Why Do We Have Crooked Teeth When Our Ancestors Didn’t?

Evidence shows that people in ancient times typically had straight teeth set well into strong jaws, with even wisdom teeth fitting properly.

So, what went wrong? Did evolution do us a disservice?

Some information to chew on

Transition from hard-to-chew diets to processed, refined foods over millennia has reduced jaw size while tooth size stayed constant. Smaller jaws lead to tooth crowding, crookedness, and impacted wisdom teeth, requiring braces or extractions in modern times.

However, all is not lost!

Studies on non-human animals show softer diets reduce jaw and facial growth, causing dental crowding. In other words: dental crowding is primarily attributed to dietary and lifestyle changes, though genetics may play a role.

And notably, when it comes to humans, populations with less processed diets experience fewer dental problems, suggesting lifestyle modifications could help prevent tooth crowding.

And no, it is not too late. Remember, you are rebuilding your body all the time, including your bones!

For more on all of this, enjoy:

Click Here If The Embedded Video Doesn’t Load Automatically!

Want to learn more?

You might also like to read:

The Exercises That Can Fix Sinus Problems (And More) ← this also improves the jaw structure

Take care!