Ancestors and their perfectly aligned teeth: understand this evolutionary enigma

The use of orthodontic appliances is a common practice in modern dentistry, helping millions of people correct malocclusion problems and achieve healthier and more aesthetically pleasing smiles.

Frenchman Pierre Fauchard is believed to have invented the first orthodontic appliance in 1728. Fauchard, often called the “father of modern dentistry”, developed a removable metal structure known as a “bandeau” to correct the position of teeth.

However, this early device was rudimentary compared to contemporary orthodontic appliances. However, technology has played an important role in the evolution of orthodontic appliances.

The introduction of materials such as stainless steel, porcelain and plastic has brought more options to patients, allowing for greater comfort and aesthetics during treatment.

Looking back

Today, we are not necessarily going to look to the present to analyze modern orthodontic appliances, but rather, we intend to definitely look to the very distant past, specifically to the Stone Age.

This is because it is from there that we will learn that our ancestors were not very concerned about fixing their teeth, as this was a natural condition for them.

Yes, according to Daniel Lieberman, in his book “The History of the Human Body”, when talking about the teeth of Stone Age humans, there is a somewhat intriguing reasoning.

He states that, comparing the skulls of modern people with the skulls of people from the Stone Age, one observes the presence of many cavities and abscesses in the teeth of those who lived just a few years ago.

According to Daniel:

“Most skulls from the last hundred years are a dentist’s nightmare: they are full of cavities and infections, the teeth are crowded into the jaw, and about a quarter of them have impacted teeth.

In contrast, most hunter-gatherers had near-perfect dental health. Apparently, orthodontists and dentists were rarely needed in the Stone Age.”

That beautiful smile…

Despite the lack of advanced technology and modern dental resources, some studies and archaeological discoveries suggest that many individuals from this era had surprisingly well-maintained teeth.

One reason for this is the predominant hunter-gatherer diet. At that time, people ate mainly natural, unprocessed foods such as meat, fish, fruits, vegetables and roots.

This diet was rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals essential for proper jaw and tooth development.

Another important study in this area was published by orthodontists Sandra Kahn and Paul R. Ehrlich, from Stanford University, in the USA.

They report that changes in diet and eating habits throughout human evolution may have contributed to changes in jaw size and subsequent misalignment of teeth.

Before the Stone Age, humans ate mostly raw, hard foods, such as raw meat and fibrous vegetables. This diet required more intense and prolonged chewing, exercising the chewing muscles and promoting proper jaw development.

With the advent of agriculture and the discovery of fire, there was a significant change in the human diet. Food became cooked, soft and cut into smaller pieces. This meant that less intense chewing was required and the jaw muscles were not exercised much.

Over time, these dietary changes led to a gradual decrease in jaw size, as it was no longer necessary to have a large, robust jaw to handle tough, fibrous foods.

Consequently, the decrease in jaw size may have affected the space available for the teeth to position themselves correctly, thus generating misaligned teeth.