Teeth scaling and root planing help to treat chronic periodontal disease (otherwise known as gum disease). They are more in-depth than a typical teeth cleaning. Teeth scaling and root planing ...

"If your teeth and gums are in excellent condition, you may want to consider an [at-home] whitener," says Kellee Kattleman Stanton, DDS, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Hard wooden toothpicks are not ideal for cleaning teeth because they can cause gum damage that could lead to infection. Rough and frequent toothpick use can damage existing dental work like ...