Plaque, food debris, and soft tartar are deposited on the tooth surface and combined with minerals in saliva to gradually calcify and form tartar. The rough surface of tartar causes bad stimulation to the gums and facilitates the adhesion of new plaque, which is a contributing factor to periodontal diseases. Self oral health care methods can only remove plaque, not tartar. Therefore, regular dental cleaning by a dentist is required, preferably once a year. Scaling is performed by an oral surgeon using scaling instruments to remove tartar and plaque deposited in the supra- and subgingival areas around the gingival margin. There may be slight bleeding during the cleaning process and temporary tooth sensitivity may occur afterwards, but it does not usually damage the gums or teeth, and it does not cause thinning or loosening of the teeth. Regular dental cleanings can keep your teeth strong and periodontally healthy.