If you didn’t grow up with a Tiger Beat poster taped to your ceiling, it’s hard to explain the sheer, unadulterated chaos that was Bobby Sherman fandom in 1970. We’re talking about a guy who received more fan mail than anyone else at ABC—including the guys from The Partridge Family. He was the ultimate "boy next door" with the shaggy hair and that slightly bashful smile. But among the gold records and the "Little Woman" mania, there's this one specific, weirdly specific piece of pop culture history that people still hunt for: Bobby Sherman bubble gum and braces.
Wait, what?
It sounds like a dental hygiene nightmare or a very niche fetish. Actually, it was a song. And not just any song—it was a track that lived on the back of cereal boxes. Honestly, the 1970s were a lawless time for marketing. You’d pour your Rice Krinkles, cut a plastic flexi-disc out of the cardboard, and pray your turntable didn't scratch the life out of it.
The Weird History of "Bubble Gum and Braces"
Let’s get the facts straight because there’s a lot of "I think I remember" floating around the internet. Bobby Sherman actually recorded a song titled "Bubble Gum and Braces." It wasn't just a rumor or a weird interview quote. It appeared on his 1970 album Portrait of Bobby, and more importantly, it was part of a massive promotion with Post Cereals.
You’ve gotta picture the scene. It’s 1972. You’re eight years old. You’re staring at the back of a box of Post Rice Krinkles or Honeycombs. There, printed right on the cardboard, is Bobby’s face. The promotion featured several of his hits, like "Little Woman" and "Hey, Mr. Sun," but "Bubble Gum and Braces" was the one that felt... different.
The song itself is peak "bubblegum pop." It’s light, it’s bouncy, and it’s about as deep as a puddle. But for a generation of kids who were currently suffering through the "metal mouth" phase of middle school, it was a weirdly comforting anthem. It’s a song about a girl Bobby likes who is—you guessed it—stuck in that awkward phase of life.
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Why was it on a cereal box?
Marketing. Pure, relentless 1970s marketing. Metromedia Records (Bobby's label) knew their audience was eating breakfast and reading the back of boxes. They produced these 5.5-inch flexi-discs that played at 33 1/3 RPM.
They were flimsy. They sounded terrible. They often slipped on the spindle. Yet, they are now high-value collector's items. If you find an original "Bubble Gum and Braces" flexi-disc today that isn't bent into a taco shape, you’re looking at a decent chunk of change on Discogs or eBay.
The Myth vs. The Reality
One of the big misconceptions about Bobby Sherman bubble gum and braces is that he was some kind of spokesperson for orthodontics. He wasn't.
I’ve seen people online swear they remember a commercial of Bobby at the dentist. That didn't happen. The "braces" connection is strictly lyrical and promotional. However, the song did tap into a very real part of the teen idol machine. These stars were designed to be relatable. While other rock stars were singing about, well, much darker things, Bobby was singing about the girl with the "tinsel teeth."
It worked. It made him feel accessible.
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A Quick Reality Check on the Lyrics
The song basically describes a girl who thinks she's plain or awkward because of her dental work and her habit of chewing gum. Bobby—ever the gentleman—tells her she’s beautiful anyway. It’s sweet. It’s dated. It’s quintessential Bobby.
"With your bubble gum and braces, you're the cutest thing I know..."
Seriously, those are the vibes. It was the "You Don't Know You're Beautiful" of 1970, just with more fluoride.
Why We Are Still Talking About This in 2026
You might wonder why a 50-year-old song about dental hardware still gets searched. Part of it is pure nostalgia. Bobby Sherman passed away recently, in June 2025, at the age of 81. When he died, a massive wave of memories flooded the internet. People weren't just remembering the hits; they were remembering the weird stuff. They were remembering the cereal boxes.
But there’s another reason: Bobby Sherman was actually a "good guy."
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Usually, teen idols flame out. They get bitter or they disappear. Bobby did the opposite. He walked away from the screaming fans and the bubblegum songs to become a paramedic. He spent decades as a volunteer with the LAPD and a reserve deputy sheriff. He taught CPR to thousands of people.
When you look back at a song like "Bubble Gum and Braces," it doesn't feel like a cynical cash grab anymore. It feels like a piece of a legacy from a man who genuinely liked people. He went from singing to kids on cereal boxes to saving lives on the streets of Los Angeles.
Collectors: What to Look For
If you’re hunting for the "Bubble Gum and Braces" record, you need to be specific. There are two main versions:
- The Album Version: Found on Portrait of Bobby (1970). This is the high-fidelity version.
- The Flexi-Disc: This is the one from the Post Rice Krinkles box. It’s labeled "Design #4 Disk 4."
The flexi-discs are usually red or clear-ish plastic. If you find one still attached to the cardboard box? That’s the holy grail. Most kids (obviously) cut them out with scissors, often leaving jagged edges that would ruin a stylus in three seconds flat.
Actionable Steps for Bobby Sherman Fans
If you're looking to reconnect with this specific era of pop history, don't just stop at a Google search.
- Check the Audio: You can actually find the "cereal box" audio on YouTube. It sounds exactly how you think—scratchy, thin, and wonderful.
- Verify Your Vinyl: If you're buying the Portrait of Bobby album, check the tracklist carefully. "Bubble Gum and Braces" is often the song people overlook until they hear that opening beat.
- Support the Foundation: Bobby’s legacy lives on through the Brigitte & Bobby Sherman Children's Foundation. They do incredible work for students in Ghana. If the music meant something to you, checking out his humanitarian work is the best way to honor him.
Bobby Sherman might have been the king of bubblegum pop, but his transition from a teen idol singing about braces to a real-life hero is the part of the story that actually sticks.