Copyright by

Brooke L. Battiloro

2009

DO NOT CITE WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR

Humans can exercise some control over the way their face and skull develops by the

conscious and often unconscious choices made throughout their lifespan. Although genetic

makeup creates boundaries as to what individual agency can attain, the possibility to mold the

face and teeth by food choices is present. This is due to the fact that the human face naturally

develops and changes shape with the help of the teeth. Teeth are tools that can be wielded to

influence the way the face will ultimately change and transform through life. Depending on the

strength of teeth, aging will either increase the skull size or shrink it. Strong teeth can deter a

shrunken and rather unappealing appearance.

The study of past cultures can significantly be enhanced with the knowledge of

craniofacial adaptation, and since the 1960s, the science of dental anthropology has made

significant contributions to archaeology, human biology, and dental science. Additionally,

understanding the health of teeth and gums from an anthropological perspective can help

enhance the understanding and control human beings have over their facial contours. Since

changes to the skull and teeth are evident in archaeological context in part due to subsistence

changes, it follows that what we eat and how we process our food have effects on us in the

present. The shift to farming from hunting and gathering has often been presented as a boon to

the cultures that adopted it. In many aspects this is true, but in the context of overall health, the

skeletal remains show a marked decrease in general well-being, and particularly a decline in

dental health. Foragers ate food that demanded more chewing resulting in stronger muscles and

bones to which these muscles attach on the face and jaw. The shift to farming included a shift to

food that was softer and less textured (Larsen 2000:111). The result being narrower faces and

smaller jaws (Larsen 1997:398).

“Cranial form in the growing child and the maturing adult is determined by a complex

interaction of intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic (environmental) factors.” (Larsen 1997: 227)

Studies have shown that significant changes can be brought about to the shape of the human

skull by environmental influences. “Contrary to the assertion that human head form is stable and

highly heritable, diachronic population studies reveal a high degree of plasticity. Head shape-

based on a ratio of head length to breadth (cephalic or cranial index)-of American-born

immigrants was appreciably different from that of their European foreign-born parents”(Larsen

1997: 227).

Skull morphology has been discussed since the fifth century BC. Herodotus noted a

particularly obvious differentiation between the skulls of Persians and Egyptians. Herodotus

said that if so much as a pebble was thrown at a Persian skull it would pierce it because of the

remarkable weakness. Herodotus said “the skulls of Persians are so weak that if you so much as

throw a pebble at one of them, you will pierce it; but the Egyptian skulls are so strong that a

blow with a large stone will hardly break them.” He interpreted these differences as being

related to the lifelong exposure of the head to the sun and increased cranial thickening as a result

in Egyptians but not in Persians (Larsen 1997: 226). Another possibility is that the skulls of the

ancient Egyptians were so hard was because of their diet. Or perhaps Herodotus was reiterating

gossip or a cultural version of an “old wife’s tale.” When the teeth have a challenge like

chewing meat and coarse grains, they become stronger. The aging skull will not be robust if the

greatest challenge to the palate is processing cooked potatoes.

Chewing is a behavior that can be conscious or unconscious. “Lots of chewing demands

big jaws, and heavy chewing of gritty, hard foods results in chipping and wear of teeth.

Similarly, the postcranial bones, the area of the skeleton below the neck, were large and had big

muscle attachment sites, indicating that ancient hunter and gatherers must have led a highly

active lifestyle. These were remains of foragers who did not hang out around lake margins

enjoying a sedentary lifestyle.” (Larsen 1997: 21) The way the mouth adapts to the food that is

put in it is dependent on chewing style, the hardness of the food and the amount of pressure put

on the teeth. The jaw is or can be a significantly strong muscle.

Food and the way it is prepared has a huge influence on physical appearance. The

strongest correlation can be drawn between morphology of the human face and food. The late

australopithecines, especially robust and hyper-robust forms, had massive faces and jaws which

has been linked to the types of food they ate such as seeds (Larsen 1997:398). Soft cereal grains

caused people in the Sudan Nile Valley in a region called Nubia to have long, narrow skulls.

