Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Wisdom Teeth
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Apr 29, 2026 They dive into why third molars exist and how human jaw changes and diet made them problematic. Personal stories about removal and anesthesia spark laughs. The discussion covers impaction, missing wisdom teeth, and the debate over when to extract versus keep healthy molars. Surgical risks and odd anesthesia tales round out the conversation.
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Hosts Remember Their Wisdom Teeth Removal
- Chuck and Josh recall their wisdom teeth removals and first experiences with anesthesia.
- Chuck was about 17 and called it a "gateway" to sedation while Josh remembers looking around confused as it wore on.
Why They Call Them Wisdom Teeth
- Wisdom teeth are called that because they erupt later in life when people are older and supposedly wiser.
- The Greek term Odontius Sophius literally means "teeth of wisdom," reflecting their late emergence compared with other molars.
Diet Shift Shrank Jaws And Reduced Need For Third Molars
- Human jaws shortened as diets softened with agriculture, reducing the need and space for a third set of molars.
- The hosts link softer modern diets to smaller jaws and increased impaction because earlier humans needed bigger jaws for raw, tough foods.