Ever wondered how a hippo gets its teeth cleaned? It's even cuter than you might think.

Everything you wanted to know about hippos but were too afraid to ask.
Fun fact: Hippos can have anywhere from 38-44 teeth. That means up to 44 chances of a cavity. And with the daily servings of healthy fruits and vegetables that they receive at the zoo, odds are something is gonna get stuck.
Funner fact: Hippo teeth cleanings are a thing.
While there is no shortage of amazing animal videos out there, this one of a hippo getting his smile maintained is certainly giving us something to smile about today, too.
pic.twitter.com/8mdaQFQZdV
— Interesting As Fuck (@lnterestingFuck) December 6, 2021
The zookeeper, clad in blue, nonchalantly approaches the beast/animal/creature. And hippo knows what’s up. It's teeth cleaning time.
Its huge mouth goes agape. And the zookeeper’s hands dive in to feel around the blunted canines. The hippo certainly embodies more stillness that I can ever muster up during a dental visit.
Next it’s teeth brushing time, with a cartoonishly large toothbrush. And boy, is the sight mesmerizing in a “wow, didn’t know this was an actual job,” sort of way.
Or maybe a “oh this is wholesome but also kind of terrifying” sort of way, considering that the hippo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, second only to mosquitos.
People were quick to note this in the comments:
I didn't watch till the end because I prolly couldn't handle the carnage..
— Chahuapa (@Chahuapa) December 6, 2021
This is clearly not the first time this happened. I want to see the video of that first cleaning and whether or not the dentist still has their arms.
— the1truerockrep (@the1truerockrep) December 10, 2021
“Nah I got an easy job, I just walk up and casually brush the teeth of what is potentially one of the deadliest creatures in the world like it’s nothing.”
— Noah Orubae (@NoahOrubae) December 6, 2021
FYI, this is the most dangerous animal in Africa.https://t.co/UUPHukQEMK
— R. S. S. (@_R_S_S_) December 10, 2021
As we’re learning more about hippos than probably anticipated today, here are five lesser known facts about this gigantic water beast.
You might not be qualified to become a hippo dentist with these tidbits, but your zoological knowledge will most certainly be enhanced. Get ready to impress your friends.
1. Hippos can't swim … or float.
That's right. Everything you think you know is a lie. Though hippos spend most of their lives in the water, they cannot swim. Instead, they're standing on their tippy-toes. In other words, hippos are masters of illusion.
2. Their closest living relative is a whale.
This one's a bit of a scientific debate, as others theorize that the hippo is more closely related to a pig. So there you have it. Whale + pig = hippo. That checks out.
3. They create their own sunblock.
Because their skin is sensitive to the heat, hippos secrete a red, pinkish oily sweat that protects them from burning.
4. Baby hippos can suckle underwater.
Hippo calves will stay close to their mother, even while under water. However, their bodies have a nifty adaptation where their nostrils and eyes will close to prevent ingesting water.
5. A group of hippos is called a bloat.
And a bloat can contain up to 100 hungry, hungry hippos!
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There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."