Physical anthropologists noted that the skulls of their descendants were the opposite, with wide

and short skulls. Anthropologists gave a racial hypothesis. They thought the change happened

as a result of short-headed people invading territories in Nubia inhabited by long-headed people.

Earlier anthropologists believed that head shape was unchangeable and was a diagnostic racial

marker. They were correct in their assertion that humans living in the same specific areas of the

world have similar physical characteristics. Since then anthropologists have come to believe and

learn that the skull is highly plastic as is other parts of the skeleton.

In comparison to the ancient British populations, the modern Britons have contracted

small palates. Their faces and noses are narrow. Changes in diet that happened in the early

Christian era like replacing tough meats and not very finely ground corns with cooked food and

soft cereals is the reason for the less full, less developed faces (Larson 1997).

Teeth are the only skeletal structures of the living body that are in part visible to the

naked eye. Their composition, anatomy and development are also quite different from the rest of

the skeleton and in addition, they tend to be more resistant than bone to the effects of

inhumation. As a result, the study of teeth forms a large and important part of the investigations

of palaeontologists, anthropologists, skeletal biologists and forensic scientists (Scheure and

Black 2000). The human body should function optimally. The best anti-aging technique is to not

allow the oral cavity to decline in size with age. While we are alive, our teeth can be

manipulated. Pressure can be put on teeth in a number of natural ways. Eating and chewing

food is the most obvious natural way to unconsciously and consciously to put pressure on teeth.

Exercising teeth by pushing relatively hard with the tongue is an obvious and easy way to

naturally and consciously put pressure on teeth. Pressure on teeth ultimately makes them

stronger and more capable of moving outward, making the jaw bones wider. This can be

achieved by the use of braces or by manual manipulation of the teeth with the tongue. The

tongue is a muscle that can be used to change the shape of the mouth, just as other muscles

control the shape of other body contours.

Teeth are the one thing about the face that can change or help evolve the skeletal

structure of the face. This isn’t such good news to the people whose teeth are slowly caving in

with age. If someone doesn’t like the shape of their face there are options for them besides

plastic surgery. The teeth need to be taken care of enough to still have most of them intact. The

farther the teeth are pushed out the wider the jaw. The wider the jaw (both upper and lower) the

more symmetrical the face looks. When the front teeth and pushed forward (both top and

bottom) the face appears younger. The lips and cheeks and are supported and this helps

eliminate lines and wrinkles. The eyes become more deep set and open as the whole shape of the

skull changes. The double chin is eliminated when the jaw becomes flat and square. The chin is

automatically forced out when the jaw grows to accommodate widening teeth. As the teeth

become stronger they can handle more pressure and move faster.

The mouth is wet and is an erogenous zone. A lot of pleasure happens in the mouth. It’s

where we taste food, where words are formed and spoken. We can use our teeth as a defense

mechanism (biting). The mouth has many functions, all of which are natural ways to put

pressure on and exercise teeth. Teeth as a feeding mechanism in an oral cavity (mouth) are

functionally linked with jaws (Stewart 2000:154).

Chewing gum is an excellent way to exercise teeth and work on perfecting the face.

Archeologists have found evidence of chewing gum made from tree resin and honey—complete

with teeth marks—dating back to the Stone Age. The first modern chewing gum, patented in

1869, was made from sap of fruit trees. Today, new discoveries of gum's health benefits are

changing the reputation of the much maligned practice of chewing gum. What health attributes

can gum claim? Recent research links it to oral health, weight management, and stress relief.

Dentists recommend chewing sugar-free, and list the possible benefits from chewing for better

oral health. And the American Dental Association has awarded that familiar Seal of Acceptance

to several sugar-free gums. Clinical studies have found that gum reduces the incidence of tooth

decay by up to 40% and provides other oral benefits. Chewing gum stimulates saliva, which

contains natural antibacterial agents that protect teeth against cavities, neutralizes plaque acids

that form in the mouth after eating carbohydrates, and clears plaque from the mouth. It also helps

to strengthen teeth and relieves dry mouth. Chewing gum also whitens teeth by reducing and

preventing stains.

