Popcorn with braces can break brackets or bend wires, and kernels can get stuck. It’s best to avoid it.
Risks
- Breaks brackets and bends wires.
- Kernels stick in braces and under gums.
- Hulls can irritate gums.
Orthodontist advice
Avoid popcorn during treatment.
If you eat it
Floss and brush after.
Other foods to avoid
Hard candy, ice, nuts and sticky candy.
If a bracket breaks
Call your orthodontist.
Safer options
Puffed snacks that dissolve.
Why popcorn is risky
Orthodontists advise against popcorn with braces because hard kernels can break brackets and bend wires, and hulls can lodge between teeth and under the gumline, causing irritation. Popcorn hulls are a common cause of gum inflammation in people with braces.
- Other foods to avoid include hard candy, nuts, ice, caramel, taffy, chewing gum, corn on the cob and whole apples or carrots without cutting.
- Braces treatment lasts about 18 to 36 months on average.
- A broken bracket can prolong treatment.
If it happens
Rinse the mouth, floss gently with floss threaders or a water flosser to remove hulls, and brush well. If a bracket or wire comes loose, call your orthodontist for an appointment. Cover a poking wire end with orthodontic wax. Safer snack choices include soft fruits, yogurt, cheese, cooked vegetables, pasta and smoothies. Some orthodontists permit softer popped popcorn without hard kernels, so ask yours.
Why popcorn is risky
Hard kernels can break brackets or bend wires, and hulls stick under gums. Orthodontists advise avoiding popcorn with braces.
If it happens
Rinse, floss gently and call the orthodontist if a bracket or wire breaks.
Risks of popcorn
Popcorn is not recommended for people with braces. Hard unpopped kernels can break brackets, bend wires and get stuck between teeth. Hulls lodge under the gumline and can cause irritation and gum inflammation. Repairs mean extra visits and can lengthen treatment time.
Safer choices
If you eat popcorn, choose hull less or puffed types, pick out unpopped kernels, and brush and floss afterward with an orthodontic threader. Other foods to avoid include hard candy, nuts, ice, caramel and taffy. Safe foods include soft fruits, yogurt, pasta and cooked vegetables. Orthodontists advise cutting corn off the cob and apples into slices. Call your orthodontist if a wire pokes or a bracket comes loose, and use orthodontic wax in the meantime.
Based on data from the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association
