Smaller and Fewer Teeth.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 37, 15 May 1917, Page 2

Smaller and Fewer Teeth.

That our teeth are becoming progressively smaller and fewer is made manifest by a study of human jaws running back through the centuries to the earliest historic times, 6,000 years ago, and even to those of prehistoric people whose bones have been dug up. T>at they are growing less durable shown by their extreme liability to decay. The tendency to a reduction in the number of teeth is shown by the departure of the third molars. These “wisdom teeth,” as they are called, four in number, are in many individuals missing or undersized and irregular ; or they may, in other instances, fail to "erupt. Evidently they are destined to disappear entirely. And because they are no longer required for use Nature is making them of such poor material that commonly they start to decay as soon as they appear. Already there are signs that other teeth, such as the lateral incisors, will follow the same route. Our teeth are merely tools. They are not equivalent to limbs, but are only natural implements and were developed originally to meet certain needs. If the needs diminish, the teeth must do likewise.