Chinchillas teeth are constantly growing, so they constantly need to chew on wood and pumice to wear their teeth down. If a chinchilla is not provided with enough to chew on, their teeth will continue growing and they will suffer from an infliction called malocclusion. Malocclusion is a condition where the teeth do not fit correctly, and can be hereditary, environmental, or both. While this can sometimes be treated by a vet, it is costly, stressful and often has to be repeated over and over. If you ever have a chin in a breeding program that suffers from malo, remove that chin from breeding, as it's a very undesirable trait to pass on. Also keep in mind that malo may not appear until the chin is older.

Signs of healthy teeth:

- constant chewing
- orange appearance
- food consumption is normal

Signs of unhealthy teeth:

- wet chin, drooling
- pawing at mouth
- uneaten food, half eaten pellets
- choking expression when fed raisin

If you think your chin has any teeth related problems, make an appointment with your vet, and request x-rays, they can show problems at the root of the tooth, such as an abscess or a cracked tooth.

Feeding your chinchilla high quality pellets and hay can help prevent your chin from suffering from any type of tooth disorder.