Some technological advances are one reason for teeth not developing correctly in the

past. In addition to the change in subsistence, the Nubians also had the technology of pottery.

Cooking the cereals in pots increased the softness of the food. Thereby decreasing the use of jaw

muscles while eating. Light usage of the jaw promotes less powerful muscles which promotes

limited bone growth. The Nubians had reduced, small faces as a result of how they processed

their foods. Currently the technology available today has increased how much of our subsistence

is processed, micro-waved Easy-Mac being a prime example.

Even before the mouth is developed enough to possess teeth, it is affected by pressure.

Sucking on bottles and pacifiers and our mothers breast immediately begins to change the shape

of the human jaw. “ The advantages of breastfeeding are significant. Breastfed babies have

higher IQs, earn better grades, suffer from fewer illnesses and hospitalizations, have less smelly

diapers, as well as less tooth decay and poorly positioned teeth” (Child 2009:26-27).

People make a lot of assumptions about each other based on physical appearance. First

impressions are initially a facial viewing. Physical appearance plays a key role in human social

interaction and the smile and teeth are important features in determining the attractiveness of a

face. Additionally, the mouth is thought to be important in social interactions. The expression of

the face is a basic mode of nonverbal communication among people. The facial expression of

another person is often the basis on which we form significant impressions of such

characteristics as friendliness, trustworthiness, and status (Stenburg 2002:144).

The overall expression of the face is a composite of signs from many sources, such as the

bony structure, shapes and positions of features, and color and texture of the skin (Stewart

2000:154). Bone structure in the face has a lot to do with how well a person is able to express

emotion. The more developed the bone structure of the face, the easier it is to see an emotion.

The more defined the face is, the easier it is to express emotion. Why do high fashion models

always have such defined, well proportioned, almost perfectly developed faces? Usually those

are the faces that show the most emotion with the smallest amount of effort. When the face is

defined it is far more expressive and the facial muscles produce the varying facial expressions

that convey information about emotion, mood, and ideas. The quality of emotional expressions

are one primary result of bone structure and activity by the facial muscles (Stewart 2000:154).

The mouth is the best place to grow something in the human body. Research shows that

the health of the teeth and gums are directly linked to the health of the body. According to the

Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, three in four Canadians have some kind of mild form

of gum disease Pindborg (1970). Gum disease is also called gingivitis. Gingivitis causes red or

swollen bleeding gums and if it is left untreated, chronic gingivitis can lead to a far worse

condition known as periodontal disease (periodontitis) that often causes no pain and few very

symptoms. Eventually, the bone around teeth degenerates and can lead to tooth loss. This

condition causes inflammation and harms more than just the mouth. The immune system kicks

into high gear, trying to fight the overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth (Schickore 2007:166).

Bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections around

previously damaged heart valves. Scientists also believe that the inflammation caused by

periodontal disease releases infection-fighting compounds that can inadvertently damage other

body tissues. People who don’t take care of their teeth and suffer from periodontal disease are

almost twice as likely to die from a heart attack (Keener 2008:13). People with periodontal

disease are three times as likely to suffer a stroke as those with healthy gums. A link has also

been found to diabetes and pneumonia. Treating periodontal disease removes inflammation and

aids glycemic control, reducing the need for insulin in some people with diabetes (Keener 2008).

A connection also exists between periodontal disease and premature births. Most

mothers-to-be take care with their diet, exercise, and medical care. Many do not realize how

crucial their oral health is to the developing fetus. Pregnant women who have periodontal

disease may be as much as seven times more likely to give birth to a baby that is premature or of

low birth weight. Tender, bleeding gums are fairly common during pregnancy, mostly due to

hormonal changes. Regular dental cleanings, flossing, and brushing become most important

during this time. Good old daily brushing and flossing and seeing a dentist and dental hygienist

every six months can prevent a lot of health problems or at least limit their effects (Keener

2008:13).

