Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Matched Pair

At the risk of sounding like "crazy horse mom" - I pulled out Piper's other top front tooth today (the one on the right): Now, don't go thinking I was out there with a pair of pliers or anything. I've noticed for the past 3-4 days that it was getting looser and pulling away from the gum. Today all it took was a little tug and that was that.

In case you missed the post on her very first baby tooth, you can read about it here. That was on January 25th and her permanent tooth is already half way in. A lot of people commented on that post that they had no idea horses lost their baby teeth. Being mammals, horses are born with a set of "milk teeth" and then those are replaced by permanent ones. The front middle incisors (on top and bottom) are the first ones they lose and that is at approximately 2 and 1/2 years old (which just so happens to be how old Piper is), the teeth next to those are next to come out at 3 and 1/2 years and the teeth next to those at 4 and 1/2. The premolars and molars (cheek teeth) that are farther back in their mouth start coming out closer to 3 years old.
Losing baby teeth is also referred to as "shedding". As the permanent tooth pushes out the tooth cap the remaining edges can be quite sharp which can irritate the horse's tongue and gum tissue. That is one of the reasons I gave Piper a little help. OK, OK, that and I wanted the teeth for her baby book...
We joked about making a necklace with the first tooth. But now I have a matched set, so what do you think--- earrings????

15 comments:

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Yes, earrings, OMG how cool is that?

Gail said...

I vote for earrings.

A doctor once suggested that for IUDs, can you imagaine someone saying, oh, I love your earrings, where did you get them?

jane augenstein said...

Oh, how neat is that? I have one of Gilly's molar caps, just found it be accident. He was in the field and I saw him stop eating and kind of shake his head and saw something fall out of his mouth. I went to where I saw it fall and low and behold it was a tooth. I still have it with some of his mane hair tied in a ribbon! Some would think we are strange for keeping teeth but hey, we love our horses!!!

Christina said...

Hey Yeah! I like the earring idea. I had no idea horses lost their baby teeth. I always learn something when I visit here.

Kathy said...

Oh earrings would be wonderful! Great post!

Mikey said...

You are so funny!! Suurrreee, you weren't out there with pliers, lol.
In all seriousness, I really do have a necklace from S. America that I inherited, and I do believe it's made out of horse teeth.. I should do a post on it. Make the earrings!!

Desert Rose said...

Or save it till the rest come out...maybe a braclet???

Heart of a Cowgirl said...

Desert Rose - a BRACELET! Brilliant! ;) Good one.
Mikey - I want to see the horse tooth necklace! Do a post on that, seriously.
Gail - The UID earrings - could become the latest fad. Ha! That is truly bizarre.

Bridget

Heart of a Cowgirl said...

OK, a little coffee deprived this morning --- IUD...UID...

Shelly's Stuff said...

Wow! You can put me in with the group that didn't know horses lost their teeth. I like learning new things!

Phyllis said...

ha ha ha! As soon as I saw the picture of two teeth I thought "she's going to make jewelry out of them"!

Paula said...

Earrings! I used to keep my little kiddo's teeth when they lost them, in a little velvet jewelry box. One day, while very pregnant with my twins, I opened the box. Had serious gag action happen and threw the beasts away. I'm not still a little "gaggy" but I will overcome!

Gaina said...

Those two teeth actually look like they could be used as hooves for a miniature horse broach! Front view, of course. :)

Anonymous said...

I wonder if you could carve on them like scrimshaw...definitely earrings.

Teresa said...

Now what would Mr. Ed have to say about that???? Remember him? what a blast from the past!