“Is it bad to have a gap between your teeth?”

Yes, it is bad to have a gap between teeth. First, other teeth will move around, which will change your biting function and sometimes will cause discomfort for the joint of your jaw. Then also when you chew, the food will get stuck there, which will cause gum issues and bone loss issues in the long run. Also, hard food will damage the gum tissue there upon chewing in the area. Best to fix it before it gets worse.
Be safe out there.

No, if it has always been there. If something is changing then that may be a sign of a problem

It is not bad to have a gap between your teeth. It is called a diastema and is very common.

Hope this helps,

Jossi Stokes, DDS

Great question. From an esthetic standpoint, if someone is unhappy with a gap, then it is a concern and should be addressed. If a person is fine with a gap, then it's okay. I have had patients who like their gap. It's their "trademark." Others can't wait to have it closed. So it's a personal choice. As long as the bite is stable, it's more of an esthetic issue. If the gap is getting larger, it's a bite issue or periodontal issue and should be addressed. I recommend you see a dentist if you don't like having a gap or if you notice is getting larger.  

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

If you have a tiny gap between the back teeth and food gets in constantly, that is bad because it chronically irritates the gum tissue, and if you don’t floss to remove it daily, it can cause gum disease and tooth decay. If you are referring to a larger gap such as in between two front teeth, then no, it is fine, except some consider it to be unaesthetic.

Not necessarily

Not really

Hello,

Gaps (diastemas) between teeth are not usually a good thing; however, it depends on the size of the gap and the location of the gap.
The size of the gap between teeth matters as small gaps become what is known as "food traps". Teeth are shaped to allow food to flow to the sides as we eat. However, a gap will allow food to flow between teeth.
A gap between two back allows food to flow between the teeth, but due to the way teeth are shaped, it does not come out so easy. Food stuck between teeth causes 2 problems. First, food that is prolonged between teeth will cause cavites. Secondly, anything that is between the teeth for a prolonged time will cause recession and mobility of the teeth.
A larger gap will not allow the food to stay between the teeth. If a tooth was missing, that would be a large gap. But food particles are too small to get stuck there.
The location of the gap matters because we do most of our chewing on the back tooth. If the gap is in the front, it is more of a cosmetic concern then then a food trap. Hope this helps.

My best to you!

William F. Scott IV, DMD