For what might appear to be a light puffy soft harmless snack, popcorn can be quite harmful from a dental and more specifically orthodontic perspective.
Un-popped popcorn kernels have a very strong outershell (hull). When popcorn is heated the contents of the kernel expand until it eventually pops (explodes ). , the foamy soft inside of the kernel is then exposed and we have “popcorn”. The strong outer hulls or fragments of the shell however still remain within the “popcorn”.
Popcorn can be harmful for two different reasons.
Firstly un-popped kernels are extremely strong and can crack teeth , especially if the teeth have large fillings. They can also sometimes cause implants to fail over a long period of time. Un-popped kernels can also detach (debond) orthodontic brackets from the teeth.
Secondly the popcorn hulls which are the left-over part of the seeds remain in the popped popcorn, they are very hard and are difficult to see because they are almost transparent. They may get trapped under the orthodontic wires and can press against and irritate the gums.
Sometimes the hulls get trapped between the gum and the tooth and irritate the gums.
The hull may migrate further under the gum line.
Sometimes the hull may give rise to a periodontal abscess , where the gum will swell and pus may exude between the tooth and the gum.
Regrettably it is best to avoid popcorn while one is wearing braces.
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Clonmel Orthodontics blog.
This blog was written by Dr John Buckley, Clonmel’s most qualified and most experienced orthodontist. We use cutting edge technology in Clonmel Orthodontics to provide excellent orthodontic treatment at affordable prices. Our surgeries are airy spacious and private , like you might expect if you visit a general medical practitioner. Remember orthodontics is about what happens in your mouth.
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