A member asked:

Is having gaps between teeth bad for your biting? cuz i have one and i am wondering about getting braces done. will it help?

4 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

Food traps: If gaps are present but not big enough to be self cleansing, they promote trapping food between teeth. Primarily noticeable with stringy foods like beef or chicken, trapped food can impact into and in the worst case contribute to gum infection. If this isn't happening or if you can manage with inter-dental cleaning, the gap issue is reduced to one of esthetics which boils down to your opinion.

Answered 2/5/2013

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Yes: Braces will likely help. Best is to get an expert opinion from an orthodontist. As for your biting, this would have to be evaluated to see how it lines up. Braces can help to a point, but sometimes an oral surgeon needs to fix severe overbite/underbite surgically.

Answered 2/5/2013

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Not necessarily: Sometimes gaps occur with a normal occlusion. If the occlusion is not normal then orthodontics is recommended. Also you may want gaps closed for cosmetic reasons. If you have food impactions, this is also a reason. See an orthodontist for a good evaluation!

Answered 2/5/2013

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