While malocclusionsโcrowded or misaligned teethโhave been found among our hunter-gatherer ancestors, they appear to be more prevalent in modern populations. So what changed? Experts say the answer isnโt simple but point to one possible culprit: our diets. ย As we traded raw, tough foods for softer, more processed ones, the burden of chewing decreased, allowing our jaws to shrink over time.
Now, researchers are exploring how evolutionary biology, diet, and modern lifestyles may have reshaped our facesโand our smiles.
So, what happens when you try to fit the same number of teeth into a smaller jaw space? Over-crowding and crookedness.
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โThe way your teeth come through is almost like a zipper,โ saysย Julie Lawrence, assistant professor of biological anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. โYour jaw moves forward and then it makes space for them to come through.โ If there isnโt enough room for the teeth to erupt, they might become impacted or crowded together.
