{"id":127573,"date":"2024-07-28T09:50:07","date_gmt":"2024-07-28T13:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=127573"},"modified":"2024-07-29T10:00:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T14:00:22","slug":"jaws-the-story-of-a-hidden-epidemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/jaws-the-story-of-a-hidden-epidemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic (Book Overview)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that ancient humans had better oral health than we do today? Why are jaw problems<\/a> so common around the world? What can you do to prevent jaw deformities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaws<\/em> discusses how our modern lifestyle has created an epidemic of jaw deformities, leading to widespread health problems. Orthodontist Sandra Kahn and ecologist Paul R. Ehrlich say that a decrease in average jaw size is contributing to health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for an overview of Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jaws <\/em><\/strong>by Sandra Kahn and Paul R. Ehrlich<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jaws<\/em>: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic<\/em><\/a> (2018) discusses how our modern lifestyle has created a hidden epidemic of jaw deformities, leading to widespread health problems. In it, authors Sandra Kahn and Paul R. Ehrlich say that a decrease in average jaw size is contributing to serious health issues such as chronic pain and sleep apnea. The book calls on parents to help their children\u2019s jaws develop in a healthy way in order to avoid these problems; it also asks doctors and scientists to recognize that modern-day jaw deformities are a serious issue and to give this issue the attention it deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kahn<\/a> is a practicing orthodontist with over 25 years of clinical experience in her field. As such, she brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge to bear when discussing oral health and jaw development. She holds degrees from the University of Mexico<\/a> and the University of the Pacific<\/a>, as well as being certified by the American Board of Orthodontics<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ehrlich<\/a> is a distinguished biologist and ecologist, best known for his contributions in the field of population studies and his efforts to preserve biodiversity in nature. He’s a professor emeritus of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University<\/a> and president of the Stanford Center for Conservation Biology<\/a>. With research spanning from butterfly ecology to human overpopulation<\/a>, Ehrlich contributes his vast knowledge of biology and epidemiology to Jaws<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll start this guide by explaining the evolutionary background of our jaws and the harmful impact that modern lifestyles have on oral health. From there, we\u2019ll discuss some of the harmful effects that come from having an underdeveloped or deformed jaw. Finally, we\u2019ll explore some options to prevent or correct these jaw deformities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our commentary will provide additional evidence both for and against the authors\u2019 ideas. We\u2019ll also discuss some other factors that contribute to modern-day jaw problems. Finally, we\u2019ll provide some tools and actionable advice to help you prevent or correct these issues as much as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Humans Had Better Oral Health Than We Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kahn and Ehrlich begin by saying that our ancestors tended to have healthier mouths than we have now,<\/strong> even though they didn\u2019t have dentists or toothbrushes. In this section, we\u2019ll explain how ancient humans maintained their oral health by simply using their jaws as they were meant to be used. Then, we\u2019ll discuss why modern lifestyles\u2014and especially modern diets\u2014are harming our jaws and teeth. Finally, we\u2019ll give some statistics to illustrate the surprising scope of this problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Jaws Evolved for Heavy Use<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The authors explain that ancient humans used their teeth for serious labor, such as tearing raw meat and grinding up uncooked vegetables. This intensive use caused them to develop strong jaw muscles and teeth, which naturally protected them from many of the dental problems we have today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, skeletons show that ancient humans wouldn\u2019t have needed braces even if they could have made them, because their teeth naturally grew straight. They also wouldn\u2019t have needed their wisdom teeth pulled, because their jaws were large enough to accommodate all of n this way\u2014for example, think about how soft a cooked carrot is compared to a raw one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These ready-to-eat foods mean our jaws don\u2019t get the kind of exercise they\u2019re evolutionarily designed for.<\/strong> As a result, many people today have underdeveloped or deformed jaws that can\u2019t comfortably hold all their teeth, which causes teeth to come in crooked, out of place, or painfully crowded against each other. This is why braces and wisdom tooth extractions are so common now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the authors say that our modern diet affects the type of bacteria that live in our mouths. Because we eat a lot of sugars and carbohydrates, different types of bacteria now thrive there, and those new bacteria happen to be types that promote tooth decay.<\/strong> This is another reason ancient humans had such good oral health, despite not having access to toothbrushes or dentists. their teeth. By contrast, both braces and extractions are common in modern society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As further evidence for their claims, the authors say that animals show a similar pattern: Wild animals, whose food is harder to chew, typically have better oral health than domesticated animals. For example, a wild dog living on raw meat is likely to have stronger teeth than a pet dog who eats processed kibble and canned food.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Modern Diets Harm Our Jaws<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Kahn and Ehrlich explain how modern lifestyles have drastically impacted jaw development and say that the main cause is our increasingly soft diet. Processed foods, along with technologies like blenders and food processors, mean that much of our food arrives \u201cpre-chewed\u201d: already partially broken down so it\u2019s easier to eat and digest. Even cooking food starts to break it down i<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouth Breathing Is a Contributing Factor<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Although they don\u2019t give it as much weight as modern soft diets, Kahn and Ehrlich say that breathing through your mouth<\/a> is another factor that contributes to deformed jaws. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors explain that the tongue is supposed to act as a support for the palate and upper jaw. However, breathing through your mouth forces you to move your tongue away from the roof of your mouth so the air can pass through. Over time, especially in young children, this lack of support causes the upper jaw to sag and become narrower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouth breathing also jeopardizes your oral health by drying out your mouth. Saliva plays an important role in neutralizing acids and flushing away bacteria. Therefore, if your mouth is chronically dry, you\u2019re at increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and halitosis (bad breath).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kahn and Ehrlich add that mouth breathing is especially common today because children spend much of their time in school: a closed environment with many other children where mild illnesses like colds spread easily. A child with a stuffy nose (as from a cold) will probably resort to breathing through their mouth just because it\u2019s easier and more comfortable, and over time it becomes a habit that can last well into adulthood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaw Problems Are Now Common All Around the World<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Kahn and Ehrlich explain that having an underdeveloped jaw is now much more common than people realize, thanks to modern dietary habits. They cite a few statistics to illustrate the scope of the problem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n