Why is it important to have straight teeth?

1. It will improve the health of your gums. Crooked teeth many times have areas that are inaccessible to the brush and trap food easily. Having the teeth in a correct arch will allow the tongue to cleanse them better during the day and enable the tooth brush bristles to clean them better.
2. Some people have difficulty speaking properly since there are gaps between the teeth or the teeth are not meeting in the right way. The lisp created by an “open bite” can be corrected when the teeth have a good positon.
3. When the teeth are positioned correctly, what is called a class 1 occlusion, the muscles and joints can function in a balanced way. But if the teeth are locked or the right and left side don’t meet equally then, there can be jaw joint damage and pain.
4. Uneven and severe tooth wear can be caused by poor tooth position. A poorly aligned bite may force some teeth to share the load of other teeth that don’t touch. As a consequence those teeth will wear faster or crack and fracture. Achieving a harmonious occlusion will allow all teeth to share the chewing forces evenly.
5. Having your teeth for good. A balanced bite that allows good oral hygiene, prevents the excessive wear of the teeth and protects the joint allows for the teeth to last you a lifetime.

So whilst the importance of a great smile should never be underestimated, there is so much more to having straight teeth in a good relationship.