They may of had a use for our ancestors a miilion years ago, like maybe the appendix (Heh, I'm sans Wisdom teeth and appendix! And prolly wisdom too, if I'm honest...   )

I found this on this link WWW Link

It gives you an idea of the origin.

"Other toothsome expressions: "to cut one's eyeteeth" or "to cut one's wisdom teeth." Mr. Funk says the first means: "To acquire wisdom; to learn the ways of the world. An eyetooth is a canine tooth, the third from the center in the upper jaw. The expression is somewhat literal, for the implication is that by the time a person has got his permanent set of canine teeth, has reached the age of twelve or fourteen, he has passed out of babyhood and has reached years of discretion. This working of the saying appears to have originated in the United States, first recorded in 1870 by the essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, though undoubtedly long in use before that date. The British version, dating to the early eighteenth century, is 'to have one's eyeteeth' or 'to have one's eyeteeth about one.' The usage differs slightly, carrying the implication of alertness against chicanery; that is, to use one's knowledge and experience in one's dealings." From "2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to a Song and Dance" by Charles Earle Funk (Galahad Book, New York, 1993). A second source says: "If wisdom does come with age, 'to cut one's wisdom teeth' is more appropriate, for these are cut at the ages of 17 to 25 and up to age 50! These molars have been known as 'dentes sapientiae,' 'teeth of wisdom,' since the time of Hippocrates." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997)."

WWW Link">WWW Link

Now I get it!

I have no and have never had any wisdom teeth!  So I don't know about them.  I can only empathize.

Guess that is why I have no wisdom.

Sorry, my friend. Those things just suck.

Hope you get feeling better soon. (((KFC)))

They're called 'wisdom teeth' because they appear late in life but rot soonest. I have only one left, the other three being removed at different times. As all Americans know, Europeans have dreadful teeth. A blindingly white smile is not the prerequisite for living a cleanly life there that it is here. And I'm no exception. I have (sin of sins) a tooth missing at the front of my mouth which I have no intention of replacing cosmetically because a) the gap is very useful for holding cigars; and I enjoy the expressions of horror it produces on the faces of those who witness my gappy grin for the first time.

I sympathise with you, KFC. You might think that unlikely, given the vitriol which I generally pour on your 'theological' articles, but as one human being to another I have sympathy for your plight. Particularly because you, as an American, are not used to your own flesh tormenting you. It must be something of a novel experience, and a most unwelcome one. I hope your surgery goes well and that you recover without suffering any of the unpleasant consequences you mention.

I will never agree with your take on religion - but that doesn't mean that I wish you ill.

Be well, soon.

Thanks Poison for all the info. I can't imagine "cutting" a wisdom tooth at 50. I was told this impacted one I'm suffering with now has no chance of popping thru.

I just got great news. My husband saw the surgeon at church tonight and he's going to make sure I get in next week. In the meantime he's caling in a prescription for me in the am. He seems to think I'll feel alot better after taking this. He told me also to start taking 4 Advil every six hours. I'm glad about that but I'm scared stiff about sitting in his chair next week.

Sorry, my friend. Those things just suck.Hope you get feeling better soon. (((KFC)))

Thanks SC......I think we've found something in common. You must either be right around the age that you're dealing with this or just got thru with it? Anyhow, thanks for the hugs........you know I think you're awesome even if your jokes are lame..heh!!

I sympathise with you, KFC. You might think that unlikely, given the vitriol which I generally pour on your 'theological' articles, but as one human being to another I have sympathy for your plight

well, I'm speechless. Yes I am. Hmmmm....give me a moment to compose myself.

Ok, well, thanks EOIC, I can't very well call you King Ahab here now can I? I appreciate your kind words. I think this must be a first between us.

I will never agree with your take on religion

hahahahah never say never. You are in my prayers EOIC and have been for a while.

I believe God can do amazing things with people and you are not an exception.

I had mine out about five years ago now . . . (holy crap, it's been a long time!)

Hope all goes well. You know I think you're cool, even though we don't agree on much.

I'm sportin' all my teeth...none of them hurt in the least and I'm okay with that. Sorry about the ol' toothache, though. I've never really had a toothache, just the annoyance of loosing those baby teeth.

~Zoo

Sorry to hear you're having trouble KFC. I'm glad to hear that you've got connections.

I had my bottoms out at 18, and then the tops out at 31 or 32. I'm not even going to tell you about my experiences until after you've had your work completed....

I'll be praying for you

Thanks QOD....I covet all the prayers I can get. Thanks for NOT telling me your story.....I'm already scared everytime I think about it. I'm feeling better today....a dull ache underneath all this Advil. It seems to be working.

Zoo: you just wait.....your time will come. Enjoy your teeth and always remember.....floss the ones you want to keep......

Don't worry, KFC . . . when I had mine out, they had to impact all four. But that was nothing compared to the clipping of my tongue. You see, I was tongue-tied, and knew I was going to be learning Spanish, and you just can't trill your tongue when it's connected by a huge flap of skin to the bottom of your mouth. So they cut and stitched that at the same time as the teeth - and that made the teeth feel like a walk in the ever-lovin' park.

So, in my experience . . . wisdom teeth extraction is not all that bad. It's the ancillary stuff that came with mine that still makes me cringe.

OMG....SC....I never heard of such a thing. That sounds really painful.

Come to think of it, I never could understand why the young ladies like to pierce their tongues either. That sounds like they're looking for pain to me....besides being just gross IMO.

Maybe that's my problem.....I'm not very good at "trilling" my tongue either. But that's ok. I don't have to learn Spanish. The less the dentists stay out of my mouth...the better. I am so not looking forward to this.

I do hope you meant the less they stay in your mouth . . .

ooops,,,,ya, that's what I meant.......

boy was THAT ignored...