Which Gender Has Bigger Teeth?
On average, males possess larger tooth crowns than females. This difference is observed across various contemporary human populations, although the extent of this size variation differs between groups. While the average male has larger teeth, it's crucial to remember that this is a general trend; individual variation exists, and some females may have larger teeth than some males.
The difference in tooth size between males and females (sexual dimorphism) is a common biological phenomenon found in many species. In humans, this dimorphism is more pronounced in certain teeth like canines and incisors. Research indicates that males typically have canines and incisors with larger diameters compared to females.
Several studies confirm this observation:
- A study published in 2018 found that if males generally have larger teeth and no difference exists in the width of lower incisors, males might have proportionally bigger teeth overall. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2018/7641908
- Another study examining sexual dimorphism in modern human teeth confirmed that males, on average, have larger tooth crowns. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15861426/
This size difference is not universal and varies depending on factors including:
- Population: The degree of dimorphism can vary significantly between different human populations.
- Specific teeth: The difference in size is more pronounced in some teeth than others.
It's important to note that while there's a general trend, individual variation exists, and some females may have larger teeth than some males. It’s the average size that shows a difference between the sexes. Other factors, such as genetics and nutrition, also play a role in determining individual tooth size.
