Is the Number of Human Teeth Declining With Evolution?

The number of teeth in human adults is usually smaller then the number they were born with. Sometimes some need to be pulled for medical reasons. Sometimes the number declines because a tooth is knocked out while playing a sport. Most of the time, humans have a lower number because the wisdom ones are extracted.

It is a normal cycle. Babies are born with none. Next, the baby molars come in. Later in life the number begins declining as they fall out. Later these are replaced by adult ones. Around our early twenties wisdom teeth come in behind our adult molars. Very rarely do humans keep these anymore. The human race no longer needs the same number of molars to survive.

When "cavemen" were around, these third molars were a welcomed blessing. Many times the adult molars had already fallen out and they needed more chompers. Now, this added number of molars is no longer needed for humans to eat. There have been many cases in the present day where humans have been born with only three wisdom teeth. This is de-evolution reducing the number. It is nature's way of simplifying the human body.

Studies show that diet appears to have a great deal to do with this decline. Humans that live in developed countries where processed foods are the norm tend to have a hired rate of the missing third molar in children born in those areas.

Not only is mother nature taking away the number of molars we have, but she is also making our jaw smaller. It is very rare that a person can comfortably house the third molars anymore. This is why they are usually extracted before they have broken the surface of the gums.

As time goes by, and humans learn how to care for their teeth better, the numbers will probably decline further. Maybe one day, the number of human molars will decline to where there are no third molars.

Also read our article about Wisdom Teeth