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Black Stripes Between Frontal Teeth

A

AlleBalle

New Born Pup
Joined
Jan 2, 2021
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Today I noticed black stripes just next to the frontal teeth on one of my boars. It was difficult getting a good picture showing his entire mouth, but there appears to be two very similar lines on his upper teeth, just as the lower ones (see pictures). I was just curious about what it is, since I've never really been able to take a good look at them on other guinea pigs before, (this one likes getting petted on his lower neck). I thought perhaps it was just hairs that had gotten stuck in his gums during grooming or washing, but I couldn't really get them out, or even move them around just by poking his teeth with my finger. Again, it doesn't have to be hairs. I have no real knowledge about guinea pigs' teeth. Have any one of you ever seen this before?

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AlleBalle said:
Today I noticed black stripes just next to the frontal teeth on one of my boars. It was difficult getting a good picture showing his entire mouth, but there appears to be two very similar lines on his upper teeth, just as the lower ones (see pictures). I was just curious about what it is, since I've never really been able to take a good look at them on other guinea pigs before, (this one likes getting petted on his lower neck). I thought perhaps it was just hairs that had gotten stuck in his gums during grooming or washing, but I couldn't really get them out, or even move them around just by poking his teeth with my finger. Again, it doesn't have to be hairs. I have no real knowledge about guinea pigs' teeth. Have any one of you ever seen this before?

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Hi!

The lower incisors should be growing in parallel right next to each other all the way up; in your piggy's case, they are emerging quite a way from each other in the jaw, which creates a gap where food can collect. There is not a lot you can do. Since rodent teeth are constantly growing and are ground down by the very abrasive silica in grass/hay fibre against which the growth rate in guinea pigs has evolved, dental decay is not an issue in guinea pigs.

Yours is thankfully not a dental problem that will cause long term problems as the tips are meeting and are ground down the way they should. Just keep a regular eye out in case something gets stuck in the gap. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

The lower incisors should be growing in parallel right next to each other all the way up; in your piggy's case, they are emerging quite a way from each other in the jaw, which creates a gap where food can collect. There is not a lot you can do. Since rodent teeth are constantly growing and are ground down by the very abrasive silica in grass/hay fibre against which the growth rate in guinea pigs has evolved, dental decay is not an issue in guinea pigs.

Yours is thankfully not a dental problem that will cause long term problems as the tips are meeting and are ground down the way they should. Just keep a regular eye out in case something gets stuck in the gap. ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! I will definitely keep a look out for that. 😇
 
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