Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Straws: Good or Bad?

There is a lot of information out there about straws and whether or not they're good for the environment, your dental health, and even your looks. So, what is the official verdict? Are straws good or bad - friend or foe? Today in our blog, Access Dental and Dentures is diving into some of the facts about straws to help you decide! Keep reading to learn more and find out if you should incorporate straws or ditch them permanently...


The Environment


Plastic is known to be bad for the environment in general. It takes forever to decompose, which means it clutters up the landscape and can even end up getting tangled around animals feet and wings or stuck in their throats. There is a major effort in today's society to limit use of disposable (or single-use) plastics to help keep animals and our natural surroundings preserved and healthy. This includes straws! A great solution for the disposable straw issue is to use reusable straws instead. There are several great options - metal, reusable plastic, bamboo - that are easy to hand wash or even throw into the dishwasher. In fact, there are even some kinds of reusable straws that fold up and can be carried in a little case to use at restaurants. Just keep in mind that you should be careful when using metal straws so you don't chip your teeth on accident. 

Your Looks


Believe it or not, straws can actually affect your appearance. How? When you use a straw, you have to purse your lips to get enough suction to drink what's in your cup, glass, or bottle. The action of pursing your lips over and over again can cause wrinkles around your mouth to form prematurely. These are the same wrinkles that smokers get around their lips from performing the same action repeatedly. If you use a straw all the time, it might be a good idea to invest in an anti-wrinkle cream for around your mouth. When you drink water, try NOT using a straw and sip from the cup instead to reduce the amount of time you spend pursing your lips.  


Dental Health


Straws can actually be really helpful to your dental health. If you are drinking anything acidic, high in sugar, or that causes stains, then using a straw can help protect your teeth. Drinking these things through a straw makes the drink bypass your teeth so it's not in contact with your teeth for as long.

Your Best Health at Access Dental


When it comes to using straws, the best habit might be to use reusable straws when you're drinking something that can damage your teeth, and don't use a straw at all when you're drinking water or other drinks that aren't bad for your teeth. Whatever your straw preference, make sure you are taking care of your teeth and overall wellbeing with balanced, healthy habits! Access Dental and Dentures has the best dental clinics in southern Missouri, and we are here to help you. Give us a call to schedule a dental appointment and we can give you a thorough cleaning and check to make sure you aren't developing any issues that could cause bigger problems. 


We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST




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