If your oral care professional notices some discolored spots on your pearly whites, he may tell you that he’s going to use a tool known as an explorer to tell if these stains are indicative of decay.
In fact, a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Orthodontists (AAO) revealed that almost 80 percent of the 1,000 men and women that partook in the study believed that a bad smile was telling of someone that was unsuccessful.
According to Colgate.com, these chompers may not cause a person any pain but they can result in problems if patients fail to ignore their dentist’s recommendations.
“Some of these over the counter products have not been tested and there are lawsuits that are pending for materials that have actually caused gum trauma or caused the tooth to actually dissolve,” North Carolina cosmetic dentist Dr. Bobbi Stanley told ABC.
Another analysis in 2005 as the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, concluded that higher levels of bacteria in the gums was connected to thicker carotoid arteries.
According to the news outlet, the device known as the Tianjie Dental Falcon, subjects men and women, including the dentist, to 10 times the normal level of radiation.