What Dental Care Was Like for Cavemen
You might hate the dentist. You might dislike sitting in the chair, the instruments, and the fear of pain. But, next time you go to the dentist, count yourself lucky that you didn’t have to endure dentistry in the Paleolithic era.
It turns out that cavemen had cavities too, and even 14,000 years ago they knew that they shouldn’t let decay fester. A skeleton from the Upper Paleolithic Era revealed the early signs of dentistry. Scientists found a partially infected molar in the male skeleton, which was partially treated with sharp, flint tools.
This means that dentistry, and knowledge about oral health goes back much farther than we thought. That means that 14,000 years ago they were aware of cavities and the need to remove damaged and infected tissues. Cavemen knew the importance of oral health and you should too.
Do your best to brush and floss regularly as well as attend your scheduled dental appointments, because if the cavemen could do it, so can you.