A
tooth (plural
teeth) is a small,
calcified, whitish structure found in the
jaws (or
mouths) of many
vertebrates and used to
break down food. Some animals, particularly
carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are covered by
gums. Teeth are not made of bone, but rather of multiple tissues of varying density and hardness. The cellular tissues that ultimately become teeth originate from the embryonic germ layer, the
ectoderm.