How to Clean a Hamster's Teeth

Unlike cats and dogs, rodents rarely need any direct help in keeping their teeth clean. Hamsters' diets and habits keep their teeth clean without any need for brushing. You can make sure your hamster's teeth stay clean and healthy by providing the right diet and environment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Nutritionally complete hamster diet
• Gnawing toys

1. Feed your hamster a healthy, vet-recommended diet to keep her teeth in top shape. An ideal hamster diet meets her full nutritional needs and also includes harder grains for your hamster to gnaw on, which naturally cleans her teeth and helps keep them at the proper length.
2. Realize that a hamster's teeth are naturally yellow. What looks dirty to you is perfectly normal for a hamster. You only need to worry if your hamster begins developing black or rotten looking areas on his teeth. If you see this, take him to the vet for a full evaluation.
3. Provide a healthy gnawing surface for your hamster. Her incisors grow throughout her entire life, so she needs to gnaw on hard surfaces to keep them trimmed. You can find toys and houses designed especially for gnawing at most pet stores. Wooden blocks and huts made of natural materials are good additions to your hamster's home.
4. Take your hamster to the vet if his teeth seem overgrown. While most hamsters take care of their own teeth through gnawing, some hamsters may need regular teeth trimming. Talk to your vet if you're not sure whether your hamster's teeth are the right length.

Tips & Warnings

• Only give your hamster gnawing toys made specifically for rodents. Gnawing on children's toys or found wood can make her sick.