What is the purpose of wisdom teeth?

Answer 1

Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth, or the third set of molars, were the evolutionary answer to our ancestor's early diet of coarse, rough food - like leaves, roots, nuts and meats - which required more chewing power and resulted in excessive wear of the teeth. The modern diet with its softer foods, along with marvels of modern technologies such as forks, spoons and knives, has made the need for wisdom teeth nonexistent. As a result, evolutionary biologists now classify wisdom teeth as vestigial organs, or body parts that have become functionless due to evolution.

Because human jaws have become smaller throughout evolutionary history, when wisdom teeth form they often become impacted, or blocked, by the other teeth around them. Also, if the tooth partially erupts, food can get trapped in the gum tissue surrounding it, which can lead to bacteria growth and, possibly, a serious infection.

Answer 2

Way back when, wisdom teeth were used for chewing harder materials that today we cannot digest (aka bark). An appendix was used for digesting bark. Wisdom teeth were very helpful when we were cavemen, but not now. We have evolved to not need wisdom teeth anymore, therefore they are pulled out. Many people don't even have wisdom teeth. I had three.

Answer 3

It is thought that years ago people used to eat harder foods which could cause tooth damage (also jaws were larger). So when these teeth were falling out the wisdom teeth would come in and just be another set of teeth. Now with better preventative dental care most people don't lose teeth or have aneed for wisdom teeth.

Answer 4

vestige