Part 2/5:

Evolutionary Adaptation and Jaw Size

As humans transitioned to softer, cooked foods, the evolutionary role of these teeth began to change. Our powerful jaws no longer needed to perform the rigorous task of grinding tough materials, leading to a gradual shrinkage in jaw size. However, the genetic predisposition for tooth growth remained intact, and humans continued to develop a full set of 32 teeth, including wisdom teeth.

This disconnect between jaw size and the number of teeth presents a significant problem. With smaller jaws but the same number of teeth, especially by the time wisdom teeth erupt between the ages of 16 and 18, there often isn’t enough space in the mouth. Consequently, the wisdom teeth can become trapped or impacted, leading to painful symptoms and misalignment issues.