It’s funny how straws went from “mom nagging” to “must-have” in our house too. I’m curious, have you or your teen noticed any difference with reusable vs. disposable straws? I keep wondering if the material matters for stains or sensitivity...
Honestly, I kind of worry about the reusable straws, especially the metal ones. My teen says they’re “cooler,” but I swear they feel weird on my teeth and I get paranoid about cleaning them right. We had a smoothie stain sit in one for days once... not fun. Disposable ones might be wasteful, but at least you don’t have to stress about hidden gunk or that weird aftertaste sometimes. Maybe it’s just me being anxious, though.
Metal straws freak me out too—one clink and my teeth are on edge. I use those tiny straw brushes, but who really trusts them? If you’re worried about stains or gunk, try soaking them in baking soda water. Still, nothing beats a classic plastic straw for peace of mind... just wish they weren’t so bad for the planet.
I get the metal straw thing—my braces made me extra paranoid about chipping a tooth. I switched to silicone straws for a while, but they’re kind of a pain to clean too. Has anyone tried those disposable paper ones with aligners? Do they actually hold up or just turn mushy?
Paper straws with aligners just stress me out, honestly. I tried them at a coffee shop once and they started to get soggy before I was even halfway done. It wasn’t the worst, but I kept worrying the paper would stick to my aligners or just fall apart and leave bits behind. Maybe there are sturdier brands out there, but I haven’t found one that holds up for long drinks.
Have you looked into those compostable plastic ones? I know they’re not perfect for the planet, but they don’t get mushy and they’re a lot less scary than metal around braces or aligners. I’m still kind of paranoid about using anything too hard, so these seem like a safer middle ground. Anyone else get nervous about random stuff getting stuck in their trays? Or is that just me overthinking again...
