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A tooth (plural teeth) is a hard calcified 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 that originate from the embryonic germ layer the ectoderm.The general structure of teeth is similar across the vertebrates although there is considerable variation in their form and position. The teeth of mammals have deep roots and this pattern is also found in some fish and in crocodilians. In most teleost fish however the teeth are attached to the outer surface of the bone while in lizards they are attached to the inner surface of the jaw by one side. In cartilaginous fish such as sharks the teeth are attached by tough ligaments to the hoops of cartilage that form the jaw.