Crocodile tooth. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Crocodiles have slightly curved, conical teeth lining both sides of their jaws. Most species have around 60-70 teeth, but some may have up to 100 in their jaws. Crocodiles can live up to 75 years, which is why the crocodile has 4-5 backup sets. Teeth are frequently lost or broken, only to soon be replaced by a new tooth that grows from beneath the old tooth pushing the broken tooth out of the way. Crocodiles use their teeth as clamps to keep the prey from escaping.Because crocodiles use their teeth to hold, not to cut, this means they also can't use them to chew. Because of this, when a crocodile gets a mouthful of something too big to swallow in one bite, it employs a death roll to rip up the prey before swallowing it.. Magnification: x24 at 10 centimetres wide.