Chipmunk Teeth: Everything You Need to Know

Chipmunks are rodents of the squirrel family. They are found in a variety of habitats throughout North America, with one species, the Siberian chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus), native to Asia and introduced in parts of Europe.There are approximately 25 separate species of chipmunks worldwide, and North America is home to 24 of them. The Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is one of the most widespread chipmunk species, along with the least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus), a Western species, which is widely distributed from Central/Western Canada down into the Western U.S. Chipmunks have expandable cheek pouches that allow them to carry large amounts of food back to their burrows for winter storage. Their foraging success is due to these efficient cheek pouches, as well as their specialized teeth, which are designed for cracking open the foods they collect. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about chipmunk teeth.

What Kind of Teeth Do Chipmunks Have?

Chipmunks have a total of 20 to 22 teeth. They have two pairs of incisors, one in each of the top and bottom jaws. Like all rodents, chipmunks lack canine teeth, which results in a space, called the diastema, between the incisors and the premolars.

All species of Western North American chipmunks possess two premolars on each side of the upper jaw. This key feature distinguishes them from the Eastern chipmunk, which has only one upper premolar on each side of its upper jaw. All chipmunks have three pairs of molars in their upper and lower jaws. The dental formula for chipmunk teeth is: incisors 1/1, canines 0/0, premolars 1-2/1, molars 3/3 = 20 to 22.

Chipmunks are rodents, and all rodents have incisors (front teeth) that grow continuously throughout their lives. Their incisors are known as hypsodont teeth, specifically aradicular hypsodonty, and require constant gnawing on hard materials to wear them down and maintain a sharp, chiseled edge.

This behavior prevents the teeth from overgrowing, which can result in serious, even life-threatening, issues. While not all of their teeth grow continuously, the ever-lengthening incisors are a defining feature of chipmunks.

Without proper wear, the incisors can curl and pierce the jaw. In severe cases, this can prevent the chipmunk from eating, leading to serious, often fatal, consequences.

Chipmunk incisors are made of typical tooth materials (enamel and dentin), but are uniquely fortified with iron. This gives them a distinctive orange color and the extreme hardness needed to gnaw on tough materials.

Are Chipmunks’ Teeth Sharp?

Chipmunks’ front teeth are sharp enough to help them gnaw on hardwood. Although they lack sharp, fang-like canine teeth, their incisors more than make up for this absence, as they are incredibly sharp. Chipmunk teeth cut sharply, like a chisel, which helps them effectively grind food such as nuts, bird eggs, snails, insects, and seeds inside their mouths.

A chipmunk’s teeth have an outer protective layer called enamel, which helps prevent their teeth from breaking when eating hard foods like nuts. This enamel also helps protect the molars and premolars from wearing down easily.

What Happens if Chipmunks’ Teeth Overgrow?

If a chipmunk doesn’t keep its incisors worn down, the teeth can overgrow, causing pain, mouth sores from the teeth piercing the palate or jaw, and an inability to eat. This can ultimately lead to starvation and death. To survive, chipmunks must constantly chew on hard items like nuts and wood to keep their incisors worn down.