Don't be so hard on your mom. She's probably just trying to see what is best for you to eat with your braces.

I eat everything: gum, carmel, popcorn, ice, etc. I break brackets all the time. Yesterday I had to get 4 brackets replaced because I broke them off by chewing on ice. I'm not a "rebel" or anything, I just can't live without junk food. In fact, I have never had a problem with gum. I chew gum everyday, everywhere and I never get it stuck in my braces. Don't let me be an influence on you though, I would have had these things off a year ago if I had followed all the rules.