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Getting new braces can take a little time to get used to it. While adjusting to wear braces, you may wonder what food you can and can’t eat. It is essential to be mindful of the choices of food you make while wearing braces as one wrong choice can make your visit to the dentist all over again.
When craving a midnight snack, popcorn is the first thing that comes to mind. Popcorn is a light and salty snack that can be eaten at any time of the day but can you eat popcorn with braces?
To put it straight, popcorn directly goes to the list of foods that you should avoid with braces.
Remember, braces are temporary but popcorns are not. You can enjoy popcorn in a few months after the braces are off.
Braces are dental appliances that are used to straighten the teeth and correct a wide range of orthodontic issues, such as-
- Crooked teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Malocclusion
Braces contain brackets and wires that fit into your teeth. With the constant but mild pressure, the teeth shift into their proper position over some time.
Why Can’t You Eat Popcorn with Braces?
Eating popcorn with braces on can be tricky and strictly not recommended. The problem is not the popcorn but the husk and the kernels that can quickly stick between the brackets and wires of your braces. The kernels and husk get stuck in the areas where it is tough to get them out. This could lead to damage to the braces.
The husk of the popcorn has a sharp edge, and it can press up against the gums when trapped under the wire of the braces. They can also be nearly transparent, making it hard to see and remove them. This can also cause infection from gum irritation.
The hard popcorn kernels can break or damage your braces if you accidentally bite on them. At the same time, the flavored caramel popcorn’s stickiness and crunch can increase your chance of damaging braces and getting stuck in your teeth.
However, if you still want to enjoy popcorn, here are some tips to prevent it from damaging:
- Chew slowly and attentively
- Try to remove the unpopped kernel
- Avoid combining nuts, seeds, or hard candies with your popcorn
Snacks Easy to Eat with Braces
Eating with braces can be challenging, but it is crucial to continue eating a healthy and balanced diet. Plenty of other healthy snack options are safe to eat if you have braces on. So, if you can’t munch on popcorns with braces, try the below food items-
- Soft food such as bananas, avocado, berries
- Cooked and steamed vegetables
- Mashed potato
- Rice, pasta, quinoa, bread
- Eggs and cooked beans
- Soups and stew
- Milk, cheese, yogurt
- Chicken and seafood
- Oatmeal, pancakes and waffles
- Protein shakes and smoothies
Foods to Avoid with Braces
Popcorn is not the only food that needs to be avoided when you wear braces. Avoid eating crunchy, complex, and sticky food with braces. It will help in maintaining oral health and keep your treatment on track. This type of food can get stuck between brackets and wire and damage the braces.
Along with popcorn, these are some other foods to avoid-
- Chocolate
- Chewing gums
- Hard candies and lollipops
- Nuts and seeds
- Caramel
- Dried fruits
- Taffy
- Hard cookies or crackers
These are the kinds of food you should try to avoid directly biting into it. Instead, try cutting it into bite-sized pieces first.
- Apples
- Raw carrot
- Corn on the cob
- Burgers
- Sandwiches
Risk of Eating the Wrong Foods with Braces
If you accidentally eat the wrong food while wearing the braces, you may experience some level of discomfort. There are two main risks involved with braces.
1. Damaged Braces: Eating hard food with braces on can put you at a risk of damaging bracket and wire. Hard and crunchy food can bend the wires of braces. If hard food is stuck between the braces and you bite down., the brackets may break off.
If broken, you will have to take a trip to your dentist and get it fixed, which will push the treatment time further.
2. Bacterial Growth: There is a risk with eating sticky and sugary food while wearing your braces on. Sticky and sugary food gets trapped into your brackets and wires easily. It can create an environment for plaque and bacteria to grow, that may result in tooth decay and cavities, if not taken care properly.
Considerations for Eating with Braces
Regardless of what food you eat with braces, it is crucial to keep the cervices between the teeth and around the braces very clean. This means you should brush and floss at least twice a day to prevent the build-up of plaque and clay.
Not taking care properly can cause damage to the teeth and gums, and it can also cause discoloration that can last a lifetime.
Conclusion
So, the answer to your question, can you eat popcorn with braces is a complete NO. It is important to be careful of the foods you eat while wearing braces. If the food can damage your braces or get stuck in between the braces, it is better to avoid eating it.
It is ok to indulge in hard and sticky snacks occasionally, as long as you are careful and clean your braces thoroughly afterwards. Whatever you eat or drink, always remember to floss and brush your teeth afterwards.
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