The whole tooth on blame

Our historical shift from hunter-gatherers to farmers caused changes in the shape of the lower jaw that have resulted in dental crowding and teeth misalignment, reports a study from the University of Kent.

Researchers investigated the impact of diet on the shape of skulls and lower jaws of 11 populations from around the world. Among hunter-gatherer populations, the lower jaw is longer and narrower, while it is shorter and broader among agriculturalists. Eating the softer foods associated with an agricultural lifestyle, such as dairy products and grains, required less force to chew, which allowed for the jaw to change shape – to our dental discomfort.