Top 5 Ways to Keep Your Teeth White

Are your pearly whites not quite as white as you would like?

If your teeth are looking yellowed and stained, here are five tips on how you can get your teeth a bit brighter and once again be proud of your smile:

Avoid coffee, red wine or dark-colored sodas. Even juices, like cranberry juice, can discolor your teeth over time. If you can’t survive without your morning cup of coffee, then brush your teeth when you are finished drinking it. You also can use a straw when you’re drinking your favorite soft drinks so the acidic beverages bypass your teeth. Drink a lot of water instead, making sure to rinse out your mouth after each meal and snack.

Don’t smoke. Smoking not only stains your teeth over time, but it also causes you to have bad breath, along with increasing your risk of several types of cancers and it increases your chances of developing gum disease.

Don’t bite your nails or chew on pens. If you have a habit of biting your nails or chewing on your pens at school or work, you’re wearing down the enamel on your teeth.

Eat foods healthy for your teeth. There are several foods that can actually help clean your teeth as you eat them. They include apples, carrots, celery and strawberries.

Stick to a good oral hygiene daily routine. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. It’s also important to get your teeth professionally cleaned and see a dentist every six months.

While there are many over-the-counter teeth whitening options on the market, they can often cause tooth sensitivity because the bleaching products are highly acidic. Professional whitening is usually a safer option.

If you don’t have dental insurance and can’t afford professional whitening or even a dental exam, AmeriPlan  offers affordable discount dental plans that start as low as $19.95 for the entire family. These discount dental plans can save your family up to 80 percent on the cost of many common dental procedures, like teeth whitening and dental exams, and major dental work, including root canals and dentures. AmeriPlan  discount dental plans are accepted by the nearly 30,000 dental providers in the country who have signed up as part of the AmeriPlan network.

The discounts may be used immediately and can be used as often as you like throughout the year with no limits.

To learn more how AmeriPlan can save you money – and help give you whiter teeth – visit  http://www.familydentalhealthplans.com to find an AmeriPlan discount dental plan that works in your budget.