Yes, please, please, don't try this yourself. If you bought it at the store it isn't really even a real scaler like the dental professionals use. If you slip, or place it at the wrong angle, you can do more damage than good, and you can really rip up your gums. Plus, if you do have tarter, you are not going to be able to get the right angle to do it yourself, let someone else do it safely and properly and sterile.