It can be fascinating to see how the human body has changed over time. While there are similarities with your ancestors on an anatomical level, there are things that show how different the lives you both have are. Your teeth, for one, have evolved a long way since ancient times. To help you better appreciate these structures, here’s the journey they’ve gone through to be what they are today.
Strong Grins of Early Humans
The skulls of early humans, about seven million years ago, look much like those of chimpanzees that you would see at your local zoo. Their jaws were longer and had no chin, so their faces looked a bit more projected out. Teeth were laid out in a U or rectangular shape, with gaps near their canines. These dental structures were much longer and pointed, so the space allowed them to fit together when the mouth was closed.
This gave a hint to their diet, which research suggests was mainly fruit and soft tree buds. Because of this, their enamel was also much thinner compared to today.
How Teeth Started to Evolve
Since early humans had much tougher foods, their teeth had to account for that. They had higher bumps to allow them to grind and chew their food so they can properly digest it. Even 10,000 years ago, Mesolithic hunter-gatherers might’ve used their smiles as tools to remove scales on fish and eat starchy plants.
However, as cultures started to cook their meals, they became more tender and easier to munch on. So, the bigger teeth and jaws started to grow smaller until they became what they are now.
Showing Off Modern Smiles
Just by looking at your grin in the mirror, you might see how your arches are more of a rounded or parabolic shape. While gaps are still possible, it’s due to misalignment rather than being necessary for your mouth to come together. Teeth are smaller and uniform, as today’s diet is much softer compared to the past.
In fact, third molars are often a hint of how different smiles are nowadays. For many people, they don’t have enough space for them, so they can erupt at an angle or be impacted. They cause more problems for many people, rather than helping with eating as they did centuries ago.
While teeth are much different than before, the changes they’ve gone through help you feel confident smiling today. So while you may not have as strong a bite as they had, it’s not as needed anymore!
About the Practice
At Smile More Dentistry, you benefit from a skilled team of dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are dedicated to helping the local community throughout their oral healthcare journey with preventive care. By having consistent checkups and cleanings, we can make sure you’re set to bite and chew your food with ease. If it’s time for your next semi-annual visit, schedule an appointment or call our office at (845) 675-1512.