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Dr. Keith Cooper is blogging from San Jose, CA to explain the benefits of drinking any liquid through a straw and how dental implants can help someone that has neglected to take proper care of their teeth after drinking these harmful liquids. Do you want to know a simple secret to decreasing cavities and keeping your teeth whiter? Drinking any type of liquid through a straw. It sounds silly and probably the only thing we drink with a straw anymore is a tea at Starbucks, but this could potentially save your enamel and dental hygiene. Straws can be used as tiny filtration systems, liquid control devices, and are smart for people with sensitive teeth.
Bypass the Acid
By using a straw, we almost completely miss our teeth when drinking any type of liquid. Splashing drinks against our teeth ruins our enamel, wears down the teeth, and leads to decay if not properly cleaned after. We can even use straws to drink soda, wine, coffee, and tea; the most harmful liquids when exposed to our teeth. The acids in the drinks mixed with the bacteria in our mouths create plaque buildup that leads to tooth decay. By wiping out the chance for the acid to directly hit our teeth, we are already reducing the risk of plaque buildup and lessening our chances for cavities and tooth decay. When we reduce this risk, we also increase our chances of stain prevention as well; teeth can get up to shades lighter!
Placement is EVERYTHING
In order for this to actually work, we must position the straw toward the back of the mouth, away from the teeth. By positioning the straw this way we are keeping the teeth clear of any exposure to the harmful acidic germs and avoiding the direct contact like when we drink straight from the can or cup. If we do not position this perfectly, the teeth will still be affected and the straw will serve no purpose. No pressure!
You Have Control
When using a straw we are using a slim and plastic filtering system that can get rid of bacteria left over from dirty glasses or cups. By filtering these nasty particles, we are inviting less bacteria into our mouths reducing our chances of plaque buildup and tooth decay. Another great thing about using the straw is that you can control the amount of liquid that goes into the mouth; drinking from a can or cup does not offer as much regulation which can lead to choking.
Brush With Caution
We must be careful with how soon we brush our teeth after the exposure of chemicals in these drinks. Since they are already causing our teeth to be so sensitive and vulnerable, we need to wait at least a half hour to brush; so we do not further harm our enamel. Brushing directly after could potentially wear all of the enamel off of our teeth which will lead to tooth decay and gum infection. This can still occur when using the drinking straw because the chemicals are still in the oral cavity and can mix with the existing bacteria regardless.
If you have not used a straw since you were younger and you constantly leak this harmful acid straight into your teeth, chances are you do not have the healthiest teeth or oral hygiene. If you are a victim of tooth decay or even tooth loss as a result of this over consumption of harmful liquids, you may benefit from dental implants. We can replace those unhealthy teeth to leave you with a beautiful and bright smile that shows no signs of neglect.
Want to learn more? Visit our Dental Implant Info page to see if you are the right candidate for this procedure.
Call us Today to Schedule a Consultation in San Jose, CA
If you have not thought to use a straw when you drink your favorite liquids, do so immediately and see the differences for yourself. However, if you have started to lose your teeth and you need immediate help, come see us to change your life with dental implants today. Call us at 408-740-5317