Ancient humans had "perfect" teeth

look at the smiles of the first humans recorded by fossils and you will find a surprise: perfectly aligned teeth.

This feature is in marked contrast to the common dental problems in modern society.

However, as the centuries passed, we observed a remarkable change: the teeth began to bend. What would have caused this puzzling transformation?

human dental health

The fossilized remains of our ancestors reveal a remarkable trait shared by many ancient hominids—the perfect alignment of their teeth.

However, as we move forward in time, this feature has declined. The question that echoes is: why did our teeth lose their symmetry throughout evolution?

While a definitive answer is still elusive, scientists have come up with an intriguing hypothesis that sheds light on this dental shift. The answer may lie in habitsancestral food.

Before the agricultural revolution, our ancestors relied on diets high in hard grains and foods that required vigorous chewing. This behavior resulted in larger jaws and teeth, perfectly adapted to this challenging diet.

(Image: RBINS/AFP/Reproduction)

As humanity moved towards agriculture and the production of processed foods, a silent revolution was taking place in our mouths.

With the advent of processed and soft foods, large teeth and jaws became redundant, gradually decreasing in size.

The result? Decreased space for the teeth, a fact often manifested in the extraction of wisdom teeth.

A agriculture brought with it a food revolution, and archaeologists have discovered that this transformation has had dramatic implications for human oral health.

Studies conducted in 1983 and 2004 explored the connection between diet and the condition of teeth.

The experiments exposed populations of animals to different levels of food hardness, and the results were revealing: those on bland diets developed misaligned teeth, while those on more resistant diets did not. change.

While genetics can play an important role in this regard, the environment is also a key factor.

It is estimated that, currently, between 30% and 60% of the global population has some degree of crooked teeth. This curious distribution seems to correlate with the processed nature of diets in different regions.

The saga of the first humans' perfect teeth is a fascinating journey of evolution and adaptation. Our food past has shaped smiles, and the complex and varied history of meals mirrors the transformations our species has undergone.

As we unravel the mysteries behind dental evolution, we are reminded that current habits can change the future of our smiles. Through it all, this is a story that continues to evolve with each meal.