Hunter-gatherer diet caused tooth decay

Past Horizons ^ | Tuesday, January 7, 2014 | Natural History Museum

[SunkenCiv]

...The results published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) also suggest tooth decay was more prevalent in earlier societies than previously estimated. The results also suggest that the hunter-gatherer society studied may have developed a more sedentary lifestyle than previously thought, relying on nut harvesting.

Dental disease was thought to have originated with the introduction of farming and changes in food processing around 10,000 years ago. A greater reliance on cultivated plant foods, rich in fermentable carbohydrates, resulted in rotting teeth.

High level of decay

Now, the analysis of 52 adult dentitions from hunter-gatherer skeletons found in a cave in Taforalt, Morocco dating from between 15,000 and 13,700 years ago suggests people suffered tooth decay in much earlier times. Evidence of decay was found in more than half of the teeth that were intact, with only three skeletons showing no sign of cavities...

Archaeological excavations at the site in Taforalt, including elaborate human burial areas, showed evidence of methodical harvesting and processing of wild foods, including sweet acorns, pine nuts and land snails. Museum human origins expert Dr Louise Humphrey said a staple diet of edible acorns could have been the cause of the dental disease...

Pulling teeth

Dr Humphrey also speculated that these Pleistocene hunter-gatherers may have pulled out their own teeth. Skeletons at Taforalt reveal that most people practiced tooth evulsion, whereby one or two healthy incisors were deliberately removed in late childhood or early adulthood. This would have been for cultural reasons, such as indicating group affiliation or as a rite of passage. The same skills could have been used to extract diseased teeth and relieve dental pain.

[SunkenCiv]

Severe, and painful, tooth decay in a young adult hunter-gatherer from Taforalt, Morocco. A central incisor was probably pulled out for cultural reasons © Isabelle De Groote.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

I thought this one was going to be postworthy, but it’s just another advocacy for surrendering sovereignty to the world despotate.

The Ancient Human Hunter Changed the World
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/12012013/article/the-ancient-human-hunter-changed-the-world

[cripplecreek]

I’m guessing a total lack of dental hygiene might have played a part as well.

[JimSEA]

Plus, it all depends on what you are hunting and gathering. Seems obvious.

[llevrok]

gravel and grit in their food. Using a stone mortar and pestle were big contributors, if I recall my Anthro 101

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

“Cavity creeps! We make holes in the teeth!”

[Flag_This]

Not eating could have prevented this.

[Jack Hydrazine]

If only their streams and lakes had been flouridated!

[EEGator]

[central_va]

Plus, it all depends on what you are hunting and gathering.

Skittles and Mountain Dew?

[Pharmboy]

[ClearCase_guy]

[Flag_This]

"If only their streams and lakes had been flouridated!"

But what about our P.O.E.? Gen. Jack D. Ripper is gravely concerned.

[Hot Tabasco]

Dental disease was thought to have originated with the introduction of farming and changes in food processing around 10,000 years ago.

So, prior to that nobody suffered from tooth decay???????

As for the hunters and gatherers, they suffered tooth decay because they didn't brush regularly after every meal nor did they floss..........

NO, I'm not a dentist but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.........

[Tax-chick]

Wow, how unsurprising!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Skeletons at Taforalt reveal that most people practiced tooth evulsion, whereby one or two healthy incisors were deliberately removed in late childhood or early adulthood.

Is this style making a comeback?

[Calvin Locke]

This has been showing up in vegan/vegetarian groups.

There's more in play beyond a possible ADA promotion of the obvious...

[freekitty]

Somehow, I believe that was it.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Good guess I’d think.