Why are there so many Megalodon teeth?

Why are there so many fossilized shark teeth?

Sharks continually lose and replace their teeth throughout their lives. An average shark sheds approximately 20,000 teeth, and some species can lose up to 50,000! Remarkably, it only takes about 7-10 days for a new tooth from the second row to move into the primary position.

Once shed, these teeth sink to the ocean floor, where they become covered by sediment and eventually fossilize. When you consider millions of sharks existing over millions of years, the sheer volume of fossilized teeth becomes immeasurable.

Sharks have this rapid tooth replacement system because, unlike humans, they don’t have hands to manipulate their food. They bite directly into or through bone, which frequently damages or dislodges their teeth. Without a constant supply of replacements, sharks would be unable to eat and would starve.