Braces has many good benefits other than just you often look better. Crowded teeth can be a bacteria trap and cause gum disease/ bone loss around teeth. Crowded teeth can make you more likely to loose your teeth. If you wear the retainers regularly for the first year it helps your bone set back and you don't have to wear the retainers except at night time or less than that. Some offices place permanent retainers that are cemented on the back sides of teeth to help with this, but this prevents the same gum disease problem b/c you can't usually floss these and they are very hard to keep clean. Another good benefit to braces is aligning your jaw joint properly, which can cause severe poping, clicking, and pain if not corrected.