Dino tooth aches

Tooth decay is not just a problem in this age of chocolate and candy. Even dinosaurs suffered from it, scientists say. A recently found jawbone from Texas shows the earliest clues about toothache. The 275-million-year-old jawbone of a reptile has missing and rotting teeth.

It belonged to a creature called Labidosaurus hamatus, which was a fat-headed omnivore about 75 centimetres long. It had evolved to live on land, rather than in the marshes of its ancestors. It had strong legs for running and armour-like skin for protection.

The animal had a single set of teeth for life, which it used for eating plants, not insects like its ancestors. But having fixed teeth for life meant those teeth, like our teeth, could rot. And this reptile didn't have the luxury of going to a dentist. Scientists say the recent finding confirms the idea that having fixed teeth makes animals more prone to dental problems.

The ancient jawbone shows the creature had a serious and painful tooth infection that destroyed the bone nearby. Several of its teeth were also missing.