Having the Wisdom of Teeth
A lot of people say they’d go back to their youth, but there are certain parts of my youth that make me never wish to go back. One of those factors? Wisdom teeth.
Sometime between ages seventeen and twenty-five, most adults will develop their third set of molars—also known as wisdom teeth. Have you ever found yourself curious about wisdom teeth? Like why we have them when they’re just going to get taken out and how they got their name? Are they truly that wise? Well, it’s something many don’t think about, and we get why.
Here’s a rundown of those four pesky teeth that drive many teenagers to having anxiety about dental visits in the first place. The fact that people can dread something they’ve never had before is an interesting trait in humans. Here we go!
Here’s a rundown of those four pesky teeth that drive many teenagers to having anxiety about dental visits in the first place. The fact that people can dread something they’ve never had before is an interesting trait in humans. Here we go!
Why are they called wise teeth?
As simple and possibly uninteresting as it may sound, they’re called that most likely because they’re the last teeth to emerge—you’re said to be “wiser” when these teeth come in.
As simple and possibly uninteresting as it may sound, they’re called that most likely because they’re the last teeth to emerge—you’re said to be “wiser” when these teeth come in.
How often do people get wisdom teeth?
More recent studies are showing that almost 35% of the population don’t develop wisdom teeth. However, you’d be hard pressed to believe that number considering most people you know seem to talk about their experience having them extracted.
But just because you don’t see all of your wisdom teeth doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Sometimes wisdom teeth emerge above the gums, leaving them invisible. However, X-ray can confirm if your wisdom teeth are simply hiding beneath your gums.
More recent studies are showing that almost 35% of the population don’t develop wisdom teeth. However, you’d be hard pressed to believe that number considering most people you know seem to talk about their experience having them extracted.
But just because you don’t see all of your wisdom teeth doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Sometimes wisdom teeth emerge above the gums, leaving them invisible. However, X-ray can confirm if your wisdom teeth are simply hiding beneath your gums.
Do they actually need pulled?
No matter if you can see them or not, wisdom teeth often cause problems. When wisdom teeth don’t “erupt” from the gum line after fully growing in, they’re almost always impacted. This may mean that they’re growing at angles other than straight up, and this can lead to even more problems than visible wisdom teeth.
Why do we have them?
They were once essential for our ancestors’ diets of roots, leaves, meat, and nuts. However, wisdom teeth aren’t really needed anymore. We can cook, crush, and cut our food now with all sorts of methods and tools, meaning we’re no longer in need of those biological utensils that wisdom teeth once were.
Anthropologists believe humans have evolved beyond needing wisdom teeth, so some people may never even get any (and the number of people without them is seemingly rising).
They were once essential for our ancestors’ diets of roots, leaves, meat, and nuts. However, wisdom teeth aren’t really needed anymore. We can cook, crush, and cut our food now with all sorts of methods and tools, meaning we’re no longer in need of those biological utensils that wisdom teeth once were.
Anthropologists believe humans have evolved beyond needing wisdom teeth, so some people may never even get any (and the number of people without them is seemingly rising).