Can You Eat Popcorn with Braces? A Comprehensive Guide
Braces are essential to straightening teeth and beautifying smiles, but they are also accompanied by dietary limitations. The most frequently asked question I get asked that braces wearers want to know is, “can you eat popcorn with braces?” The response is not straightforward, and it is important to understand the limitations, experts say. In this post we will address the most important questions about popcorn and braces, and tips on how not to damage your dental hardware, therefore ruining your day.
Why Mixing Pop Corn And Braces Is A problem
When you have popcorn and braces you are in a weird place. Popcorn is a popular choice for a snack, but the kernels are so fine that they’re both more dangerous than beneficial for folks with braces. As we said before, finding the right formula is difficult. The popcorn can be hard on braces and the nut chips a potential hazard, just like the unpopped kernels.
Brace and Bracket Ruin: These kernels are the ones to be reckoned with and will destroy any nuts and chips combo. The tough kernels have been reported to strike at the braces’ brackets, cracking or loosening them and in the process inflicting serious damage.
Popcorn Risks with Braces
Wire Issues: Gnawing away at unconquered unpopped kernels can cause the wires of your braces to bend and even snap.
Tooth Woes: Yet the unpopped kernels could be hard on your teeth, and could, if you’re not careful, cause a tooth to crack.
Because of all the above questions, the question of “Can you eat popcorn with braces has also come up. becomes a bit more intricate.
What is the danger of eating popcorn with braces?
Before we get head on into whether popcorn is safe or not when you have braces, let us look at some of the dangers that may be associated with eating popcorn as reported by readers.
Hard Kernels
The hard kernels are one of the biggest issues with eating popcorn with braces. Even though the soft popcorn is fluffy, there are always un-popped kernels that just won’t seem to fluff up.
Sticky pieces
Other foods, such as popcorn, are gooey and can’t be washed off once they become caught in the braces. The pieces will definitely add sticky pieces that can form plaque, creating cavities as well as other oral hygiene issues.
Choking Hazard
For the POPCORN, well the unpopped kernels can be a choking hazard too. Teenagers and adolescents wearing braces are most reckless in eating popcorn. You can crunch down on hard seed while having braces as well.
Discomfort and Pain
If you’re a die-hard snacker, and you chew popcorn with braces, you can expect a crunching pain from unpopped kernels. The condition worsens if your braces are new or if you happen to be on a readjustment phase. It can even induce a lot of stubborn dental braces problems in the long-run.
Is It Ok Can You Eat Popcorn with Braces?
The short answer is yes, you can eat popcorn with braces but on your own terms. The rules are plain and simple, and while you can eat that popcorn with your braces, the truth is that braces can cause pain, sensitivity and stress on the teeth too.
How to Eat Popcorn with Braces safely
Avoid the Tough Kernels of Popcorn:
And the number one enemy are hard, unpopped kernels which are too hard and can cause damage to braces. Can you eat popcorn if you have braces? You can, but as noted you can only eat popcorn that has completely popped and you should do so very gingerly.
Air Pop, Please:
Homemade air-popped popcorn is typically not as hard as store-bought versions and it’s not quite as much of a jawbreaker. Now, the air popped popcorns, mentioned as I have stated would definitely be a better choice for your braces, since they contain less unpopped kernels that are rather harder than the regular kernel.
Go for Bite-Sized Pieces:
Opting for smaller bites may relieve some of that pressure placed on the braces. It is preferable to take smaller and more manageable bits in order to reduce the risk of chewing and biting hard objects.
Thorough Cleaning After Meals:
Both teeth and braces love to cling to popcorn. If you have braces you may want to brush and floss afterwards to prevent any kernels or pits from getting stuck in your teeth. If you can’t brush, make sure you at least rinse with water (even better if you can brush after you eat popcorn)– or try this with metal braces and orthodontic wax, which can also keep popcorn from rubbing up against your brackets.
It’s Best To Steer Clear Of Flavored Or Caramel Popcorn:
We have already said that popcorn is challenging to enjoy when wearing braces, but this is especially true for flavored or caramel popcorn. These flavored popcorns are far stickier than regular popcorn, and as we’ve just pointed out, they’re one of the worst offenders in removing braces. This of course makes it much, much more likely that tartar and plaque will accumulate, and that cavities will thrive.
What To Do If You Break Your Braces With Popcorn
If you accidentally have broken braces due to popcorn, there are things you can do to correct the problem.
Notify your orthodontist: If you can, calling your orthodontist to address a broken bracket or bent wires is the best choice. Given those issues, it’s good to have contact with them to see if there are things that can be done, such as emergency visits.
Apply Orthodontic Wax: If a part of your brace is causing some discomfort, applying orthodontic wax can help reduce some of the pain by covering sharp pieces until you can get into the orthodontist.
Don’t Eat Popcorn until its Repaired When you are waiting for repairs on your braces, it’s advisable to avoid eating foods like popcorn and worsening the damage to your braces.
Substitute snacks for brace wearers: Unfortunately, popcorn is off the table for those in braces but you can still get your crunch on with some care. With braces on, some snacks can definitely be eaten and these include:
Rice cakes: There’s an intense crunch to them, and they can help you when you’re craving something chip-like, but can be avoided if you have braces.
Soft Crackers: No hardness, easy to fix brackets.
Cheese sticks: Feel free, in other words, to not avoid cheese sticks. They have something important that is good for you and doesn’t create any problem with braces.
Chopped vegetables: Carrot, cucumber, celery etc… are generally crunchy but can be chopped in the size that doesn’t cause the braces to bear too much.
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Conclusion
And in short, the short answer to “can you have popcorn with braces?” is yes but with caveats. Even though popcorn is a treat best eaten in moderation, do not chow down on soft, unpopped kernels, chew on the sticky ones, or try to swallow large clusters of popcorn. Following the advice in this article can help maintain the health of your braces when snacking.
The best advice is simply to check with an Orthodontist when wondering about braces and popcorn or any food! Braces take a little effort and care, but with good dietary knowledge many snacks can still be munched on, and enjoyed.
