I hate the dentist! In my prehistoric, post-grad age, I still enter every single dentist’s office on the brink of an anxiety attack — seriously. And now, my fear is inescapable — thanks to viral teeth scaling videos on TikTok. Thanks a lot, everyone! My inner child is screaming.
If you’re scared of the dentist and all of their (scary) tools, don’t look this up on TikTok. I was instantly transported to the cold vinyl chair of my childhood dentist — my legs were so sweaty that they replicated that same sticky feeling whenever I sat in my dentist’s chair. What’s the point of watching if I don’t get to pick a toy from the treasure chest afterward?
However, I might be an outlier when it comes to teeth scaling. The trend is becoming so popular on social media that it’s becoming hailed as the “new blackhead removal.” Maybe I’m wrong, so let’s see what the fuss is about.
What Is Teeth Scaling?
If you’re unaware, teeth scaling is a popular dental procedure that works to get rid of excess plaque and tartar buildup. You know, it’s that thing that dentists do with the little metal pik — essentially, it’s the scraping away of all the gunk on your teeth. And if you crave that post-dentist satisfaction of having clean teeth, crave no more: you can actually watch teeth scaling, and teeth cleaning, on TikTok. And with the phrase “teeth scaling” amassing over 90 million views, it’s safe to say you aren’t alone.
These videos range from standard teeth cleanings to intense plaque/tartar buildup and removal. And yes, they’re done on real teeth.
However, if you’re scared like me, there are even little animated videos that show you exactly how the procedure is done. Baby steps.
Can I Do Teeth Scaling At Home?
Because of the trend’s popularity, many TikTok users have been wanting to scrape the itch (see what I did there?) and try out teeth scaling for themselves. However, the people who do this procedure are trained dentists and hygienists, so it might be best to leave it to the professionals on this one.
However, if you’re looking for that deep-clean feeling, consider investing in a Waterpik ($28) to get rid of all that excess gunk. If you’re scared of the dentist, this is a great way to keep your teeth clean in-between visits. Anything to keep those scary metal tools away from my mouth, TBH.
Maybe this opened your eyes to a kind of mental stimulation you never knew existed. Maybe you’ll have nightmares about this (like me). Or maybe, this will inspire us all to brush our teeth a little bit better tonight. I know I will.