Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Money doesn’t grow on trees but toothbrushes do! Caring for the pearly whites has been an integral part of many civilisations even before the invention of the modern toothbrush.
Man has known nature’s toothbrush – or miswak – even before recorded history.
Miswak in Arabic means ‘tooth cleaning stick’. It is deeply rooted in many cultures and is known by different names in different societies. More than 50 varieties of trees are used as miswak in different parts of the world. But the most commonly used source of miswak in the Middle East and some parts of Asia is the root of the Arak tree (Salvadora Persica).
Miswak has been an effective natural toothbrush for more than 1,000 years. The evolution of the modern toothbrush has its origin in chewing sticks and it was only in the 15th century that the first modern toothbrush was created in China.
It was mass-produced in 1780 in England but it wasn’t until the Second World War that the concept of brushing teeth as a daily ritual caught on in the United States. Despite the widespread use of toothbrushes and toothpaste, miswak’s popularity as nature’s toothbrush has not waned. Today many communities still use chewing sticks instead of toothbrushes because it is a cost effective and an easily available tool for oral hygiene.
In the Middle East, miswak enjoys special importance due to religious reasons and traditional values. It has a special significance in Islamic history and culture.
Miswak is cherished not only as a custom that is deeply ingrained in culture but also as a ritual that has far reaching health benefits. Miswak’s natural toothpaste comprises a variety of substances that contribute to oral well being.
According to research, miswak contains between 10 to 20 different natural chemical compounds beneficial for dental hygiene. Its natural antiseptics have a bactericidal action killing harmful micro-organisms in the mouth.
It is an effective natural disinfectant to stop bleeding gums. It contains tannic acid that has astringent qualities and hence protects against gum disease.
The advantage of using miswak is that it cleans teeth gently and effectively and whitens the teeth without harming the enamel and gum.
Miswak is known to prevent further increase of tooth decay, caries in children and eliminate toothache. Due to its built in antiseptics, miswak needs no cleaning. Since its bristles are parallel to the handle rather than perpendicular, it can reach more easily between the teeth where a conventional toothbrush often misses.
Miswak bristles are flexible and strong and do not break under any pressure.
Apart from the medicinal benefits, miswak has an added religious perspective. The importance of miswak is highlighted by the fact that before the congregation of the Friday prayers it is Sunnah to bathe, do miswak and apply perfume.
For some, miswak is used as an aid to quit smoking. Mohammad Al Faisal, a young Saudi college graduate living in Bahrain has benefited tremendously from it.
He was a chain smoker for the last three years and started chewing miswak after quitting smoking. “Having a miswak stick constantly in my mouth or hand helped me to satisfy the urge of having a cigarette with me all the time. Using miswak also helped me get rid of bad odour in my mouth.”
In Bahrain, street vendors also sell miswak outside some mosques. Miswak is packaged and generally costs around 500 fils going up to a dinar.
Regular usage of miswak is nature’s guarantee to keep the dentist away.
