Most people go their whole lives with 32 teeth. Prathab Muniandy from Malaysia has 42, and he just landed himself a Guinness World Record to prove it. The 33-year-old engineer didn’t even realize how unusual his mouth was until a few years ago, when a casual family gathering turned into a tooth-counting session that changed everything.
- Muniandy is being recognized by Guinness World Records for his mouth filled with 42 teeth, which is 10 more than the average person.
- His record was verified in 2023 following examinations by two dentists, and he has a further two unerupted teeth that could still emerge.
- The female version of the record is held by Kalpana Balan of India, who has 38 teeth.
How It All Started at a Family Tea Time
The story behind this record is surprisingly ordinary. Prathab, who works as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, first noticed something was off in 2021 during a family tea-time gathering, when he mentioned that he seemed to have extra teeth growing. That observation got the whole family curious, so they started counting. They found that he had 38 teeth at the time, and a dental X-ray later showed that there were four more teeth that had yet to erupt.
By early 2023, Muniandy realized he had a total of 42 teeth. That’s a whopping 10 above the standard 32 that most adults carry around. And the good news? Most of the teeth grew straight and without any complications.
Getting the Record Verified
You can’t just walk into Guinness headquarters and flash a big grin. The process of earning the record took proper medical documentation. An examination by two dentists confirmed the presence of 42 erupted teeth and 2 unerupted teeth. That means Muniandy could eventually end up with 44 teeth in total if those last two decide to come through.
He was officially awarded the title for the most teeth in a person’s mouth (male). Before Muniandy claimed this record, the male record holder was Evano Mellone of Canada, who had 41 teeth. Muniandy beat him by one, which in dental record circles is quite the accomplishment.
Muniandy said his extra teeth don’t cause him any trouble, and most people don’t even notice until he mentions it. That’s pretty wild when you consider just how many extra teeth are crammed in there. He maintains good oral hygiene by brushing twice daily and flossing regularly.
What Causes Someone to Have Extra Teeth?
The medical name for Muniandy’s condition is hyperdontia. Hyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth that appear in addition to the regular number of teeth (32 in the average adult). It sounds alarming, but it’s actually not that rare in mild forms. Up to 3.8% of the world’s population have one or more supernumerary teeth.
What is unusual is having 10 extra teeth, all functional and growing in the right direction. Hyperdontia is the result of a malfunction in the tooth formation process, and it’s thought that supernumerary teeth develop from an extra tooth bud arising near a regular tooth bud, or possibly from the splitting of a regular tooth bud. Specific genes play a role in determining the number and pattern of teeth, and an individual can inherit a genetic predisposition to hyperdontia from their parents.
What’s surprising is that Muniandy has no symptoms at all, given that supernumerary teeth can sometimes cause crowding, misalignment, or other dental issues. He lucked out in that department. His teeth grew in neatly, and he said the condition hasn’t gotten in the way of daily life or his work.
The Women’s Record and Other Tooth Tales
Muniandy isn’t alone in the world of record-breaking teeth. The most teeth in a person’s mouth (female) is 38, and was achieved by Kalpana Balan of India, as verified on 24 June 2023. Kalpana’s supernumerary teeth began growing one by one during her teenage years. And like Muniandy, she may not be done yet, as she reportedly has two more teeth that haven’t come through.
History has its share of wild dental stories, too. Freddie Mercury, lead singer for the British band Queen, is among the famous people who had hyperdontia. And going even further back, Agrippina the Younger, mother of the Roman Emperor Nero, is said to have had a double canine in her right upper jaw, something that was seen as a sign of good fortune by the Romans.
What 42 Teeth Means for One Smiling Engineer
For Prathab Muniandy, this Guinness World Record is a fun bonus on top of an already busy life as a father and oil and gas engineer. The Malaysian man with the most teeth in a male mouth didn’t set out to break records. He simply noticed something unusual, counted it up, and followed through with official verification. With two more teeth possibly on the way, his record could grow even higher. For now, he’s got the biggest smile in the record books, and 42 very good reasons to show it off.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. There is no extra cost to you. We only promote products we believe in.
