Is descaling safe? Dentists warn against trying the TikTok trend at home.

Tooth scaling, also known as dental scaling, takes things to the next level when it comes to fighting plaque. It’s an in-office dental procedure that uses sharp instruments (which are best used by professionals) and careful attention to detail to remove plaque, as seen here (warning, it’s not for the faint of heart):

Videos of this procedure are going viral on TikTok, encouraging people to try it at home, as seen here:

But is it safe? We spoke to the experts to find out.

“Plaque is a sticky film that covers the teeth and is made up of different types of bacteria and biological elements (such as calcium) found in saliva,” he said. Brian Kantor, a New York dentist. Commonly found on the gums, plaque can form for a variety of reasons, whether it’s eating foods high in starch or sugar, not brushing daily, or flossing properly. Most people can feel plaque when they run their tongue over their teeth or when they scratch the surface of their teeth with their fingernail and a yellow or white film comes off.helps Rhonda Kalasho, dentist and CEO of TruGlo Modern Dentistry.

Aside from the cosmetic effects that plaque buildup imposes (such as dry mouth and bad breath), Uncontrolled plaque build-up can lead to inflamed gums, leading to bleeding gums and a variety of periodontal conditions (such as gum recession, bone loss and eventual tooth loss), said Marina Gonchar, dentist and owner. Skin for a smile. Not to mention, plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay or infection.

“Grind your teeth is a cleaning procedure designed to remove excessive plaque build-up from the teeth,” Kantor explained. “While a standard cleaning will target the surface of the tooth, scaling goes much deeper and usually involves going under the gums.”

The process itself is done with a scaler, a hand-held metal tooth cleaning tool that removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. The instrument has two sides, with the sharp end used to dissect the tooth above the gum line and the curved end used to reach below the gum line, said Kantor, who added that the dentist can use an ultrasound instrument with a vibrating metal tip plus . a splash of water to wash away the tartar.

Scaling has several benefits for oral health. First, plaque removal can help remove some of that yellow discoloration from your teeth, contributing to a brighter, brighter smile. It can also reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay, and may even help correct bad breath (or halitosis).

“Scaling should not be done at home and should be left at the dentist’s office,” Kantor clarified.

It’s not even something recommended for everyone in the first place. ““Determining whether a patient needs scaling is usually done through a clinical exam and radiographic analysis, which confirms that the patient has plaque significantly below the gum line and causing gingival inflammation with possible bone loss,” Gonchar said.

Also, the instruments used to remove plaque are sharp and shaped specifically for each tooth, which helps maximize plaque removal while minimizing damage to the tooth, Gonchar added. “Using such sharp instruments without knowing how to hold them correctly and how much pressure to apply to the surface of the tooth can cause damage to the teeth and gums.”

Scaling your teeth at home can also lead to infections such as Descalers “need to be thoroughly sterilized before each use so as not to transfer bacteria from one surface to another,” Kalasho said. It is also possible to overload a tooth, which can lead to enamel damage and small cracks that can decrease the integrity of the tooth and increase sensitivity.

Take away? While plaque removal is important for oral hygiene, scaling should be done by a professional to reduce the risk of unwanted cuts, bleeding and damage.