In wild animals, tooth decay and gum disease appear only at the end of the lifespan as part of the aging process. The same used to apply to humans, too, as can be seen from fossils of ancient humans. Dental health began to deteriorate when farming started and people began to eat cereal grains rich in carbohydrates, but it was not until modern times that dietary changes resulted in serious oral damage.
While it is well established that our teeth and jaws are not adapted to highly processed modern foods rich in sugar, it is rather unclear what the history of tooth decay teaches us regarding dental and orthodontic practice. Should we steer clear of carbohydrates in general or do only refined sugars affect the condition of our teeth? What role does chewing stress play in the development of the teeth and jaws? So far, it is only clear that evolution cannot keep the pace of cultural change.
Read more: A. Gibbons, Science 336, 973 (2012).
Thomas Jagau