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How to Find Shark Teeth on the Ocean Shore

With rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth lining the insides of their mouths, sharks shed tens of thousands of teeth in their lifetime. When a tooth falls out, the tooth behind it moves forward to fill the gap. Lost teeth do not affect the shark, but they bring joy to beach-goers who find them in the sand. Waves push the teeth around like seashells until they reach the ocean shore, where beachcombers add them to their treasures.

Things You'll Need

Strainer (optional)
Bucket (optional)
Shovel (optional)

Instructions

In the Sand
- 1
  Find an area where debris has washed ashore. Areas with seashells are ideal, but shark teeth can also avoid the undertow in seaweed and under driftwood.
- 2
  Sift through the sand with your hands or a strainer. Work in sections to cover the area.
- 3
  Search for black triangles or T-shaped objects of any size. Shark teeth are white, but fossilized teeth are black or gray.
In the Water
- 4
  Walk along the shore where the water foams and stretches across the sand.
- 5
  Watch the shallow water for tumbling objects, such as shells, sand dollars and starfish. These objects indicate that shark teeth can reach the shore at this beach.
- 6
  Use your hands, a shovel or a bucket to scoop up anything that might be a tooth before the undertow pulls it back out. If it's not a tooth and not worth keeping, throw it back and try again.

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