Monkeys have been found to floss their teeth in a manner similar to humans. Macaques, a type of monkey native to Asia, were observed in Thailand winding strands of human hair around their fingers to use as floss to remove debris stuck in their teeth. A Japanese macaque in the 2013 Kyoto University Primate Research Institute study was also observed using various techniques to floss her teeth. The techniques involved biting into hair and chattering its teeth to remove parasites, as well as holding a piece of hair intact while moving its head back and forth to loosen the parasites in-between its teeth. The Japanese macaque also was witnessed flossing like a human, by weaving a strand of hair through its teeth.
More about animal teeth:
- Sharks are estimated to have 20,000 teeth throughout their lifetime, as they lose their teeth on a weekly basis and grow new ones.
- The baleen whale does not have teeth. Instead, it has stiff bristles similar to coarse human hair that catches food particles.
- Elephants have the longest teeth in the animal kingdom, with their tusks reaching approximately 10 feet (3 m) in length.