How many teeth do alligators have?

According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, alligators have a total of 74 to 80 teeth in their mouths at one time. When the teeth inside an alligators mouth wear down, they are replaced with new teeth.

The average alligator can grow between 2,000 and 3,000 teeth during its lifetime. One way to distinguish alligators from crocodiles is by looking at their teeth. The lower fourth tooth in an alligator’s lower jaw can fit neatly into a socket in the upper jaw. These teeth are not visible when the alligator's mouth is closed. Crocodiles do not have this tooth formation.

Alligators have extremely strong jaw muscles, which enable them to bite and grip their prey, including fish and mammals.