Did Cavemen Get Cavities?

Dr. Amanpreet Singh, DDS

1 Jan 202103:16

Summary

TLDRSeven million years ago, the world lacked modern conveniences like PlayStations and televisions. Early human-like species, believed to have appeared around this time, had surprisingly good dental health despite the absence of modern dental care. Unlike today, their diets were free from sugar and processed foods, which contributed to stronger teeth and overall health. Cavemen, living between 30,000 and 350,000 years ago, rarely had cavities, and their use of natural 'toothbrushes' like sticks and grass stalks, along with a nutrient-rich diet, played a role in maintaining oral hygiene. However, their average life expectancy was only about 35 years, often not long enough for serious dental issues to develop.

Takeaways

🌍 The world was vastly different seven million years ago, with no modern conveniences like PlayStations or televisions.
🧬 The first human-like species appeared between five to seven million years ago, marking the beginning of our early ancestors.
🕵️‍♂️ Modern humans, or Homo sapiens, evolved from a lineage of these early human-like species over a long period.
🏞 Cavemen, living between 30,000 and 350,000 years ago, had a lifestyle and health conditions that were significantly different from ours.
🦷 Despite the lack of modern dental care, early human fossils rarely show cavities, suggesting alternative oral health practices or conditions.
🍬 Ancient humans did not have access to sugary foods and sodas, which are major contributors to tooth decay in modern times.
🥗 Their diet, consisting of unprocessed natural foods like meats, fruits, and vegetables, was nutrient-rich and beneficial for oral and overall health.
🔍 Research indicates that cavities became more prevalent around 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the advent of farming.
🌾 The shift from hunter-gatherer to farmer lifestyles saw a significant increase in tooth decay, with rates jumping from 1-5% to 10-80%.
🪥 Cavemen likely practiced early forms of dental care, such as chewing on sticks and using grass stalks to clean their teeth.
👨‍⚕️ The average life expectancy of a caveman was about 35 years, meaning many did not live long enough to develop severe dental issues.

Q & A

When did the first human-like species appear according to scientists?
-Scientists believe the first human-like species arrived between five to seven million years ago.
What is the term used by scientists to refer to modern humans?
-Scientists refer to modern humans as 'homo sapiens'.
How long ago did cavemen live in comparison to the first human-like species?
-Cavemen lived between thirty thousand and three hundred fifty thousand years ago, which is significantly later than the earliest human-like species.
Why do people still get cavities despite having modern dental care?
-People still get cavities due to various factors, including diet, despite having access to modern dental care like dentists and toothbrushes.
What did scientists rarely find in the mouths of fossilized earliest humans?
-Scientists rarely find cavities in the mouths of fossilized earliest humans.
What is a major dietary difference between ancient humans and modern humans that could explain the difference in tooth decay?
-Ancient humans did not have access to sugary foods and processed foods, which are major contributors to tooth decay in modern times.
When did cavities and rotten teeth start becoming more apparent in human history?
-Cavities and rotten teeth started becoming more apparent about 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the advent of farming.
What was the approximate rate of cavities among hunter-gatherers compared to farmers according to the research mentioned in the script?
-The rate of cavities among hunter-gatherers was roughly one to five percent, while it was between 10 to 80 percent among farmers.
How did cavemen take care of their teeth despite the lack of modern dental tools?
-Cavemen are believed to have used sticks for chewing and grass stalks to clean between their teeth, and their diet of vegetables also helped keep their teeth clean.
What was the average life expectancy of a caveman and how did it relate to dental issues?
-The average life expectancy of a caveman was about 35 years, which meant that even if they got small cavities, they did not live long enough to develop serious dental issues.
How has the advent of modern dentistry and changes in diet and lifestyle affected dental health since prehistoric times?
-While dentistry has advanced significantly, changes in diet and lifestyle have not always been for the better, with modern diets often contributing to increased tooth decay.

