using straws better for teeth

calleyw

I was wondering if it was better for teeth when drinking any squash or fizzy if it is better to use a straw.

Or does it just mean that the back teeth get a dose of the sugar rather than the front ones.

Anyone

Yours


Calley

Toothsmith

It is slightly better.

But a bit like jumping out of a 5th storey window rather than the tenth!

Certainly better than swigging from a can though.

calleyw

Toothsmith wrote: »

It is slightly better.

But a bit like jumping out of a 5th storey window rather than the tenth!

Certainly better than swigging from a can though.

So what you are saying it is better not to drink it in the first place.

I have to have a filling and my dentist thought perhaps I had been drinking a lot more fizzy or eating more fruit between meals. And the answer is no.

He told me the tooth and I looked as I have a little mirror but can't see anything. Seems strange as I think that my wisdom teeth in worse condition but there you go.

Yours


Calley

maypole

The thing is, whatever you drink and however, it still gets into the bloodstream and your blood goes everywhere in your body.

calleyw

maypole wrote: »

The thing is, whatever you drink and however, it still gets into the bloodstream and your blood goes everywhere in your body.

I was more interested in protecting my teeth. Rather than worrying about what I drank getting in to my bloodstream.

Yours

Calley

belfastgirl23

I know I had a friend whose dentist was able to spot that she had been drinking a lot more smoothies than usual (she had bought a top of the range juicer and was being healthy to her way of thinking). She was told that using straws was better for this. I think also diluting with water was a good thing.

And I have a dim memory that someone told me it was better if you add yoghurt to your smoothie as well but maybe toothsmith or someone can advise if this is just some kind of mis-memory or urban myth

Personally though I think squash and fizzy drinks have nothing whatsoever to recommend them and should be avoided if at all possible...but I'm lucky that I've never developed a taste for them

moomin_white

drinking through a straw only helps if when you drink-you swallow without letting the liquid touch your teeth (which, may i add, is quite difficult)

best thing is to avoid fizzy drinks (sugar free and added sugar) on a daily basis and only to have them couple times a week rather than daily. Best to drink water really.

Toothsmith

moomin_white wrote: »

best thing is to avoid fizzy drinks (sugar free and added sugar) on a daily basis and only to have them couple times a week rather than daily. Best to drink water really.

Or milk.

Milk is good, but not with anything in it (like chocolate!)

Savvy_Sue

Toothsmith wrote: »

Or milk.

Milk is good, but not with anything in it (like chocolate!)

You spoil all our fun!

Serious question coming up - well, semi-serious, more for academic interest because I mostly drink tea or water.

A straw is better than swigging from a can.

So is a can better or worse than drinking from a glass?

And does a bottle have the same effect as a can?

Or is there some hierarchy? straw, bottle, glass, can ...

Toothsmith

When sugar gets into the mouth, bacteria digest it and the waste products of this digestion are acidic, so the mouth becomes acidic. This acidity dissolves the teeth.

This will happen when any sugary drink goes into the mouth nomatter how it goes in.

Fizzy drinks (even sugar free ones - and fruit juices, and smoothies) are acidic anyway, so the longer they are in contact with the teeth, the more damage they will do.

So - the less contact with the teeth the better.

Using a straw gets the liquid past the teeth. Drinking from a glass probably means fluid passes the teeth quicker than it does when you're sucking on a can.

Probably the very worst are toddler drinking cups.

As I said though - the acid in contact with the teeth is very much a secondary source of damage, and so you're not going to save your teeth from rampent decay or errosion by using a straw if your still drinking lots of fizzy/acidic drinks a day.

calleyw

Toothsmith wrote: »

As I said though - the acid in contact with the teeth is very much a secondary source of damage, and so you're not going to save your teeth from rampent decay or errosion by using a straw if your still drinking lots of fizzy/acidic drinks a day.

I don't drink lots of fizzy drinks everyday but do drink squash every day as I don't like the taste of water unless it is ice cold. Something I am unable to do at work.

My dentist said I need a filling and asked if I had been drinking lots of fizzy drinks or citrus fruits between meals. I have been eating more citrus fruit but not between meals but with my lunch. And don't drink a lot fizzy.

I might have to start drinking more milk as I like that again really ice cold with ice cubes in it.

So wondered if drinking through a straw would help in anyway.

Yours

Calley