How can understanding teeth, or human dentition, help us understand human evolution?

Answer 1

Hi there! The tie between human dentition and anthropological history is amazing. The teeth we have can give hints to the diet we (or others) have had. Hominids of different varieties can have entirely different sets of teeth. Our current dentition is made up of molars, premolars, canines, and incisors. Each tooth type has a different purpose; for example, a molar may be used to grind food while an incisor may be used to rip food. Tooth type is one measure we can use when determining the diet of our ancestors. The condition of the teeth may tell us, as well; acidic and carbohydrate-dense diets may lead to more carious lesions (called cavities). This is often heavily analyzed in the field. This is a short answer to a complicated question, but I hope this is a good start for you! Have a great day :)