Have you ever wondered what people’s teeth looked like thousands of years ago, before modern inventions like toothpaste, dental floss, dentures, or even dentists who could perform routine checkups and cleanings? We can learn a lot about our ancestors through archaeological finds that give us clues about how they lived, and in many cases, what they ate and how it impacted their dental health. But perhaps what’s even more surprising is how different things are today! Here’s a closer look.
How the Diet of Our Ancestors Impacted Their Dental Health
Before modern agriculture and processed foods, people mostly ate whatever they could hunt, grow, or find themselves. This meant that early humans had diets including rich, unprocessed foods like whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ultra-lean meats. This diet might sound simple and a little boring to us, but it was actually incredibly beneficial for their teeth!
Less sugar means fewer cavities, and early humans didn’t have access to sugary sodas, candies, and other sweets, meaning they didn’t have to worry about one of the biggest cavity-causing factors that we must consider. Plus, the tough, fibrous foods they ate often required more chewing, meaning they had stronger jaws—and they also had room for their wisdom teeth!
Many ancient cultures also used saps and other resins from trees as an early form of chewing gum, further strengthening their jaws (and giving archaeologists today access to their DNA in order to unravel all of these clues). The bottom line is, while our ancient ancestors didn’t have perfect smiles by any means, they still did fairly well given their circumstances—and their diets played a large role in that.
How Our Diets Today Affect Our Teeth
Fast forward to today, and our teeth face a different set of challenges since modern diets look quite different. There’s refined sugar, processed carbs, softer foods, and frequent snacking, all of which can have a negative impact on dental health. The result is that more people today are susceptible to issues like cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss—more so than what our ancestors had to deal with.
Luckily, though, we’re better equipped to face these problems than early humans. While it’s always smart to practice healthy eating habits, dental problems can also be avoided through daily dental hygiene, such as brushing and flossing. You should also visit your dentist every six months—a privilege our ancestors didn’t have—for routine preventive care that’ll keep nasty problems from developing in the first place!
About the Practice
Under the talented leadership of Dr. Ernesto Ulloa, our team here at Crafting Smiles has served the needs of patients and families in Durham and the surrounding communities for several years, offering a wide range of services, including routine preventive care to help you maintain a happy and healthy smile. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our office to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (919) 220-4200.