Leopard Gecko Teeth: How Many and Do They Hurt

Leopard gecko teeth are real, numerous and constantly renewed. An adult Eublepharis macularius has about 40 functional teeth per jaw quadrant, per a 2021 study in Frontiers in Physiology.

A quadrant is half of the upper or lower jaw. The study gives no grand total.

This page covers tooth replacement, bites and mouth problems that need a vet. The wider body layout is on the leopard gecko anatomy page.

Do Leopard Geckos Have Teeth?

They do, and they are visible only when the mouth is open. The teeth line the upper and lower jaw. Most keepers never notice them.

The Frontiers study found that the teeth have enamel and dentine. Replacement teeth alternate between small and large. They grow bigger toward the back of the jaw.

Shape is known in outline. A 2014 Frontiers in Physiology study that followed crown development in the leopard gecko and the Madagascar ground gecko describes gecko teeth as bicuspid, with two small crests at the tip of the crown, a shape that suits biting small prey such as insects.

How the teeth attach to the jaw bone is not described in the sources reviewed here, so that detail is left out instead of guessed.

How Many Leopard Gecko Teeth Are There?

The published figure is about 40 functional teeth per quadrant in an adult. The count shifts from week to week. Teeth are always being lost and replaced.

No source reviewed here gives a count for hatchlings or juveniles. Do not assume they match the adult figure.

Leopard Gecko Teeth Replacement: How It Works

Leopard geckos are polyphyodont. That means they replace their teeth again and again. Humans replace theirs once.

A gecko keeps a supply of new teeth ready to erupt behind the working ones.

New teeth grow from a strip of tissue called the dental lamina, which holds epithelial stem cells. In the upper jaw, each functional tooth links to two successional teeth through this tissue. A replacement is always waiting.

The 6.5 week average comes from a longitudinal study presented by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Individual teeth varied widely, from never being replaced to being replaced one week after the last tooth was shed. The abstract adds that leopard geckos replace teeth faster than the green iguana and the American alligator. Those are other species.

Is a Leopard Gecko Teething?

A leopard gecko does not teethe the way a human baby does. Teeth erupt and drop out as a normal part of life. There is no teething phase.

No source reviewed here links tooth replacement to appetite loss or behavior changes.

If a gecko stops eating, do not assume it is teething. Look for real causes first, such as temperature problems, shedding, parasites or mouth disease. Have an exotics veterinarian check a gecko that refuses food for more than a few days.

Does a Leopard Gecko Bite Hurt?

A bite from a healthy adult feels like a firm pinch. That is common keeper experience, because no bite force or pain figures are published for the species. Leopard geckos have no venom and no fangs, and the idea of leopard gecko fangs is a myth.

Bites are usually defensive and follow rough handling. The RSPCA notes that grabbing a reptile leads to struggling and biting. It advises backing off if the animal tries to bite.

The CDC also warns that holding a reptile near your face may increase the chance of a bite.

A hatchling is too small to do real harm, which is common keeper experience. An adult may occasionally break the skin.

What to Do After a Leopard Gecko Bite

1. Release the gecko gently and put it back in its enclosure. Do not pull away fast, because that can injure its jaw.
2. Wash the bite right away with warm soapy water, even if it looks minor. The CDC gives this advice for any reptile bite or scratch.
3. Watch the wound. The CDC says to seek care if it is serious, red, painful, warm or swollen. It also says to seek care if your tetanus shot is over 5 years old.

To prevent bites, let the gecko see you before you reach in. Offer insects with tongs, not fingers, as the CDC advises.

Leopard Gecko Mouth Problems

The Merck Veterinary Manual covers mouth disease for reptiles in general, not leopard geckos alone. The notes below are general reptile information.

• Infectious stomatitis (mouth rot): In snakes, lizards and turtles, the early sign is tiny red spots in the mouth. Later, cheesy material builds along the tooth rows, and severe cases spread to the jaw bone.
• Jaw swelling from metabolic bone disease: Merck lists a swollen or distorted jaw among the signs of this reptile bone disease.
• Aspiration pneumonia: Mouth infection material can be inhaled and cause pneumonia in reptiles.

Merck lists no single cause for stomatitis in these reptiles, though poor husbandry and malnutrition are linked to it.

Reptile treatment means surgical debridement, antiseptic irrigation, systemic antibiotics and supportive care. All of it needs a veterinarian. The leopard gecko health page covers wider warning signs.

Healthy and Unhealthy Mouths

The healthy column is common keeper practice, since no source reviewed gives a leopard gecko specific standard. The vet column follows the Merck signs for stomatitis, bone disease and pneumonia in reptiles.

Checking a Gecko Mouth Safely

Check the mouth only when the gecko is calm. Sit low over a soft towel in case of a drop. Support the body and never grip the tail.

Do not pry the jaw open, since that can injure it. For a close look, a reptile veterinarian can examine the mouth under proper restraint. Merck lists a mouth exam for trauma, infection and tumors as part of a clinical exam.

A phone photo taken when the gecko yawns can show a vet what changed. Short, regular checks beat one long inspection.

Care Tips for Healthy Jaws

• Dust insects with a high calcium supplement just before feeding, as Merck advises for the leopard gecko.
• Keep husbandry steady. Merck links poor management to stomatitis and to bone disease.
• Remove uneaten insects that could bite a resting gecko.
• House geckos alone. Merck reports that solitary housing is often healthiest, and it removes the risk of bites from a cage mate.
• Handle calmly. The leopard gecko behavior page explains how to read warning signs before a bite.

For the full species profile, see the leopard gecko hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a leopard gecko bite hurt a child?

A bite can pinch and may break the skin, but it is rarely serious.

Supervise children and keep the gecko away from their faces. Wash any wound with soap and warm water. Seek care if it turns red, warm or swollen, per the CDC.

Do baby leopard geckos have teeth?

The sources reviewed here describe adult teeth and do not give a hatchling count. Keep handling gentle at every age.

Do leopard geckos chew their food?

The sources reviewed do not describe chewing. The RSPCA advises feeder insects no bigger than the gecko’s head, and the common keeper standard is stricter: no longer than the space between the eyes.

Why is my leopard gecko mouth open?

An occasional yawn or gape during shedding is normal.

An open mouth with bubbles, discharge or labored breathing may mean infection. Merck notes that mouth infection material can cause pneumonia in reptiles. See a vet.

Do leopard geckos need dental care?

They need no brushing and no routine dental work. Constant tooth replacement renews the teeth, and prevention comes down to diet, calcium and steady husbandry. Any mouth problem goes to a reptile veterinarian.

Can teeth grow back if a leopard gecko loses one?

Yes. Lost teeth are replaced from the dental lamina.

The 2021 Frontiers study removed teeth experimentally and recorded new ones forming. A missing tooth is not a worry on its own.