No one likes getting cavities. They can be painful and very expensive to treat. Our species has been trying to heal our teeth for at least 14,000 years, and painful dental problems even plagued the Swedish Vikings. More than 2,300 baby and adult teeth dating from the 10th to 12th centuries AD were discovered near a church in Sweden, showing evidence of dental problems. They had evidence of tooth decay, called caries, and some even tried to treat oral diseases. Here are the findings: The study was published on December 13th Pro Swan.
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“I think both cavities and other dental diseases are very related.” Karolina Bertilssonsaid study co-author, a dentist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. pop science. “It’s scary to imagine the suffering that people suffering from cavities, tooth extractions, and infections would have experienced without the methods used today in modern dentistry.”
The tooth was discovered in 2005 during excavations at the remains of a Christian church in Skala, Sweden. A nearby cemetery contains thousands of Viking graves, and the Gothenburg University team examined the teeth of 171 people. The team used radiography to take detailed images of the teeth, and a physical examination was also performed by a team of dentists and osteoarchaeologists.
The boy had no signs of cavities, but 60% of adult remains had signs of tooth decay. The researchers also saw evidence of tooth infection and evidence that some teeth had been lost before death. Many of the patients likely had cavities severe enough to cause pain, and there was evidence that they had attempted dental treatment. One specimen also had filing marks that resembled the front teeth. Also seen at other Swedish Viking ruins..
“The Vikings likely tried to file down their teeth to relieve the pain caused by infected teeth,” says Bertilsson.
The cause of tooth decay is Bacterial buildup near the teeth Causes include not cleaning frequently and eating foods high in starch and sugar.of Diet of the late Viking Age It consisted mainly of local produce, meat, fish, dairy products, porridge, and bread made from rye, wheat, and barley. They drank beer, mead, and milk because the water source was deemed unsafe to drink.
“The sweetness comes from honey, malt, fruit and berries grown naturally in Scandinavia,” says Bertilsson.
Rough food, high starch intake, and lack of dental care may be some of the causes of cavities. Other factors, such as individual differences in saliva, genetics, and physiology, may also influence tooth decay. Just like consistent brushing and flossing today, personal hygiene and habits can also play a role in your dental health.
“In many individuals, we could also see wear from the use of toothpicks, indicating that some Vikings were very diligent about keeping their teeth clean,” says Bertilsson. .
There was also evidence of other attempts to treat dental infections such as teeth extraction. It is unclear who performed these treatments, whether some kind of professional or an individual with dental problems.
The prevalence of dental caries in this population is also similar to that noted in other European populations from that time. However, almost a quarter of these individuals lost a tooth before dying, which probably distorts this analysis. The prevalence of tooth decay appears to decrease with age, and this unexpected result likely reflects that older Vikings were missing more teeth, so their remains There were almost no cavities.
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In future studies, the researchers plan to study other archaeological sites for evidence of the types of bacteria present in the Vikings’ bodies and how this may have affected the dental health of the Vikings.
“We are grateful for the times we live in because we can help patients during dental procedures by using local anesthetics and administering antibiotics if necessary,” says Bertilsson. .
