For the Record
Setting records is usually a good thing – the fastest mile, the strongest person, the most wins. But when it comes to setting records with your pearly whites, most are major no-nos.
While your teeth are incredibly strong, using them for feats like the ones below can lead to breaks, chips or cracks.[1] Some of the extreme stunts could even result in jaw misalignment and other problems. Use your teeth as they’re intended – not to carry a person or tow a bus!
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In November 2014, Missourian Steve Schmidt used his teeth to remove five nails from a piece of wood in just 7.44 seconds. [2] Someone hand this guy a pair of pliers.
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In 2008, George Christen of Luxembourg ran a distance of 38 feet, 8 inches while holding 136 pounds, 10 ounces with his teeth. Of that weight, 26 pounds, 7 ounces was a table. The other 110 pounds, 3 ounces was a woman sitting on the table.[3]
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It’s hard enough to husk a coconut using the right tools, let alone your mouth – which is what Sidaraju S. Raju of India did in just 28.06 seconds in 2003.[4]
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When your car breaks down, call a tow truck – don’t use your teeth. On January 7, 2015, Igor Zaripov of Russia achieved the “Heaviest road vehicle pulled by teeth” record when he pulled a bus weighing 30,233 pounds with his teeth for 16 feet.[5]
Here’s one record that we can get behind: In 2005, 13,380 people gathered at Cuscatlán Stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, to brush their teeth simultaneously[6] – hopefully with fluoride toothpaste and for the recommended two minutes!