Do I really need to get scaling? Isn't brushing enough?

Yes, brushing alone is not enough and regular scaling is necessary. Plaque left after brushing combines with minerals in saliva and hardens into tartar, and once hardened, tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush. Left in place, tartar leads to gum inflammation, bad breath, and eventually periodontitis, in which the supporting bone dissolves. From age 19 the National Health Insurance covers one scaling per year, so we recommend having it done annually. However, if your gums bleed or swell, you need an examination regardless of the interval.