由 home-healthhaven 
Over the past 150 years, the average human lifespan has nearly doubled, rising from 38.3 years in 1850 to 74.8 years in 2000. With advancements in medicine, vaccinations, preventative health care, better sanitation, safety regulations, and an improved standard of living, it’s easy to assume that our health has drastically improved compared to our ancestors’. And in many ways, we do enjoy better overall health today.
You might think this comparison becomes even more striking when looking at our prehistoric ancestors. However, anthropologists have uncovered an area where ancient humans actually had an advantage over us: dental health.
A Surprising Find
Despite lacking modern dental care tools like fluoridated water, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, early hunter-gatherers had surprisingly healthy teeth, according to researchers from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA. When human diets shifted from hunting to farming, significant changes occurred, leading to more gum disease and cavities.
Researchers concluded that this dramatic diet change heavily contributes to the persistent oral disease issues we face today. The study, published in Nature Genetics, analyzed calcified plaque on the teeth of 34 prehistoric human skeletons. It revealed that as our diet shifted from nuts, vegetables, and meat to sugary and high-carb foods, the bacteria in our mouths also changed.
Normally, our mouths contain millions of bacteria, many of which protect us from harmful pathogens. But as prehistoric humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to farmers, plaque-causing bacteria that thrive on carbohydrates became more prevalent. During the Industrial Revolution, with the introduction of sugar and processed flour, these harmful bacteria multiplied even more.
The Oral Health Issue
This dietary shift disrupted the balance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria in our mouths, leading to chronic oral health problems. To combat these issues, we now need to brush and floss daily to maintain this balance. Unlike us, our prehistoric ancestors had more healthy bacteria and thus experienced better oral health without modern dental products.
Moreover, the unhealthy bacteria prevalent in our mouths today pose risks beyond just tooth decay and gum disease. Recent studies have linked poor oral health to serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. This growing body of research highlights the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to potentially avoid these health issues.
Beyond brushing, researchers suggest improving oral health by adopting a diet similar to that of our ancestors, cutting out most sugars and processed carbs. If going paleo doesn’t appeal to you, at the very least, keep up with regular tooth brushing and dental check-ups.