Study claims these Indian monkeys may have better dental hygiene than most humans
The long tailed macaques found on the Great Nicobar Island use coconut fibres and bird feathers to floss regularly.
Dental hygiene is a crucial part of overall well being of a person and human beings have been using different methods from regular checkups to brushing their teeth daily to ensure strong teeth. But is it possible that despite all the ways employed by humans over the ages, another species may be better at maintaining dental hygiene than us?
According to a new study, long tailed macaques from Great Nicobar Island in India have impressive dental hygiene thanks to a variety of tools. Apart from nylon threads, these primates use bird feathers, coconut fibres and blades of grass to floss on a regular basis.
They have also been found to use techniques for accessing and cleaning their food like smashing coconuts on hard surfaces and rubbing off latex from cashew nuts using leaves. The study was conducted on the species of macaques which is only found in three islands in the Indian Ocean.
Previously long tailed macaques from temple ruins in Thailand were found to be using human hair for flossing while Japanese macaques used their own fur.