I’m guilty of spending my time and money on teeth whitening products, and you’d be lying if you never at least searched the internet for the secret to getting pearly whites. The only solutions that seem to pop up are way out of my budget (seriously, google teeth whitening cost and tell me if you have that kind of spare cash laying around). So it’s no wonder when I stumbled upon this juicy piece of knowledge that I had to share it with the world. The secret to white teeth is much easier than you think.

teeth white

GIF courtesy of emilarr.tumblr.com

Straws.

That’s right, straws. It’s that easy. A little secret the daughter of a dentist’s blog informed me of.

teeth white

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

A lot of the things we drink in our day to day lives can leave stains on your teeth. Stains from things like coffee, soda’s (dark sodas especially), teas and even red wine can be hard to remove. There’s no better solution to a problem than eliminating the problem to begin with. Prevent stains and your teeth will thank you.

teeth white

GIF courtesy of collegecandy.com

In no way am I telling you that you should forego your normal dental hygiene routine, that’s all still very, very important. Brushing and flossing are still required. Straws are just out there for the extra bonus. A whitening mouthwash could be worth it as well.

teeth white

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

The best part about straws is they’re affordable, ranging from only two to six dollars. Now that is a hit my bank account can afford. You can buy paper or plastic, but try to get the biodegradable type and help our environment. If you’re feeling really hip, try these metal straws.

teeth white

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

This is the only time in documented history I will disagree with Ryan Gosling: put the straw back in your mouth and let your shiny teeth sparkle.