Although sipping sodas and other sweet beverages using a straw is arguably a mindless and routine daily activity, it offers positive implications, especially for dental health.
According to Dr Silas Kinyua, a senior dental specialist at the Kenya National Hospital (KNH), this practice can lower your risk of cavities by limiting contact between sugary drinks and your teeth.
"It reduces the chances of acidic/sugary drinks like soda from coming into contact with your tooth surfaces. We advise you to reduce the amount of such liquids taken," he explained.
Since soda is packed with added sugars, the sugars feed harmful bacteria in your mouth, which in turn produce acids that assault the teeth's protective layer of enamel, leading to cavities and tooth decay.
Avoiding sweet things is therefore encouraged, but where necessary, using a straw as a buffer between the drink and your teeth.
Besides reducing the risk of cavities, using straws also significantly reduces the risk of staining one's teeth.
Coffee, tea, cola, and red wine are some of the most common drinks that can lead to staining, as most consumers of these drinks take them daily.
To enjoy these benefits, individuals are advised to keep reusable straws at the ready, as this will lower the risk of consuming sugary drinks without them.
Besides their health benefits, reusable straws are more environmentally friendly than common plastic straws, which are often dumped after one use, contributing to the fast-growing risks of global warming due to their non-biodegradable nature.
Nowadays, reusable straws can be purchased almost everywhere in several materials, like stainless steel, silicone, bamboo, titanium and even glass.
All these straws offer a reusable option, as they can be cleaned and reused several times without breaking and only need a simple cleaning after use. Some are even dishwasher safe.
However, some, like the stainless steel ones, can lead to other dental problems like chipping or cracking of teeth if not used properly. Glass straws also pose similar concerns of breaking and cutting one's mouth, especially when used by children.
