Cavemen chewed sticks to clean their teeth and even used stalks of grass to rummage through their teeth. However, without the availability of high-quality toothbrushes and toothpaste, cavemen's teeth were more susceptible to cavities and cavities, even with a healthy, carbohydrate-free diet. Researchers have long suspected that early humans stuck toothpicks in their teeth to clean them, Hardy said. According to a new study, humans have been extracting cavities for longer than previously thought.
Karen Hardy, an archaeologist who studies the life and behavior of the prehistoric inhabitants of the caves in the Elephant Hill, observed small interproximal grooves that suggested that something had been trapped between them repeatedly throughout the person's life. However, since very little organic matter was preserved along with the fossils, there was no conclusive evidence of what early humans had used for this purpose. Hardy, however, knew his dentistry and assumed that something of the tool might still have remained in the fossil: the calculation. As any dentist knows, in just a few days the sticky plaque calcifies in the form of hard calculus like a rock so tough that it can fossilize rather than decay, as most other organic materials would.
Using special rock excavation drills modified to be removed for hygiene reasons the longest in the world for hygiene reasons, Dr. Hardy collected samples of this preserved stone to be broken down and analyzed microscopically. So how did cavemen clean their teeth? Dr. Hardy's tests indicate that they probably selected a hard, fibrous twig and chewed it to allow small portions of woody bristles to be inserted between the teeth in an attempt to remove plaque and pieces of food.
This discovery is important for archaeologists, as many other jaw fossils contain calculations that can be examined to discover information about the behavior and diet of our first ancestors. You'll most likely brush your teeth every morning. You'll probably use dental floss and you could even use a mouthwash. Dental hygiene is flourishing, backed by a multi-billion dollar economy.
We have straighter teeth, whiter teeth, more beautiful and shiny teeth. But it turns out that we actually have less healthy teeth than our ancestors. In fact, archaeologists say that prehistoric humans had much better teeth than what we have today.
