Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Allen on 28/08/2009 12:30:02
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Allen asked the Naked Scientists:
Why aren't we born with teeth?
What do you think?
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Only a Man could ask that question!
Would you volunteer to have some little soul tearing hell out of your nipples every few hours?
It's a typical evolutionary argument "Survival of the gummiest", I think. And they don't actually need teeth.
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Yeah, we didn't need any back in those days.
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Ok. Now that that's been answered...
How come we have two sets of teeth during our entire life?
Why not one or three or four?
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Actually some children *are* born with teeth already poking through. These are often loose and frequently are removed so to lessen a choking habit.
Generally babies don't need teeth, since the sucking reflex and breastfeeding are so complimentary. It is recommended that babies don't start eating solids until they 'learn to chew' which you often see them doing at about four to six months. This is learned though observation.
Conversely Babies can chew without teeth as well. Their little gums are quite solid and adept (as any breast feeding mother might be able to attest).
As an aside most of us have two sets of teeth throughout our lifetime.. but some can get three and some, as in yours truely, can have incomplete sets of teeth. (I had a 'baby' tooth until I was 19 since there was nothing to 'push it out'.
Most of it is hereditary.