Hello,

Many people who deal with equines in their lives have experienced floating teeth at some point or another. The term “floating teeth” sounds a bit strange to people who are not familiar with equine dentistry, and although it conjures up a bizarre image of teeth floating around in mid air, it is actually an important part of dental care for horses. When a horse's teeth are floated, a veterinarian or equine dentist uses a specialized dental rasp, also called a float, to file down the teeth so that they are even. Floating teeth is necessary for most domestic horses at least every couple of years, and horse owners should give their animals regular checkups to ensure that their teeth are healthy, even, and not painful.

Unlike human teeth, horse teeth grow throughout their lives. This is because in the wild, horses eat a wide variety of fodder, some of which contains abrasive substances like silicates which wear down the teeth. When a horse eats normally, grinding food between the back teeth, the abrasives wear the teeth down, keeping them even and smooth. However, when a horse eats a softer diet, like one containing a lot of alfalfa and grains, the teeth do not wear evenly, and they can form sharp, painful points. Floating teeth is necessary at this point to eliminate the sharp edges.

Thanks,

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