Why You Should Reconsider Drinking Through Straws
By
Sughra Hafeez in
Facts
On 22nd July 2017
Many of us were first introduced to drinking straws at a young age, thanks to juice boxes. There is still something very satisfying about poking a straw through the foil and unleashing the liquid.
All bets are off when we get old enough to drink soda. I’ll be the first person to admit that Sprite tastes 100% better from the soda fountain sipped through a straw. It’s amazing how a little plastic cylinder can transform a boring old drink into a fun and festive experience.
There is, of course, the perk of enjoying the convenience and cleanliness of drinking from an adult sippy cup.
As an obvious fan of straws, it was surprising and frankly tough for me to realize that the costs of sipping from a straw outweigh the benefits.
It’s hard to believe that something as innocent as sipping from a straw is doing damage to my body and the environment, but anyone who likes to drink from a straw needs to know the truth:
#1 Plastic Straw
Over 50 million plastic straws are used each year by consumers. Many come from fast food restaurants and are used in soda, water, and juice. Some people like to drink hot liquids through plastic straws, which is not recommended because it can cause major and minor burns. Most plastic straws end up in landfills and cannot be recycled.
#2 Puckering your lips to sip through a straw leads to fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth.
Sipping through a straw helps make way for wrinkles around the mouth, much like the wrinkles that people get from smoking cigarettes. Constantly pursuing the lips forms wrinkles, especially when you reach your mid-thirties and have less collagen to fill in those creases.
#3 Why Do People Sip From Straws?
Many people drink from straws because it’s simply easier, or because their to-go cup requires one. For me, drinking from a straw has become somewhat of a habit.
With that said, some people sip this way because using a straw reduces tooth exposure to sugary and carbonated drinks in the mouth, preventing acid erosion according to Delta Dental.
While there are some clear perks, they may be outweighed by the setbacks involved with sipping from straws.
#4 Causes "Smokers' Lips"
People who smoke are known to develop lines around their lips from the repetitive motion, which are appropriately called smoker’s lips.
Turns out that smoking isn’t the only activity that causes these types of lines.
Celebrity esthetician Renée Roleau explained to Marie Claire that, “When drinking out of a straw, the movement of the mouth area that you have to make will encourage the breakdown of collagen and elasticity more quickly, causing unnecessary wrinkles and lines.”
#5 Drinking through a straw bathes your teeth in sugary and acidic liquids.
The truth is that tooth erosion can’t be avoided if you choose to drink sodas and iced teas. However, aiming the straw at the back of your mouth may put your teeth directly in harm’s way by giving them a dangerous bath of phosphoric and citric acids found in soda and flavor additives found in teas. Your teeth will suffer from enamel erosion from consuming inorganic beverages anyway, but the straw puts them right on the spot.
Suggestion: Whatever you do, don’t let soda or tea sit in your mouth for too long before you swallow because it harms your teeth.
#6 Causes Excess Gas
Being gassy is uncomfortable for everyone involved. It’s the type of thing that is in your (and your friends’) best interest to prevent.
We can all think of a time when our drinking straw was actually more full of air than a drink.
WebMD cites avoiding drinking through a straw as a way to prevent swallowing excess air that causes gas.
#7 The extra air in the straw will bloat you.
Not only are you sipping water, but you’re also sipping air. Each sip draws air from the top of the straw to be swallowed. This can contribute to bloating and nobody enjoys feeling like a human blueberry (like Violet in Willy Wonka).
#8 Burning Your Mouth and Tongue
When using a straw, liquids tend to come out faster. If using a straw for hot liquids, you cannot gauge how hot the liquid is, and may suck the liquid too fast. This can result in burns on the roof of your mouth, lips, tongue, and esophagus.The surprise of temperature can also cause a hand reaction to drop the cup onto your lap and burn your legs.
#9 Causes Cavities
Drinking from a straw is supposed to prevent cavities, but it may backfire in many cases.
It all has to do with location of the straw and how you sip. Most people do not sip comfortably with the straw directly in the back of their throat.
Instead, most people sip with the straw in the middle of their mouth.
According to a study by Science Daily, sipping thorough a straw can concentrate the exposure to sugar to one area, causing more severe decay and cavities.
#10 Chemicals in Plastic
Most plastic contains polypropylene and BPA, otherwise known as Bisphenol A, which can leak chemicals into the liquid. It is especially more present because the heat of liquid heats up the plastic. These chemicals are said to cause obesity, on-set puberty, and even cancer. Some manufacturers now take out BPA of their products.
#11 Plastic Disadvantages
Reusing a plastic straw isn't recommended. Washing them can leave behind bacteria and germs. Most of the time they are not recycled because of the chemicals in them and end up in landfills polluting the Earth.
#12 Plastic Straw Alternatives
Glass straws are a much better alternative to plastic. They can be reused many times and don't contain any chemicals. Other materials such as bamboo, paper, and stainless steel also come in straw form. These are much better for the environment and can be recycled.
