It seems like an odd obsession, but straws make the world a bit more enjoyable and dentists a little happier. Straws, whether made from plastic with stripes on the side or a piece of licorice with the ends bitten off, remind me of childhood.

Remember Capri Suns with their much-too-pointy straws that always poked through the back of the pouch of sugary goodness? Remember losing baby teeth and discovering the ability to – gasp – drink liquids without opening your mouth? Back in the day, straws were the coolest thing.

You cannot deny the immense joy of drinking a juice box. It brings you back to the second grade and homemade lunches with little notes from mom in them. Even today, the ‘grown-up’ juice box comes in the form of Silk Soymilk, my favorite breakfast item, with an extendable straw. I know, too cool.

Bendy straws make any beverage a bit better. Crazy straws, with their twists and turns and reusability, complete any milkshake or smoothie. Without spoon straws, Slushees would not be the same.

And now, even dentists are hopping on the straw bandwagon. We’ve all heard the truth that Coca-Cola can rust a nail over a certain period of time. However, no one seems to join them, rather than taking a swig out of a soda can.

The average person in the United States drinks 576 soft drinks a year. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that people who drink soda use straws to minimize the damage done to their teeth. Listen to the dentists – they want you to keep your teeth.

Five out of five dentists recommend straws. That’s 100 percent! Straws are awesome.

kmimamur@syr.edu

Published on February 11, 2008 at 12:00 pm