Have you ever wondered if fish have teeth? Well, let me tell you from personal experience, they most certainly do! I fish a lot in Minnesota. I have also fished in other states like Michigan and Missouri, but since I live in Minnesota, most of my experience is in Minnesota and the many types of fish that inhabit our lakes, rivers, and ponds.
All of the fish that I caught or saw others catch had teeth. Sometimes, I found out the hard way that fish have teeth. But I wondered if all fish have teeth.
According to the website Officially Pets, "However, while it may come as a surprise, all fish, regardless of species or whether they live in freshwater or saltwater, have teeth. The only thing is, their teeth aren’t all the same."
Interesting...
But just because all fish have teeth doesn't mean that they are all the same. Some fish have teeth for eating meat. Others have teeth for eating plants. The fact remains, however, that all fish have some sort of teeth.
Ice Fishing
Here, in Minnesota, it is ice fishing season. Ice fishing is where you drill a hole in the ice of a lake and use a small fishing rod (specially formatted for ice fishing) to catch fish through the hole you have drilled.
I was fascinated with the small pole and the auger. My dad had a hand auger, meaning, we had to drill the hole by hand (similar to the one pictured below). A gas auger, like the one my grandpa had, was a lot more efficient and fast!
When I was younger, I liked ice fishing. But later, when I got a little older, I started to get afraid that I would fall through the ice. I guess I watched too many movies where someone fell through the ice and something bad happened to them. Perhaps it is needless to say, but I don't go out on the ice much anymore even though the ice supports the weight of a huge fish house and big pickup trucks!
Still, I know that a lot of people really enjoy year around fishing.
Well, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with the question, "Do fish have teeth?"
Actually, a lot.
The fact that fish have teeth makes ice fishing a potential hazard.
How does fish having teeth make ice fishing (or any fishing) a potential hazard?
Let me explain...
Because fish have teeth and fins and some even have stingers, you can get pricked or bitten. Trust me, I don't want a mouthful of walleye teeth sunk into my hand or finger or any other part of my body and neither do you!
As was noted above, fish who eat meat (other fish, typically, but sometimes bigger animals or even people) have sharper teeth. They need these to tear the meat from their prey.
You can get hurt by these teeth, however, or by a fin or a hook.
While fish don't have a lot of defensive weapons, their fins and teeth can give you a reminder that they don't like to be caught or handled. I don't know about you, but the sting of getting a fin jabbed into my hand does not feel good, sometimes for quite a while.
According to Officially Pets, "Most animals that you know – humans, cats, dogs – only have teeth in one location: embedded in their jaws.
"Fish, however, can have teeth in multiple locations, such as on their lips, mouth, upper and lower jaws, tongue, and even in their throat, which are known as pharyngeal teeth after the pharynx."
Well, that's new to me. I didn't know they had teeth in their throats. Not all of them have teeth there, but I don't ever want any part of me far enough into a fish to find out!
Be prepared if you get hurt while fishing
The best way to not get hurt while fishing is to not go fishing at all! But that wouldn't be any fun! So the best thing you can do is have a good first aid kit. That first aid kit definitely needs to include some of our Pure&Clean products that are great at cleaning and healing wounds.
These gentle yet highly effective products include a first aid spray and a hydrogel spray which can work wonders on any wound.
If you get bit or a fin punctures your skin or a hook gets embedded in you instead of the fish, these products can not only take the sting and the pain out of the wound, but they can also help keep you from getting an infection.
Check out this information:
Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) (in the hydrogel) is a naturally occurring chemical that is produced by our neutrophils, or white blood cells, to fight bacteria and inflammation after an infection or trauma
HOCl provides a unique power to eradicate dangerous organisms while not causing harm to our cells HOCl is one of the only agents that are both nontoxic to delicate cells that can heal our wounds while being lethal to almost all known dangerous bacteria and viruses that threaten our health Our quality ingredients and unique process produce an unmatched product. This is proven by our HOCl industry-best 24-month (not impacted by opening) FDA-cleared shelf life on all of our FDA-cleared products. In fact, the only two ingredients in our hydrogel are electrolyzed salt water and Hypochlorous Acid.
This is pH balanced to maintain efficacy for up to two years. And it won't become bleach because some other hydrogels on the market do that.
• Non-Cytotoxic (heals without harming healthy cells) • DIY Skin Protection • An environmentally friendly product • Doctor and Pharmacist Recommended • Works to manage the wound and skin, frequent and regular applications will help accelerate the process and return your skin back to its normal healthy state. • Simple to use: Just spray it on! • Contains no antibiotics, no steroids, and no alcohol for a sting-free first-aid product! • Promotes health and wellness • Manages wounds and skin with positive results • Spray all intact skin including hands
Enjoy fishing!
You can enjoy fishing knowing that you are protected. Be safe in any type of fishing and follow the rules. They are there to protect you. Remember to keep your Pure&Clean First Aid Spray and Hydrogel with you even when you are not fishing!
If you have other questions or would like to know more about any of our great products, please contact an agent near you who will be happy to assist you. You can also check out our entire site at: www.lastgerm.com. You will be glad you did!