeth, just cover it with something other than lips. I'll propose something that will look aesthetically like bare tooth exposure, but I will cheat a little bit, so be free to down vote if you must.
Have them be covered on thin layers of keratin cells, just like the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, allow a system like the lymphatics that will keep the whole tooth system hydrated. The moisturizer should be the same chemicals as saliva.
Now the problem, every time your creature chews something, this layer will be destroyed. As it gets shredded it'll release more saliva on the teeth, as the saliva vessels will be open, contributing to a better digestion and swallowing, but more importantly, a continuous stream of moisture.
If you have an herbivore, the rate which the layers must be repaired needs to be faster, as they're always chewing. That will not be too energy consuming since there's not much surface to cover. If you have a carnivore, they might get days without eating and the regeneration could be slower. You'll have to calibrate that system. Also, iguanas don't chew that much, they basically bite and swallow, keeping the layers more or less intact.
answered 26 mins ago
Faed
1,366323
1,366323
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
In order to properly answer this question, you have to first consider the process(es) put into place to allow this.
It would seem evident that it's simply much easier and more efficient to moisturize the teeth with the lips, and retain that moisture. Considering that teeth are a fundamental part of ones health. The energy cycle would need to implement this change in dynamic if other energy was being used to reconstruct, or to protect the teeth.
In the instance of the lips, the saliva is a somewhat double-medium and the lips offer multiple functions.
So, without the lips - you actually have more issues as well that the lips help simplify. Such as disease, breathing in of air from a polluted climate, and simply not being able to really control what goes inside of your mouth.
So really, while this is the problem you're trying to solve - this problem is relative within the nature of the true solution that lips provide.
In short, it may be simplest to simply remove the teeth altogether and grind your food in a morter in order to consume it.
Or,
If you could somehow integrate iron production within the body, and produce a form of titanium/steel - that would be the ultimate solution probably.
But really, this question is much bigger than simply caring for the teeth - because the lips offer many health benefits and evolution always finds the best fit.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
In order to properly answer this question, you have to first consider the process(es) put into place to allow this.
It would seem evident that it's simply much easier and more efficient to moisturize the teeth with the lips, and retain that moisture. Considering that teeth are a fundamental part of ones health. The energy cycle would need to implement this change in dynamic if other energy was being used to reconstruct, or to protect the teeth.
In the instance of the lips, the saliva is a somewhat double-medium and the lips offer multiple functions.
So, without the lips - you actually have more issues as well that the lips help simplify. Such as disease, breathing in of air from a polluted climate, and simply not being able to really control what goes inside of your mouth.
So really, while this is the problem you're trying to solve - this problem is relative within the nature of the true solution that lips provide.
In short, it may be simplest to simply remove the teeth altogether and grind your food in a morter in order to consume it.
Or,
If you could somehow integrate iron production within the body, and produce a form of titanium/steel - that would be the ultimate solution probably.
But really, this question is much bigger than simply caring for the teeth - because the lips offer many health benefits and evolution always finds the best fit.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
In order to properly answer this question, you have to first consider the process(es) put into place to allow this.
It would seem evident that it's simply much easier and more efficient to moisturize the teeth with the lips, and retain that moisture. Considering that teeth are a fundamental part of ones health. The energy cycle would need to implement this change in dynamic if other energy was being used to reconstruct, or to protect the teeth.
In the instance of the lips, the saliva is a somewhat double-medium and the lips offer multiple functions.
So, without the lips - you actually have more issues as well that the lips help simplify. Such as disease, breathing in of air from a polluted climate, and simply not being able to really control what goes inside of your mouth.
So really, while this is the problem you're trying to solve - this problem is relative within the nature of the true solution that lips provide.
In short, it may be simplest to simply remove the teeth altogether and grind your food in a morter in order to consume it.
Or,
If you could somehow integrate iron production within the body, and produce a form of titanium/steel - that would be the ultimate solution probably.
But really, this question is much bigger than simply caring for the teeth - because the lips offer many health benefits and evolution always finds the best fit.
In order to properly answer this question, you have to first consider the process(es) put into place to allow this.
It would seem evident that it's simply much easier and more efficient to moisturize the teeth with the lips, and retain that moisture. Considering that teeth are a fundamental part of ones health. The energy cycle would need to implement this change in dynamic if other energy was being used to reconstruct, or to protect the teeth.
In the instance of the lips, the saliva is a somewhat double-medium and the lips offer multiple functions.
So, without the lips - you actually have more issues as well that the lips help simplify. Such as disease, breathing in of air from a polluted climate, and simply not being able to really control what goes inside of your mouth.
So really, while this is the problem you're trying to solve - this problem is relative within the nature of the true solution that lips provide.
In short, it may be simplest to simply remove the teeth altogether and grind your food in a morter in order to consume it.
Or,
If you could somehow integrate iron production within the body, and produce a form of titanium/steel - that would be the ultimate solution probably.
But really, this question is much bigger than simply caring for the teeth - because the lips offer many health benefits and evolution always finds the best fit.
answered 3 hours ago
Jacob Gaiski
264
264
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
As comments and another answer have put it, do tusks.
Or use cheratin like a Rhino's horn or bird beaks, or chitin like spider fangs.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
As comments and another answer have put it, do tusks.
Or use cheratin like a Rhino's horn or bird beaks, or chitin like spider fangs.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
As comments and another answer have put it, do tusks.
Or use cheratin like a Rhino's horn or bird beaks, or chitin like spider fangs.
As comments and another answer have put it, do tusks.
Or use cheratin like a Rhino's horn or bird beaks, or chitin like spider fangs.
answered 57 mins ago
Renan
37.9k1186191
37.9k1186191
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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2
whatever tusks are made out of?
â ratchet freak
4 hours ago
@ratchetfreak Tusks still crack when dry. That's why ivory requires maintenance after removed.
â Tardigreat
4 hours ago
1
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use Jurgens Teeth Moisturizer myself. I feel bad because of how they test it on emus, but nothing quite gets my teeth quite so soft and pliant as their product. Other teeth moisturizers don't compare.
â John O
4 hours ago
1
What kind of animal is that? Herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? Please, specify a little bit more about him.
â Faed
50 mins ago
1
@Faed This one specifically is a herbivore (non-obligate), and eats like how an iguana eats. However, there are relatives to this animal that are carnivorous. They grind up their food in a crop-like organ.
â Tardigreat
46 mins ago