Can popcorn cause an abscess?

Although popcorn can be a delicious snack it can cause tooth problems. Aside from the fact that uncooked kernnels found in bags of popcorn can worsen cracks in teeth, the indigestible brown husks can become wedged in between the gums and teeth. This can be especially prevalent around partially impacted lower wisdom teeth. It is not all that unusual to discover a patients pericoronitis to be caused by a popcorn husk that had become wedged under the flap of skin that covered the wisdom tooth.

The husk has to be fished out in order for this sort of infection to resolve. It acts a little like a 'splinter'. Although small it can cause a localized infection and a great deal of pain. Once the husk is out,the patient is usually placed on antibiotics and instructed to rinse frequently with warm saline solution, unitl the infection resolves.