Having wisdom teeth pulled can often make for a funny video afterwards. (Recently, two brothers convinced their sister that there was a zombie apocalypse happening). While this is all fun, it may leave you wondering why we even have wisdom teeth if so many of us need them pulled out. At Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we are going to explain why it’s thought we have them!
Well to start, we have teeth so we can chew our food properly. These days, we have a wide variety of foods, able to be prepared in all sorts of ways. Around 20,000 years ago, humans ate tougher foods in their diet, like nuts, roots, and raw meat. It is thought that wisdom teeth were needed to help them chew through their food better. In current times, we cook a lot of our meat; making it easier to chew through. We also cook much of our veggies, fruits, and grains!
Wisdom teeth have just become less and less necessary. In addition, human jaws and facial structures have actually gotten smaller since then. So these days, those unneeded wisdom teeth often do not even fit. If left alone, they can cause major pain, infection, and damage to other teeth. An interesting fact to know, though, is that there are some lucky people being born without wisdom teeth!
If you suspect your wisdom teeth are growing in, come in for an evaluation. To schedule an appointment in our Smithville, MO office, call us at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com.
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