Human teeth may not match those of a tiger shark in size or number -- but they are just as strong, research has shown, Press Association reported.

Scientists made the surprising discovery after comparing the micro-structure of human and shark teeth. They found that despite the teeth of the top ocean predator being coated with super-tough enamel, they are no stronger than the average human's.

Shark teeth have an interior of elastic dentin and an outer layer of hard enamel, toughened by the fluorine-based mineral fluoroapatite.

The crystals in human teeth have a special arrangement and they are 'glued together' by proteins.

Therefore the overall strength of human teeth is on par with that of the shark's.

据英国国家通讯社报道，研究表明，虽然人类的牙齿在数量和大小方面不能与虎鲨的相提并论，但其坚硬度却能与虎鲨媲美。

在对人类和鲨鱼牙齿的微结构进行对比后，科学家惊奇地发现，作为海洋头号捕食者的鲨鱼，虽然其牙齿表面覆盖有极坚硬的牙釉质，但其硬度也并未超过人类的牙齿。

鲨鱼牙齿内部含弹性牙本质，外部覆盖牙釉质，由于氟磷灰石的存在，使其坚硬无比。

而人类牙齿内部晶体则以特殊的方式排列，并由蛋白质“粘合”在一起。

因此，人类牙齿整体坚硬度便同鲨鱼的一样了。