Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth? Anthropologists Answer

Why do we have wisdom teeth if we don't need them?. These four teeth come in at the age between 17 to 25 years old person, therefore, called as "Wisdom Teeth". In general, we have 28 teeth in our mouth. We get our first set of molars at the age of 6, then the second set of molars at the age of 12 years. Does everyone get wisdom teeth? is another question because not everyone gets these four teeth.

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

According to American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons research, more than 85% of Americans get these wisdom teeth. And in more than 90% folks, they come in and grow in crooked, wrong direction. They lay down horizontally (due to not extra space for their eruption in the jaw) and push adjacent teeth and cause complications like infection, severe pain, swelling, cysts, and tumors in some cases.

Why do we have wisdom teeth? Anthropologists Theory

According to scientists, thousands of years ago, our ancestors chewed coarse, rough, hard food like nuts, roots, leaves and uncooked meals. And due to poor oral hygiene and the lake of toothbrush and floss more of their teeth loss before the age of 20 years. These third set of molars at their adulthood helped them for survival.

Anthropologists Theory on Wisdom Teeth

Over the passage of time, people became educated and they know the importance of healthy oral hygiene, toothbrush, dental floss etc. Today, we have small tools like knives, spoons etc to cut rough, hard food into small pieces and fire for cooking.

According to the scientist, these are the vestigial organs. Because we don't need them as well as they just cause disease and other complications like cysts ) swelling around the gum tissues, infection, severe pain etc.

Why do we have wisdom teeth removed?

This is because wisdom teeth or third molars come in and grow in a crooked direction. Because our mouth does not have an extra space for these teeth. Our jaw became small (over the passage of time) and these teeth cannot accommodate with other teeth. These teeth lay down in their position due to crowding and push other teeth.

Why do we have wisdom teeth removed?

Wisdom teeth removal cost from $70 to $3000 depending upon some factors like X-ray cost, consultation cost, surgery and the local anesthesia cost. Many dentists have a discounted package for all four wisdom teeth extraction.

Wisdom Teeth Symptoms

If you are 17 to 25 years old and facing severe pain behind your second molars. Then congrats, you have wisdom teeth growing in at the end of your mouth. Below are some common wisdom teeth symptoms you should be aware of.

• Bad Breath


• Swelling


• Severe Pain in Jaw, Neck, and Head


• Bad Taste

In this condition, you must visit your dentist who will take an X-RAY of your jaw. After seeing that X RAY report, your dentist will decide if you need wisdom teeth removal or not.

Do everybody need wisdom teeth extraction?

If anybody has one or more wisdom teeth growing in his or her mouth without causing pain, swelling, or another discomfort. And the X RAY report showed that your third molars are coming in straight with no complications. More than 70% dentists recommend the wisdom teeth extraction because of future problems. Every individual in this world is different from each other, so wisdom teeth removal consultation is very important.

"Why do we have wisdom teeth or third molars?" which just cause problems for us. So above is the answer to that question that our ancestors needed these teeth for chewing hard, rough, nuts and uncooked meals for their survival. They didn't know about healthy oral hygiene which leads to the tooth loss before their adulthood. Today we don't need those teeth because now we have utensils like knives, spoons. We cook food and eat soft food which our stomach can easily digest.