How do a bear’s teeth suit an omnivorous diet?

Bears are omnivorous mammals whose teeth are unspecialized, allowing them to consume a varied diet. Unlike highly carnivorous members of the order Carnivora, which possess well-developed shearing teeth known as carnassials, bears have poorly developed carnassials.12

Instead, their dentition is characterized by molars with broad, flat crowns. These teeth are classified as bunodont, meaning they feature low, rounded cusps that are well-suited for crushing a wide range of food sources rather than strictly slicing meat. Because they lack the specialized shearing mechanisms found in strict carnivores, bears rely on these flat molars to process both plant material and animal tissues. Additionally, bears typically possess a higher number of teeth—ranging from 40 to 42—compared to more specialized meat-eating carnivores, which often have fewer teeth.132