Miss-Matched Teeth

[aimsdavies]

Hiya!
Today, I came home from school and saw that my hammy, Puff, has one normal length bottom tooth whilst the other was significantly shorter. It seems as though she’s chipped the other to be quite short when chewing on her chews and things. She still seems to be eating healthily and doesn’t seem to be affected by it at all. I’m only a bit concerned as I do want it to grow back to its normal length.
In order to do so I’ve already began softening her food so she doesn’t need to chew a lot. I’ve removed her chew toys for now as well. I’ve left some cardboard as she is a chewer and the fact that a tooth is significantly shorter doesn’t deter her from doing so. I am concerned as she does have a tendency to bite the corner of her cage every once in a while (which I think is what caused her shortened tooth) and I began placing cardboard between the bars to protect her teeth. Would still continuing to do so deter her teeth from growing?
Are there any other things I could do to ensure that her tooth grows back?
Thank you!
EDIT: Her shortened tooth isn’t completely worn down to the gums. It seems to be only a few mm shorter than her other one.

[velma]

It sounds a bit like she's chewed on the bars of her cage and chipped a tooth. Hamsters teeth never stop growing which is why they need wood and chews to wear them down so they don't over grow. The problem with one being shorter is the top tooth above it has nothing to wear against so you'll need to be careful that this one didn't overgrow as it can cause some problems. I'm sure you'll get some good advice about what to look out for and what the best diet is - I'm not sure that softening food is necessary as it may cause her other teeth to overgrow. I hope your hammy is right as sun soon.

[cypher]

I would do what you can to prevent any bar chewing, the cardboard or a bendy bridge, whatever works really over the bars.
I don't think softening food is necessary either, you need to make sure her teeth continue to wear down as normal while the broken tooth grows back so she will need normal food & there's no harm in her having chew toys unless she shows any signs of having trouble eating.
Their teeth grow very quickly so hopefully the broken tooth will grow back normally very soon & she'll be fine.