When you stop by your favorite gas station and get a soda, you decide to not get a straw this time. It is a small gesture, but every little bit helps the environment, right? Although potentially damaging for nature, drinking through a straw can actually be good for your oral health to protect against cavities and dental erosion. Keep reading to understand how this small tube can help you keep your smile healthy and strong!
Worst Drinks for Your Smile
Some of the most damaging drinks to teeth may not come as a surprise, but others might shock you. Here are some of the main culprits that have quite a bit of sugar:
- Soda
- Juice
- Sports drinks
- Wine or other alcohol
- Coffee and tea
The best possible beverage for your teeth and gums by far is water because contains no sugar or coloration. However, even if you stick predominantly to H2O, you are bound to have other drinks at some point. In fact, some people despise drinking water altogether and only have these other kinds of drinks.
Risks of Sugary, Acidic Drinks
As flavorful as beverages can be, most present a threat to your oral health, as well as your overall health. Ingesting too much sugar can be harmful for your organs but especially for your mouth. Sugary substances encourage growth of certain bad bacteria, which produce acids. These acids wear down protective tooth enamel, causing cavities. If you drink something that is already acidic, it has the same effect.
In addition to eroding your tooth enamel, many sugary drinks are also deeply colored, which means they can stain your teeth as well.
How a Straw Can Help Your Teeth
At first glance, a straw may seem an unlikely aid to oral health. After all, you are still drinking the sugary, acidic beverages, but sipping through a straw enables the beverage to bypass most of your teeth and go straight toward the back of your mouth. As a result, you get the taste of the drink with much lower risk to getting cavities.
Concerns about Going Green
What should you do if you are worried about the environment? Single-use straws can be wasteful, but fortunately, you can purchase reusable straws made of stainless steel, rubber, or other sturdier materials, which allows you to still benefit from drinking from a straw without harming Mother Earth. So bring your own straw the next time you order a drink!
In the end, now that you understand how your mouth is affected by what you drink, you can be more selective about your beverages and use straws to your advantage. Now that is a reason to smile!
About the Practice
At Pioneer Greens Dentistry, we have three dedicated dentists on staff. Each has a unique background, but they all share a similar philosophy—it is better and easier to prevent dental problems than treat them after they cause damage. If you need to schedule a routine dental cleaning and checkup or require more advanced care, you can contact our Lincoln office by calling 402-483-7502 or visiting our website here.