Why Ancient Pompeiians Had Better Teeth Than Most Americans
Researchers discover ancient Romans had surprisingly healthy teeth—and we think we know why.
In 79 AD, the explosion of Mount Vesuvius buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in ash, preserving thousands of citizens in an eerie tableau. Scientists have learned a great deal about what life was like in ancient Rome from Pompeii, and their latest discovery has to do with oral health.
According to researchers, initial CAT scans of the petrified bodies of 86 Pompeiians have revealed that the ancients were in surprisingly good dental health. The scanning work is still ongoing, and researchers hope to also learn the age and sex of the victims, what they ate, what diseases they may have suffered from, and what class of society they might have belonged to.
Healthy Diet, Healthy Teeth
For now, researchers theorize that it was the Pompeiian’s diet that enabled them to maintain such healthy teeth, even in the absence of any sort of formal dental care.
The number one dietary factor behind ancient Pompeiian’s healthy teeth was a lack of sugar. As you may know, sugar is very bad for teeth. It is a favorite food for the plaque bacteria that live on teeth and gums. When these bacteria eat sugar, they produce acid that can damage tooth enamel and irritate gums. This can cause tooth decay as well as inflammation. Eventually, teeth may be lost entirely due to extensive decay and/or damage to the tissue around the tooth root.
While Pompeiians did eat natural sugars such as from fruits as well as carbohydrates, lack of access to refined sugars kept them from eating so much sugar it damaged their teeth significantly.
Sugar did not become widely consumed in Europe until the 16th century, when colonial plantations began to deliver a reliable supply. The damage done by this advent of refined sugar can be seen in the famously bad teeth of individuals like Queen Elizabeth I.
The second reason that Pompeiians had healthy teeth was that they probably did eat a lot of foods that support good oral health. Experts say that their diet was very similar to what we now know as the “Mediterranean Diet.” This diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, olive oil, and fish, and low in dairy, red meat, and saturated fat. This diet has been associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as higher life expectancy.
Eat Like a Pompeiian for Healthier Teeth
If you want healthier teeth, diet can be an important component of your strategy. Reducing sugary foods will help tremendously, but don’t neglect to continue visiting your dentist for routine cleanings and exams so you can reap the benefits of modern dental care.
