Dental scalers are metal instruments shaped in such a way to make it easy to pick at your teeth from above the gum line. Whether the scaler is being used by yourself or by a dentist, it's the best tool for mitigating tartar buildup. If you decide to purchase a dental scaler to use between scheduled dentist appointments, follow these three tips to ensure that you use it as effectively as possible.

Root canal therapy is a procedure that gets rid of a deep infection in your tooth. It is the alternative to extracting your tooth entirely, as the dentist opens up the tooth to remove the pulp and other infected tissue. If you feel that you might be at risk for a root canal, but your dentist has not yet suggested it, the following tips can help you prevent this dental procedure.