Currently, 3.5 million children get braces every year and many adults live with obstructive sleep apnea. These two complications, along with several others, are part of what the authors of the book Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic say is an epidemic that first began when hunter-gatherers moved to an agricultural environment and lifestyle.
Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Professor Emeritus of Population Studies at Stanford University, and orthodontist Dr. Sandra Kahn say they’ve identified the cause of these health issues to be, at least in part, the shrinking human jaw.
Why are human jaws getting smaller?
Over time, human diets have become progressively made up of softer foods and, according to Dr. Erlich, the modern practices of decreased breastfeeding, increased mouth breathing, and high exposure to indoor allergens have exacerbated the issue.
…we’ve brought hunter-gatherer jaws and teeth into a McDonald’s environment.
— Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Professor Emeritus, Standford University
In layman’s terms, “…we’ve brought hunter-gatherer jaws and teeth into a McDonald’s environment,” says Dr. Ehrlich.
According to Dr. Kahn, there is evidence from hunter-gatherer skulls that thousands of years ago humans had enormous jaws that fit wisdom teeth, and that during the time overcrowding of teeth was extremely rare.
What can we do about shrinking jaws?
The shrinking of the jaw is an extensive public health issue but Dr. Kahn says there are steps that can be taken to help decrease the problem. Her recommendations include molding children’s teeth before the age of ten, breastfeeding longer, weaning to tougher foods, and encouraging chewing gum.
To learn more about the shrinking jaw epidemic, our guests, and/or their book, visit the links below.
Guest Information:
- Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Professor Emeritus of Population Studies at Stanford University and co-author of Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic
- Dr. Sandra Kahn, orthodontist and co-author of Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic
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