In a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, host Joe Rogan delved into a topic that left many listeners astonished: the surprising origins of crooked teeth. Rogan’s discussion centered around the evolution of dental health and its implications for modern society.

“It sounded so bizarre, ’cause it’s nothing I’d ever learned in school,” Rogan remarked, kicking off the conversation that would challenge conventional wisdom on dental health.

Drawing on anthropology and evolutionary biology, Rogan highlighted a fascinating trend observed in ancient skulls. “If you take an ancient skull, anything older than 500 years old, 5,000 years old, 50,000 years old, you’re going to see by and large about a 99% chance these skulls are going to have perfectly straight teeth,” he explained.

The revelation was startling. Unlike modern humans who undergo orthodontic treatments and often have their wisdom teeth removed, ancient populations boasted naturally straight teeth without any intervention. Rogan attributed this phenomenon to the wide and large mouths coupled with powerful jaws characteristic of our ancestors.

However, Rogan then turned his attention to the modern era and the advent of industrialized food. He argued that as diets changed and industrialization reshaped food production, human mouths began to shrink. “So why do we have crooked teeth? Not from genetics. It’s because our mouths have grown so small that the teeth have nowhere to go. So they grow crooked,” Rogan asserted.

The implications of this evolutionary shift are profound. A smaller mouth means a smaller airway, leading to a host of respiratory issues such as snoring and sleep apnea. Rogan’s insights shed light on a lesser-known aspect of modern health problems and challenge prevailing narratives about dental care.

Rogan’s exploration of this topic serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of human biology and environment. By examining the evolutionary roots of dental health, he offers a fresh perspective on a ubiquitous issue affecting millions worldwide.

As the episode concluded, Rogan left his audience pondering the profound implications of his revelations. In an age where orthodontic treatments are commonplace and dental health is often taken for granted, Rogan’s insights serve as a wake-up call to reconsider our understanding of oral health and its evolutionary underpinnings.