If you’re a parent, you know that when it comes to keeping your toddler hydrated, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some kids love sipping water from a cup or bottle, while others prefer drinking through a straw. If your little one is in the latter category, you may wonder what the benefits of drinking through a straw are for toddlers. Here’s what you need to know.
Why Should Toddlers Drink Through A Straw?
It may seem silly, but having your toddler drink through a straw has several benefits. Here are a few reasons this simple act can benefit your little one.
Easier to Drink from a Cup
Believe it or not, it can be easier for toddlers to drink from a cup if they use a straw. It is because they don’t have to tilt their head back as far as to take a sip. It can help prevent spillage and make drinking from a cup less messy.
Parents can now buy plastic, metal, and silicone straw cups to offer their children a better way to drink that improves overall health.
Improve Hygiene
If you are going to a restaurant and your child wants a drink, the best you can offer is a straw to avoid harmful bacteria. The lids of the aluminum cans carry germs and bacteria that can be pumped into your mouth if you directly use them. Therefore, a straw is only a sanitary way to drink beverages in public places and at home. People can use paper straws than reusable straws that are biodegradable and reduce plastic waste.
Promotes Good Oral Health
Another benefit of having your toddler drink through a straw is promoting good oral health. Drinking through straws helps reduce the amount of direct contact between sugary beverages with the teeth and gums. This, in turn, can help prevent cavities, sensitive teeth, and other dental problems.
Improves Motor Skills
Another benefit of having your toddler drink through a straw is that it can help improve their motor skills. This simple act requires both hands and helps improve coordination and fine motor skills.
Strengthen Oral Muscles
It can help to develop the muscles in the jaw and face, which is essential for proper eating and language development.
Read Also: 7 Best Stainless Steel Cups For Toddlers
Quick list of benefits of drinking through a straw
Other tremendous and quick benefits your toddler gets:
- Drinking with a straw past toddlers avoid cavities.
- It reduces contact between the acidic drinks with teeth, preventing tooth sensitivity and deterioration of tooth enamel.
- It is better for oral health in general, as sugary drinks are one of the leading causes of tooth decay.
- Straw minimizes ear infections in toddlers.
- It can help toddlers stay hydrated.
- It is easier for toddlers to drink from a straw than from a cup.
Which type of straw is better for teeth?
With increased plastic waste, the best type is paper or reusable straws to drink liquids. The following are significant types of straws.
Stainless steel straws
These straws are more durable, long-lasting, and inexpensive. But these are not temperature resistant and can become hot and cold depending on your drink’s temperature. These are not bendable and inappropriate for kids under 10 due to the risk of potential teeth, tongue, and lips injuries.
Silicone straws
These straws are temperature resistant, durable, and flexible. They come in different colors and are easy to clean in a dishwasher. However, you also need a straw brushstraw brush if your child likes to drink smoothies often. Moreover, these are safe and appropriate for toddlers because, like stainless steel, it doesn’t cause a tooth to chip.
Plastic straws
These straws are cheap, flexible, and can become harbor bacteria if used again like other straws.
Paper straws
These are not reusable and durable but are good for the environment. They are soft and bendable and appreciated for toddlers and kids under 10. You can use them are throw. It helps avoid bacteria growth and does not cause mouth injury.
Glass straws
These are the most delicate straws not preferred to offer to your kids. However, they are sold so you can enjoy your drink’s colors. But they are more likely to break easily and tougher on cleaning.
Detailed Benefits of drinking water through a straw
Here are nine benefits of drinking water through a straw that every parent should know:
Avoid spills
Most parents have been there before – you hand your toddler a cup of water, and they proceed to spill it all over themselves, the floor, and anything else within reach. It can be frustrating, but there is a way to help avoid these accidents by having them drink through a straw.
A straw cup can help them avoid those pesky spills. The straw will act as a barrier, so the liquid won’t come out even if they tilt the cup too far. You can consider the following straw cups for your child. These straw cups can drink water, milk, juices, and smoothies.