Making time and money for dental care can save a persons life. Dentists are trained to do

an in-depth examination of all our oral tissues and they can screen for oral cancers. As a standard

procedure they will examine the tongue, palate, lips, and the inside of the cheeks for any bumps

or sores, which may indicate oral cancer. Alcohol, smoking, and chewing tobacco can all

significantly increase the risk of oral cancer. For people who smoke and drink alcohol, the risk of

oral cancer is 15 times higher. Half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer die within five

years of diagnosis. Regular dental examinations help tremendously with early detection and

treatment (Schickore 2007). If more people realized the consequences of ignoring their mouth,

teeth, and gums, they would probably see their dentist right away. After all, the head sits on top

of the rest of the body—so the health of one will affect the health of the other (Thomas 2003).

Many times oral surgeons defy evolution by automatically removing wisdom teeth as a

general rule of their practice. I do not believe wisdom teeth are meant to be removed in all cases.

I would love to go back in time so I could make an informed decision about getting pieces of

bone removed from my jaw for no apparent reason. Wisdom teeth can assist in pushing our

original permanent teeth out along with the help of the tongue. For most people they don’t come

in until the late teens or early twenties. They must be reserved for a reason. We only get one set

of permanent teeth. Why would we want to eliminate a chance for four brand new strong

posterior teeth? Why are we so afraid of the chance to lengthen our jaw and the possibility of a

wider more perfect smile? It is a rite of passage: a lot of us have our wisdom teeth removed at

18 so they won't eventually push aside their neighbors and result in the mouth becoming a

painful, crowded mess. Indeed, this surgery may be pointless. If those teeth aren't causing

problems there's absolutely no evidence that removing them is necessary to prevent future

crowding, a new research review found. Surgery needs to be used only in cases when teeth are

painful or if they are harming the surrounding teeth. Be careful to keep in mind that oral surgery

experts say such problems aren't unusual. Experts say that “Two thirds of patients have issues

that could justify surgery, such as cavities in a wisdom tooth (or surrounding teeth) or nearby

gum inflammation,’ says oral surgeon and clinical epidemiologist Thomas B. Dodson, DMD,

MPH, an associate professor at the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine. He adds that

surgeons will often remove wisdom teeth to prevent cavities in hard to brush areas, a procedure

he supports (Lyon 2006:25).

The heart of the matter from an archaeological perspective is that the past should not be

ignored. There is ample evidence that the consumption of different kinds of foods processed in

different ways has a lasting effect on our skeletal health, particularly the teeth and jaw. The shift

to sedentism and agriculture opened new options for prehistoric people. Unfortunately it also

involved a decrease in health for many. The past can inform the present. Individuals now can be

informed and taught from a very young age about their teeth and the importance of caring for

them. Our teeth should be looked at as tools in helping us become what we are meant to

become, our best selves from the inside out. Human beings should be educated and encouraged

to retain their natural teeth as long as possible, and to pursue behaviors that maintain them while

we’ve got them so as to maintain and enhance the best possible natural contours of their face and

overall health.

Lyon, Lindsay 2006 Is there wisdom in wisdom teeth? American Journal of Public Health 323(12):25.

Thomas, Carol2003 The skull measurer. Canadian Journal of Health & Nutrition 15(2):121-222.

Keener, Will 2008 Black feathers, white bones. Journal of clinical period 65(5):13.

Schickore, Jutta2007 Test objects for microscopic. Better Nutrition 16(5): 166

Stewart, Ben

2000 regeneration of teeth. Department of Anatomy: 154. Stenburg, Lori

2002 Tissue engineering. Clinical genetics 89(4): 144 Child, Casey

2009 Teeth by two. International Journal of Childbirth Education 23(2): 26-27.