Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

January 30, 2021

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the last teeth to make an appearance in mouth. They typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 21, long after all the other adult teeth have already come in. The majority of people will need to have their wisdom teeth removed, as they can cause problems in the oral cavity when there’s not enough room for them to come in.

With so many people needing to have their wisdom teeth removed, it makes you wonder—why do we have wisdom teeth in the first place?

Our Ancestors Needed Wisdom Teeth

Our modern diets are very different today from what they were thousands of years ago. Our ancestors needed wisdom teeth to help them thoroughly chew the tough, raw foods they ate to survive [1]. As humans learned to cook their food, wisdom teeth became less and less necessary over the years.

As large teeth and jaws became less necessary for chewing food, human jaws became smaller over time, which left less room for wisdom teeth. Today, our jaws are smaller than they have ever been, and there’s often not enough room for wisdom teeth to comfortably erupt into the mouth without causing problems.

Third Molars Are Not as Common as They Used to Be

Third molars are actually becoming less common in the human mouth. Because we don’t need our wisdom teeth and often don’t have room for them, some people never get their wisdom teeth. However, this also means that there are more problems with wisdom teeth when they do show up [2].

Wisdom teeth are often impacted, meaning they lack the necessary room to emerge through the gumline and can become trapped, leading to discomfort, teeth crowding, or even a gum infection.

Impacted wisdom teeth almost always need to be removed.

While some people have enough room in their jaws for wisdom teeth to come in, the majority of people who have their wisdom teeth will need to have them removed due to lack of space in the jaw.

See Your Dentist If You’re Having Problems With Your Wisdom Teeth

Problems with your wisdom teeth may include pain, a gum infection, or even tooth decay [3]. However, your dentist can typically see the position of your wisdom teeth on an x-ray. X-rays allow your dentist to see if your wisdom teeth have enough room to emerge or if they are impacted. This can help patients avoid problems with their wisdom teeth before they have a chance to disrupt the oral cavity.

If you’re having issues with your wisdom teeth, don’t hesitate to follow up with your dentist. Your dentist can take x-rays to determine the position of your wisdom teeth and if they could need to be removed to avoid any oral health problems!