Wisdom Teeth

If you’re between the ages of 17 and 25, there’s a good chance you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed. But why are they called “wisdom teeth,” and why do we have to get them taken out? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at wisdom teeth and everything you need to know about them. 

What Is A Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get. They usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25. For some people, they come in without any problems and cause no pain. But for others, they can be troublesome. They may not have enough room to come in properly or may only come in partway, which can cause pain, crowding, and other dental problems. In cases like these, wisdom teeth need to be removed. 

Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth? 

Scientists aren’t 100% sure why we have wisdom teeth. Some say that they were once useful for our ancestors who had diets that consisted mostly of tough meats and uncooked vegetables. The extra teeth helped them chew their food better. But as our diets changed and became softer over time, we no longer needed the extra chewing power that wisdom teeth provided. 

Another theory is that wisdom teeth served as “baby teeth” for our ancestors. Their regular adult teeth came in much earlier than ours do now (around age 6 or 7), so their wisdom teeth acted as placeholders until their regular adult teeth were ready to come in. 

What Is The Purpose of A Wisdom Teeth?

Whatever the reason for having them, wisdom teeth are now widely considered to be vestigial organs—meaning they don’t serve any real purpose in the human body anymore. That’s one of the reasons why dentists recommend getting them removed; they’re simply unnecessary. 

Wisdom teeth are a common source of pain and crowding for many people. If your wisdom teeth are causing problems, your dentist will likely recommend getting them removed. And while we don’t really know why we have wisdom teeth anymore, getting rid of them won’t have any negative consequences for your health—so it’s probably best to just get rid of them!