Syrian Hamster Teething Issue

Question
Hi there,
My Syrian hamster is about 3-4months old and is healthy with the exception of his teeth.
Although I have provided him with a mineral block and a wooden chewable playhouse, he's not interested in either of them. I did buy him some honey and seed blocks a short while ago, but he went through them so quickly that I doubt they did little difference and they are just treats so I can't give him them all the time.
The only thing he does seem to chew are the bars around the top of his cage, but it seems more like he is trying to get out rather than wear his teeth down and it's not making any difference to them.
I've noticed that his teeth are now becoming quite long. They're not long enough yet that I need to take him to have them clipped, but I would like to prevent that from happening at all.
I would just like to ask if you have any tips about anything I can do or give him to encourage him to do more gnawing?
Many thanks,
Kayleigh

Answer
Dear Kayleigh,
thank you for your question.
I would recommend taknig out both the mineral block and the honey chewing bars, they are not good for the hamster's health. Mineral blocks can cause kidey problems and the chewing sticks are too sweet (they shouldn't have any sugar or honey).

You can offer twigs and branches if you have access to untreated trees: hazel (normal and corkscrew), beech, birch, poplar, willow, oak, apple, pear, prune and currant are all suitable for hamsters. They can be offered with or without leaves. Some petshops have willow sticks or other chewing wood on sale as well.

Toilet paper rolls and egg containers are good chewing toys as well, although they are fairly soft. If you can get really thick cardboard rolls, then those are a good toy for your hamster.

Check his food, if it contains a lot of colourful popped cereals, corn, peanuts and sunflower/pumpkin seeds, you may want to switch to another brand. Syrian hamsters should have a food that consists of 2/3 of several types of grains and about 1/3 small seeds like parakeet or canary food. That way, he has to eat more to feel full and will have to gnaw more seeds.

I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer