Key Differences:

1. Fewer Cavities and Gum Disease

• Hunter-gatherers consumed diets rich in fibrous plants, meat, and low-sugar fruits. This resulted in low exposure to fermentable carbohydrates, which oral bacteria use to produce acids that cause cavities (dental caries).

• Agricultural diets, especially with the introduction of grains and later refined sugars, dramatically increased cavity rates. Archaeological studies show this shift very clearly in human remains after about 10,000 years ago.

2. Better Jaw Development and Tooth Alignment

• Hunter-gatherers chewed tougher foods (raw vegetables, dried meat, etc.), promoting stronger jawbones and broader dental arches. This led to:

• Straighter teeth

• Fewer impacted teeth or crowding

• In contrast, softer agricultural diets may have contributed to underdeveloped jaws and increased malocclusion (crooked teeth).

3. Less Tooth Wear but More Problems in Modern Diets

• While ancient teeth did wear down significantly over a lifetime (sometimes exposing pulp), this wasn’t always painful or problematic due to slow progression.

• Modern diets reduce wear, but the tradeoff has been higher decay rates and orthodontic problems.

Exceptions

• Some pre-agricultural societies that ate starchy tubers or fruits high in natural sugars did show moderate levels of decay, though still much lower than agricultural populations.

• Tooth wear and trauma were still common due to grit in food, lack of dental tools, and occasional use of teeth as tools.

Summary

Pre-agricultural humans generally had better teeth: fewer cavities, better alignment, and less gum disease. Agriculture introduced dietary shifts that worsened dental health in significant and measurable ways.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5753126&forum_id=2...id#49120322)