Many people believe that scaling their teeth at home can help maintain oral hygiene between professional dental cleanings. However, as explained by Whitney, a dental hygienist, this approach can lead to more harm than good.

Attempting to scale your teeth without professional knowledge can result in

serious damage

to your gums and teeth. People with gum recession, for instance, are at risk of accidentally gouging holes in the cementum—the tooth layer below the enamel—leading to

increased sensitivity and potential decay

. This damage occurs because the tools can expose the dentin, or worse, reach the nerve chamber if decay is present.

In professional settings, dental tools undergo rigorous sterilization processes to ensure they are free from microbes. At home, the lack of an autoclave system means you cannot adequately sterilize your tools, increasing the risk of infection. Moreover, scalers available for purchase may not be

and could press tartar further into the teeth rather than removing it.

"Scaling your teeth at home might actually cause more problems than it solves."

Dental professionals, including hygienists, undergo extensive training over several years to learn the proper techniques for scaling teeth. This training includes understanding head and neck anatomy, tooth morphology, and identifying and treating various dental conditions. Such expertise cannot be compressed into a brief tutorial or a single YouTube video.

Even if one has dental training, self-scaling remains challenging due to visibility issues. Without a clear view like a clinician has when treating a patient, you may miss spots and fail to remove all plaque, leading to increased gum inflammation.

Rather than self-scaling, it is recommended to employ effective home care routines, such as regular

brushing and flossing

. Using water flossers and interdental brushes can also be beneficial. Whitney provides tutorial videos on these techniques to enhance home care. Additionally, maintaining a schedule of professional cleanings every six months is crucial.

For those who face financial barriers to accessing dental care, there are options for affordable services, such as dental schools and health clinics offering reduced or free cleanings. Resources and advice on accessing these options are available in Whitney's additional informational videos.