The shape, configuration and landscape of each person's teeth are unique to them. Your teeth are shaped by your genetics and then altered and worn by the food you eat and how you live your life. Your dentist can tell a lot about your personal health and diet from your teeth, and sometimes your teeth also offer clues to your heritage.

How Your Teeth Provide Clues to Your Ancestry

As much as your teeth can tell about you, they can also tell a lot about your ancestors. The genetic markers that determine the shape and size of your teeth are passed down through generations, and some have very particular links to geographical groups of people. 

Like many features, our teeth evolved and specialized over thousands of years to accommodate the needs of our ancestors and their lifestyles. These adaptations can still be found in our mouths today, and they can give us clues to understanding where our families came from.

Your Teeth Are Shaped By Genetics

If your ancestors originated in certain regions, there's a chance your teeth may reflect the adaptations theirs made to accommodate their lifestyle, environment and diet. While there are many variations, the three most prominent teeth and ancestry links include:

• - Shovel teeth: Shovel teeth are distinctively shaped teeth primarily found in people with East Asian heritage. These teeth have roots that are double the tooth's size and scooped backs that resemble a shovel.
• - Cusp of Carabelli: People of European descent frequently have Carabelli's cusps on their upper molars. These cusps are additional ridges that help with chewing. Teeth with Carabelli's cusps also have two roots instead of three.
• - Eagle Talon cusp: About 1% to 6% of the population has Eagle Talon cusps. This incisor tooth shape — which looks like a T when viewed from below — is primarily found in people with Native American, Inuit, Chinese or Aleutian ancestry.

What We Can Learn From Teeth

Dental anthropologists study ancient teeth to find out more about the people of the past and how they lived their lives. Studying these teeth has given us insight into historical events and humans or human ancestors in the region, including their behavior, development, diet and health.

We've found that our ancient ancestors faced the same dental problems we experience today, like gum disease, cavities, tartar and abscesses. Their dental remains still reflect the effects of these diseases. From studying dental remains, we know that Neanderthals had diets containing a lot of tough foods and meats, which is why they generally had a lower rate of cavities. 

When children experience periods of illness or malnutrition, it can affect their enamel growth. We can see that indication in their adult teeth thousands of years later.

Teeth allow us to understand the lives of the past and how environmental factors and behavioral habits can alter teeth over time.

No Matter Where Your Teeth Are From, Keep Them Healthy With EverSmile

While our ancestors may have shaped our teeth, modern advancements in dentistry and orthodontics have allowed us to improve the way we care for them. Those Neanderthals might have had even fewer cavities if they had the tools and products we have for keeping our teeth pristine. 

Check out our online catalog of products to find the perfect solution for keeping your teeth clean.