Myth about straws protecting teeth: Tip of the Day 10-14-22

You may have heard that drinking coffee, tea or sugary drinks through a straw will help prevent staining, enamel damage and cavities. Dentists are chiming in and calling BS! It's not that drinking through a straw doesn't work to protect teeth... it just has to be done in a specific manner to be effective.. and can end up killing your whole vibe!

Technically, to get the liquid straight to your throat without touching teeth in the front or back of your mouth, the straw would need to be all the way in the back of your mouth. This would make your drinking experience more like taking a shot rather than enjoying your beverage. Who wants to go through this? 👎🏽

More dentists are saying, just enjoy your drink as best you can without holding the liquid in your mouth, and follow up immediately with water. Besides, regularly drinking through a straw can support wrinkles forming around the mouth. The puckering you do to sip from a straw emulates what smokers do when they smoke a cigarette, which gives them wrinkles around the upper lip. Using straws can also increase gas and bloating.

Bonus tip: When brushing your teeth, be sure to wait at least 30 minutes after drinking acidic drinks. Your teeth are more vulnerable after consuming acidic foods and drinks, and brushing immediately can cause more damage to the enamel.