When your orthodontist first puts braces onto your teeth, he or she will give you a long lecture on how to take care of them. You may even get a small pamphlet to take home. The orthodontist will show you how to carefully brush your teeth and floss with the braces…and caution you against eating “hard” foods -- like popcorn, hard candy and even carrots!

It may seem like your orthodontist is being over-protective, but your orthodontic brackets aren’t invincible. If you crunch down on a popcorn kernel, you could break off an orthodontic bracket. Orthodontic brackets all work together, putting combined pressure on each tooth to shift them into alignment. When a bracket breaks off, it weakens the entire structure, which slows down your tooth-straightening progress. That means you’ll have to spend a longer time in braces!

Heed your orthodontists’ advice. You’ll have straighter teeth before you know it.