A drinking straw is a thin tube that’s used to sip a beverage from a container into your mouth. When you place one end of the straw in a drink and sip on the other end, you lower the air pressure in your mouth, allowing atmospheric pressure to push the drink up the straw. Straws can be made from materials like plastic, paper, stainless steel and other reusable materials.

Drinking from a straw is generally healthy, particularly for your teeth. It depends on what you’re drinking. Drinking with a straw can help protect tooth enamel from acidic beverages like soda, lemonade or orange juice because the straw reduces contact with your teeth. It can also help prevent tooth stains from drinks like coffee and tea. Using a straw prevents your mouth from making direct contact with potentially unhygienic surfaces like restaurant glasses or aluminum can lids.

The difference between paper straws, plastic straws and reusable straws is in their materials, durability and environmental impact. Paper straws are made from paper, wood pulp, or recycled fibres with water-resistant coatings, making them biodegradable. The downside is that they can become soggy and break down after sitting in liquid for too long. Plastic straws are rigid and don’t get soggy in liquid. The downside is that they are non-biodegradable and must be thrown out in a garbage can after use. Reusable straws are made from durable, long-lasting materials like stainless steel, glass, silicone or bamboo. They eliminate single-use waste but take more energy and materials to produce.

To clean a reusable straw, start by immediately rinsing it in hot water after use so drinks like smoothies, coffee or juice don’t harden inside. Apply dish soap to a thin brush or pipe cleaner and insert it into the straw. Rinse the inside and outside of the straw thoroughly with hot water to remove all the soap. Let the straw air dry completely before you store it.