Where's the Wisdom in That?

I bet it's more fun pulling teeth than having them pulled. Speaking of which, I get my wisdom teeth out today.

This will be a joy. But, the one question that has always plagued me, and I'm sure has plagued man for many generations, is: Why are they called wisdom teeth?

Is it because they add years to your brain capacity and thus make you wise?

Or are the teeth themselves actually incredibly clever? This one seems unlikely as you'd assume that with all those smarts they would be able to recognize that they are growing in completely different directions than their counterparts up top. Also, being as quick as they are, one would assume they would have realized that their pearly peers made the journey to the top years before. Silly teeth. As well, if they were actually all equal in their own intelligence, you would also think that they would set a time when they could all emerge, however, mostly they do it whenever is convenient for them, at totally random times, very rarely with their internal ivory buddies.

Are they called 'wisdom' teeth for everyone? What if they emerged in the mouth of someone who was totally ignorant, would we call them 'ignorance' teeth?

Ok, so my mom just told me the 'real' answer. They are called wisdom teeth because they come in your teenage years, apparently the 'age of wisdom'.

I think whoever coined this term should sit on his or her own face for a while. See how wise they feel after that.

The teenage years are the years of wisdom? I think a more appropriate name would've been something like 'hormones, acne, puberty, introduction to the opposite sex, growing pains, and horribly awkward stage' teeth. Am I right? Although, I suppose that may be a bit of a mouthful. But hey, so are the teeth.


Currently housing 32 teeth,

Daytona Splendor.