Outlines

00:00

🕵️‍♂️ Early Human Ancestry and Dental Health

The paragraph discusses the differences between the world of seven million years ago and today, highlighting the absence of modern conveniences like playstations and televisions. It introduces the concept that the first human-like species appeared around five to seven million years ago, and modern humans, or Homo sapiens, evolved from these early ancestors. The paragraph then contrasts the popular image of 'cavemen' who lived between 30,000 and 350,000 years ago with modern humans, noting significant differences. It delves into the topic of dental health, explaining that despite the lack of modern dental care, early humans rarely had cavities. This is attributed to their diet, which was free from sugar and processed foods, and consisted of nutrient-rich, natural foods like meats, fruits, and vegetables. The paragraph concludes by suggesting that the shift towards agriculture around 10,000 years ago, and the introduction of farming, marked a time when cavities and dental issues became more prevalent.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Homo sapiens

Homo sapiens refers to the species of human that includes modern humans. The term is Latin for 'wise man' and is used to distinguish our species from other earlier or contemporaneous hominids. In the video, it is mentioned that modern humans did not appear overnight but evolved from a lineage of other human-like species, suggesting a gradual development over millions of years.

💡Cavemen

Cavemen, a colloquial term, typically refers to prehistoric humans who lived in caves, particularly those from the Paleolithic era. The video uses 'cavemen' to describe humans who lived between 30,000 and 350,000 years ago, highlighting the contrast between their lifestyle and that of modern humans, especially in terms of dental care and overall health.

💡Dental care

Dental care pertains to the practices and measures taken to maintain the health of one's teeth and gums. The video discusses how cavemen, despite lacking modern dental tools and practices, had relatively fewer dental issues, suggesting that their natural diet and rudimentary oral hygiene methods were effective.

💡Diet

Diet in the context of the video refers to the types of food that were consumed by ancient humans. It is highlighted that cavemen's diets, consisting of unprocessed natural foods like meats, fruits, and vegetables, contributed to their stronger teeth and overall health, contrasting with the sugary and processed foods that are common today and linked to dental problems.

💡Cavities

Cavities, also known as dental caries, are a common dental problem where tooth decay leads to the formation of holes in the tooth. The video script points out that scientists rarely find cavities in the fossils of early humans, indicating that their diet and lifestyle had a protective effect on their dental health.

💡Hunter-gatherers

Hunter-gatherers are pre-agricultural human societies that relied on hunting, fishing, and foraging for their food. The video contrasts the dental health of hunter-gatherers with that of farmers, suggesting that the shift to agriculture around 10,000 years ago coincided with an increase in dental problems like cavities.

💡Sugar

Sugar is a sweet, crystalline substance often used as a food additive. The video notes that sugar was not a part of the ancient human diet until about 2500 years ago, which is after the time when cavemen lived. The absence of sugar in their diet is one of the factors contributing to their lower incidence of cavities.

💡Processed foods

Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their naturally occurring state through processes such as canning, freezing, or adding of preservatives and flavorings. The video implies that the absence of processed foods in the diet of cavemen was beneficial for their dental health, as these foods are often high in sugars and low in nutrients.

💡Life expectancy

Life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average number of years a person might expect to live, based on factors such as age, gender, and general health. The video mentions that the average life expectancy of a caveman was about 35 years, which is lower than today's standards. This short lifespan, combined with their good dental health, meant that serious dental issues were less common.

💡Oral hygiene

Oral hygiene refers to the practice of maintaining cleanliness in the oral cavity, which includes the teeth, gums, and tongue. The video suggests that cavemen had basic forms of oral hygiene, such as chewing on sticks and using grass stalks to clean between teeth, which would have contributed to their relatively good dental health.

💡Dentistry

Dentistry is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting the oral cavity. The video contrasts the advancements in dentistry with the changes in diet and lifestyle, implying that while dental care has improved, other factors like diet have potentially had a negative impact on dental health.

Highlights

Seven million years ago, the world was devoid of modern entertainment like PlayStations or televisions.

Scientists believe the first human-like species appeared between five to seven million years ago.

Modern humans, or Homo sapiens, evolved from a lineage of other human-like species.

Cavemen, living between 30,000 and 350,000 years ago, are often the image of primitive humans.

Despite the lack of modern dental care, cavemen rarely had cavities.

Ancient humans did not have access to sugary foods and sodas, which are linked to tooth decay.

Their diet consisted of non-processed natural foods like meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Cavities and rotten teeth became more common around 10,000 years ago with the advent of farming.

Hunter-gatherers had a cavity rate of 1-5%, while farmers experienced rates between 10-80%.

Cavemen likely used sticks and grass stalks for basic dental care.

The high vegetable content in their diet may have helped keep their teeth clean.

Cavemen's average life expectancy was about 35 years, which may have limited the development of serious dental issues.

Dentistry has advanced significantly, but modern diet and lifestyle changes have not always been beneficial for oral health.

The video invites viewers to ask questions and engage with the content.

The video encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and comment for more content.