Does scaling weaken teeth? Common worries about a cleaning

Scaling and polishing is the treatment patients put off most, often because of something a relative said. Here are the worries we hear at Smitrekha, and what actually happens.

“Scaling loosens your teeth.” It does not. Hardened tartar sometimes forms a bridge between teeth and sits where the gum has already shrunk back. When the tartar is removed, the teeth can feel slightly looser or the gaps look bigger, because what was holding them was the tartar, not healthy gum. Once the gums are clean, they usually tighten a little over the following weeks.

“It wears away enamel.” The ultrasonic scaler vibrates and uses a stream of water to break up tartar. It does not cut the tooth. Polishing uses a fine paste and a soft rubber cup. Neither removes healthy enamel when done properly. “My teeth were sensitive afterwards, so it damaged them.” Some sensitivity for a few days is common, because the root surface under the tartar is now exposed to cold air and water. A sensitivity toothpaste, used for two weeks, usually helps. If it lasts longer, tell us.

“If my teeth look clean, I do not need it.” Tartar often forms below the gum line and on the inner side of the lower front teeth, where you cannot see it. Most adults need a cleaning every six months; some need it every three or four. The session at Smitrekha takes about 40 minutes and costs ₹1,200.