Our teeth are the product of hundreds of millions of years of evolution. Their resistance to wear & their omnivorous capabilities are great, but like all evolved traits, they aren’t great with the rapid changes we’ve brought about.
Origin Story
The debate continues on as to how teeth came about. Two prevailing theories argue from opposite sides of the mouth: one school of thought claims teeth came from inside our throat, eventually migrating to what would become our jawbone. This theory also provides evidence for the genesis of enamel, which may have originally had a use to harden protective scales.
The other follows the trajectory of scales or similar outer plating to their destination as teeth. But new studies are showing both may be correct.
Enter Sapiens
Human teeth evolved much further than that, developing a wide variety of shapes to cope with our omnivorous diet. We have incisors to tear, molars to chew & even a few teeth we often get rid of.
Over time our jawbones became weaker, likely due to the average population not needing such strong muscles as cooked food was easier to eat. Our jaws also decreased in size relative to our bodies sometime during the Agricultural Revolution, but our diet has since boomed.
Fast Times
One thing our teeth did not evolve to withstand, however, is processed sugar. Processed sugar more readily sticks to teeth & is harder to wash away, & its modern role in our diet has led to a decline in humanity’s oral health. When combined with our smaller jaws, these factors can account for much of the afflictions of human teeth today. Thankfully, our resourcefulness has kept pace, & there is a lot you can do to make your smile last.
A great way to help your teeth last a lifetime is to watch your intake of processed sugar & other processed foods—which generally contain a high level of sugar themselves. Brushing after meals, or at least twice a day helps keep enamel clear of sugar & protects against tooth decay.
Even the most prodigious brushers need a hand now & then, though, so the final important step to helping your smile thrive in this modern world is a trip to the dentist. In addition to hygiene, there are now many advancements in restorative dentistry that reduce recovery times & are much less invasive than even a couple generations ago.
Sources:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-have-so-many-problems-with-our-teeth/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-dawn-farming-changed-our-mouths-worst-180954167/
https://www.science.org/content/article/how-enamel-coats-your-teeth-evolved
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/oral-health/
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