I'm a dentist, this is why you should never let kids drink out of Stanley cups

Plus, a doctor weighs in on the damage they're doing to our own bodies as well...

The Stanley Cup is sooo much more than a drink bottle. 

Just ask your teen... or your tween... or your toddler.

Yep, these $80 insulated drink bottles have achieved something of a cult status among the younger demographic, proving to be the 'must have' item in playgrounds across the world.

And just look on TikTok. There are thousands of clips of babies and toddlers drinking from Stanleys, preferring the oversized cups to their traditional bottles. 

One mum joked that her baby would "only drink from Stanley Cups," another said her toddler had a tantrum when she tried to take it away from him, and this mum even bought her toddler their own miniature version after they kept stealing hers. 

But amid the virality, a dentist has raised concerns about the potential risks associated with using the drink bottle, especially for young teeth. 

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Image: TikTok

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"It can change tooth position in developing jaws"

"If a mum or dad came and asked if it was okay or not, I would say to try and avoid with young children as it may adversely affect tooth position and the growth of the developing jaw," Dr. Sachin Soni, a dental expert from Lady Bay Dental Care, cautioned while speaking to The Daily Mail.

"Children using a straw too often can sometimes cause changes in tooth position whilst the jaw is still developing," he continued.

"We advise parents to limit the frequency of straw use, typically young children between one to three."

Image: TikTok

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"Your beloved water bottle is ruining your skin," doctor warns

And it's not just littlies that this straw-use could be affecting. 

A doctor on TikTok, Dr Chisom Ikeji, warned: "If you're in your 20s or 30s, you need to listen to this tip as it could literally save your face."

"Your beloved water bottle is ruining your skin," she said. 

"Sucking on a straw all day has the potential to cause premature wrinkles around your mouth.

"Just like any repetitive muscle motion in your face can cause wrinkles using a straw constantly to suck can also cause wrinkles," she explained.

She also said the rise of straw-topped water bottles is new, and ten years ago, most water bottles didn't have straws. 

"Millennials weren't religiously sucking on straws ten years ago," she said. "And it's changing our faces."

Originally published as I'm a dentist, this is why you should never let kids drink out of Stanley cups