Smile please! Your teeth may have a story to tell
Story Dated: Thursday, August 2, 2012 17:57 hrs IST
London: Ladies, next time you flash your pearly whites, be careful, your smile might reveal more than you want to!
According to a new research, evenly spaced set of sparkling white teeth not only make you more attractive, but also help judge a woman's age and provide a guide to how far she is from menopause, the 'Daily Mail' reported.
Researchers from the university of Leeds and Central Lancashire have found that white, evenly spaced set of teeth are a sign of good health and a genetic quality designed to help choose a mate.
The researchers modified the color and spacing of teeth in various model's pictures which were shown to 150 young men and women who were asked to rate the models on attractiveness.
Three shades were used a yellowish brown, healthy white, and startling white, which can only be achieved by bleaching.
The study found that yellow teeth were unpopular, while widely spaced teeth were also deemed less attractive.
However, a well kept set of teeth among women were highly desirable. Researchers believe women's teeth are used to help judge her age and provide a guide to how far she is from the menopause.
"When males are looking at females and when females are looking at females, there is quite a strong effect. Males are thinking about attraction and females are in competition with each other," Leeds University psychologist Colin Hendrie was quoted as saying by the paper.
Our teeth also contain clues to childhood illnesses, diet and some genetic disorders, he added.
A desire to show off a good set of teeth and attract male attention could also explain why women wear lipstick, the study said.
The study was reported in the journal PLoS ONE.