Better for their teeth
Is drinking out of a straw better for your teeth? It can also be better for your toddler’s teeth. Drinking directly from a cup makes them more likely to get sugar on their teeth. But, when they drink through a straw, the liquid bypasses their teeth by directing the liquid straight to the back of the mouth.
Avoid constipation
Drinking plenty of fluids prevents constipation, and water is the best choice. However, some kids don’t like the taste of plain water or may not be able to drink it because of health conditions such as kidney disease. If your child doesn’t like the taste of plain water, try adding a little flavor with fruit juice or a sports drink. You can also try using a straw to help your child drink more fluids.
Help control weight
If your child is overweight or obese, drinking fluids through a straw can help control their weight. When your child drinks liquids, they tend to consume more calories than when they eat solid foods. Drinking fluids through a straw can help your child control calorie intake and lose weight.
Improve focus and concentration
When your child is dehydrated, it can lead to problems with focus and concentration. Drinking with a straw can help improve your child’s focus and concentration.
Prevent dehydration
Dehydration can occur when your child doesn’t drink enough fluids or if they lose too much fluid through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. It can help prevent dehydration.
When kids drink from a cup or bottle, they often don’t drink as much as they should because they get tired of holding or sipping it. Drinking with a straw can help toddlers drink more water because they can take smaller sips more easily.
Promote healthy skin
It helps promote healthy skin. When your child drinks liquids through a reusable straw, they are less likely to develop wrinkles.
Reduce the risk of kidney stones
Drinking fluids through a straw can help reduce the risk of kidney stones, which are becoming a common problem nowadays.
Protect toddlers hearing
Finally, drinking with a straw can also help protect your toddler’s hearing. Kids drink from a cup or bottle and sometimes tilt their heads back, leading to ear infections. Drinking from a straw can help prevent this by keeping your toddler’s head in a more upright position.
So, if your toddler is a fan of drinking through a straw, there’s no need to worry. There are plenty of benefits that come along with it!
Is drinking out of a straw better for your teeth?
Drinking with a straw can help to reduce the risk of tooth decay, as it minimizes contact between sugary and acidic beverages and your teeth. It may also help prevents staining, discoloration, and tooth sensitivity due to enamel deterioration of your pearly whites. Many drinks like soda, caffeine, and tea can discolor your teeth.
Can drink from a straw cause ear problems?
Drinking from a straw can cause ear problems, as the suction from the straw can pull on the delicate tissues in the ear. Additionally, if the straw is not inserted correctly, it can cause the ear to become blocked, which can lead to discomfort or pain. If you experience any discomfort while drinking from a straw, it is best to consult with a doctor or medical professional.
Drawbacks of drinking through a straw
Although drinking through a straw has many benefits for you and your child. However, there are some potential side effects that you should be aware of.
Avoid choking hazards
Most parents are cautious about what their toddlers eat and drink. They ensure that the food is cut into small pieces and that there are no small objects that could pose a choking hazard. However, many parents don’t think about the dangers of drinking from a straw.
While drinking straws may seem harmless, they can be difficult for toddlers. When toddlers drink from a straw, they hold the straw in their mouth and suck on it. It can cause the small muscles in their mouth to tire, leading to them choking.
Stains your back teeth
Using a straw can prevent the contact of liquid with your front teeth, but it touches your back teeth and cause them to stain due to the usage of different drinking beverages.
Cause bloating or gas
Straws can cause excess air to jump into your digestive tract, causing bloating or gastric problems, especially when using frizzy drinks.
Cause similarity to smoker’s lips
If you more frequently use the straw for drinking, then the chances of developing wrinkles on your lips increases. Because the repeated movement of your lips to insert a straw is similar to placing a cigarette in your mouth.
Not suitable for the environment
Plastic straws are not deceased easily and can become the cause of pollution in the environment. It causes the life of marine animals to be in danger when piling up in oceans and rivers.
Conclusion: Benefits of drinking through a straw
As you can see, having your toddler drink through a straw has several benefits. Next time you give your little one a cup, include a straw!
Not only for toddlers, but If you have trouble drinking the recommended eight glasses of water daily, straws can help. Using a straw can make it easier to drink more water since you’re sipping throughout the day instead of chugging all at once.
