Use a Straw When Appropriate
Sometimes it does make sense to use a straw to drink certain beverages.
When drinking something acidic, corrosive, or too sweet – you might want to use a straw – it pulls the liquid past the teeth so there is less contact. It can prevent staining or corrosion.
My daughter drinks her coffee and tea with a straw – it’s actually not a bad idea. Coffee sitting on the teeth certainly stains the teeth. They are also corrosive drinks, so the less time on your teeth, the better.
I use a straw when I drink my juice with apple cider vinegar, or when drinking cranberry juice. The vinegar is very corrosive, and the juice has concentrated sugar (but I can’t drink the vinegar with just water – I need to disguise the taste). Sugar and acid are a bad combination for the teeth.
Do not use a straw when you are recovering from surgery done in your mouth, or if your doctor tells you for any other reason.
If you do use a straw, you should look for a non-BPA, reusable straw that you can clean between uses. Protect the environment at the same time as you protect your teeth. I also use paper straws – then recycle them with other paper. There are also stainless-steel straws that can be cleaned with a narrow brush – they could last forever!
P.R.