Hi, we're here from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.

I'm Cody Gough.

And I'm Ashley Hamer.

Today you learn about why getting your wisdom teeth removed might be pointless.

The forgotten female physicist who helped us figure out nuclear power, and a breathing

technique to help you fall asleep faster.

Let's start us fast some curiosity.

There's mounting evidence that getting a wisdom teeth removed is not actually a thing you need to do.

Mounting evidence as in, according to a 2007 study in the American Journal of Public

Health, at least two-thirds of wisdom teeth extractions are unnecessary.

Aside from the medical expenses, of course, this is a problem because new research suggests that

wisdom teeth removal may be linked to an increased risk of opioid abuse. You can thank evolution

for having wisdom teeth in the first place. Back in the day before humans

discovered fire we needed as many molars as we could get. Having a spare set of

tough molars pop up in the back of the jaw gave us a competitive

evolutionary advantage. In the meantime, we started eating softer food

and taking better care of our teeth, so we stopped needing the extra help.

But evolution doesn't really care.

Our jaws have shrunk in size over the years, but the genes that determine human jaw size

are completely different from the ones that determine how many teeth

humans get. What that means is that we end up with smaller jaws trying to fit the same amount of teeth,

and wisdom teeth get the boot since they're the last ones to show up.

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