Why People Have Wisdom Teeth

(Image credit: Nizil Shah/Wikimedia Commons)

Have you ever wondered why we have wisdom teeth? Most of the time, they cause pain when they're impacted and start pushing the rest of your teeth. Then, you need to have them pulled out. Just like the appendix, what's the need for wisdom teeth anyway?

Scientists suggest that wisdom teeth helped earlier humans to chew their food. Back then, when people ate raw meats and plants, they were harder to chew, so they needed a set of third molars.

However, as we advanced in technology like agriculture, food preservation, and cooking, our food became softer and easier to chew. In time, wisdom teeth became irrelevant although they are still present.

Not everyone has a full set of wisdom teeth though. Depending on a person's gene pool, they may be missing a few wisdom teeth. But some scientists suggest that this is a good thing, and in fact, it would be advantageous for people to lack wisdom teeth. At the very least, it allows a lot of space for your teeth to fit into a smaller jaw.

- from The Conversation