The Washington family attempted to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing their teeth and using mouthwash. An additional measure was a regular appointment with a surgeon-dentist to scrape off built-up tartar using tools known as scalers. The compact sets, such as this partial one seen here, typically included a common handle and as many as twelve individually shaped, interchangeable heads to enable a thorough cleaning.

See also case, W-546/A, and scaler set, W-546/B-C, E, G-H.