The Science Behind Tooth Abrasion in Cows and Its Benefits for Dental Health

Cows have developed a unique way of digesting their food that protects their teeth from being ground down during the chewing process. The regurgitated food contains much less hard grit, sand, and dust than the food that they first ingested, which explains why the crowns of their teeth are less pronounced than those of other herbivores. The method of digestion means the teeth remain functional for longer, and there has been no evolutionary pressure to form more tooth material. The findings have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).