The ancient human remains provide valuable information regarding the individual’s life history. Teeth represent an excellent material for multidisciplinary research in archaeology due to the high preservation qualities provided by their hard tissues (i.e. enamel, dentine and cementum). Nowadays numerous research papers approach dental wear in order to characterize the paleodiet by means of microscopy techniques. This work presents a review of non-destructive microscopy methods used in the diet reconstructions of past peoples, with the description of a case study on the 17th century of Iași (Romania). The microscopic based methods (i.e. dental macrowear, dental microwear and dental microwear texture analysis=DMTA) are described and compared by highlighting their limitations, suitability and particularities. This comparative approach reveals the importance and aims of each method. The chosen methodology has its own particularity in interpreting the diet, during the individual’s life or shortly before the subject’s death.