You may be thinking, “If it’s just a nuisance, why on earth do we get these teeth?” The story goes like this.
In the past, our ancestors had a very different diet. They ate mostly raw vegetables, fruits, hard nuts, and meats that didn’t taste good. So, these last teeth, or wisdom teeth, were very important for them to chew and digest this food properly.
However, over time, our diet has changed. Now we eat well-cooked, soft food. We use knives to cut food. So, we no longer need a set of teeth like we used to. With these changes in diet, our bodies have also changed a little. For example, our jawbones have become a little smaller. That’s why many people don’t have enough room in their mouths to accommodate their wisdom teeth.
Therefore, doctors often consider these wisdom teeth to be a “vestigial organ.” That is, something that was useful in the past, but is no longer so useful. However, if wisdom teeth come in properly and straight, they provide some support to the back of the mouth and help protect the jawbone. But, in general, we have no problem living without these teeth.
