A 33-year-old engineer from Malaysia has officially made it into the record books - not for any feat of strength or speed, but for what's hiding behind his smile.
Prathab Muniandy, from Klang in Selangor, Malaysia, has been verified by Guinness World Records as holding the record for most teeth in a person's mouth - a remarkable 42, confirmed by two dentists on December 28, 2023. The average adult has 32 teeth.
Muniandy, a father of one who works as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, said he first noticed something unusual in 2021 during a family tea-time gathering, when he mentioned to relatives that he appeared to have extra teeth growing. The family counted together and found 38 at the time. A dental X-ray later revealed four more teeth that had yet to emerge, and by early 2023, Muniandy confirmed he had a full 42 teeth - most of which grew in straight and without complications.
Muniandy said most people are caught off guard when he tells them, noting it's hard for them to believe he has 10 more teeth than the typical person. He added the extra teeth don't cause him discomfort and go largely unnoticed in daily life.
There's still more to come: the dental examination also detected two additional unerupted teeth that have yet to break through the gumline, meaning his total could eventually climb even higher.
Muniandy was officially awarded the title for most teeth in a person's mouth (male). The female equivalent of the record is held by Kalpana Balan of India, who has 38 teeth.
Muniandy said the distinction feels meaningful to him, describing it as something special to know he holds a world record.
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