FAQ

Straws and Your Teeth

Why do dentists tell you not to use a straw?

They are not against straws in general. They are against three specific things, and none of them depend on what the straw is made of. First, using one because you believe it shields your teeth from sugar: it does not. A straw concentrates the drink on one spot and bypasses the saliva that normally buffers acid and rinses the surface, so it can work against you. Second, chewing on it, which wears down enamel over time. Third, using one right after an extraction, where the suction can dislodge the clot and cause dry socket. On everything else, dental opinion is genuinely split.

Does drinking through a straw protect your teeth from sugar?

No, and this is the most common misconception about straws. The idea sounds reasonable: send the drink past the teeth. In practice the liquid still contacts enamel, now aimed at a narrower area and away from the saliva that would otherwise dilute it. If you are worried about a sugary or acidic drink, what helps is rinsing with water afterwards, not the straw.

Can I use a straw after a tooth extraction?

Ask your dentist, and assume the answer is no for the first few days. Suction can pull the clot out of the socket, and dry socket is painful enough that it is not worth testing. This applies to every straw, of every material.