Traditionally, miswak is performed without toothpaste or other oral health products, though you may use these if you wish. To perform miswak in the traditional style, simply dip the bristly end of the twig in water (like you would before adding toothpaste to a toothbrush).
Miswak sticks effectively prevent plaque build-up because they contain natural ingredients that kill the bacteria that causes tartar. They are able to naturally whiten teeth through the use of mild abrasives that do not jeopardize the tooth's enamel.
Islamic scholars have advised that Muslims can use miswak (twig) stick to brush their teeth while fasting but they must ensure that they do not swallow the saliva thus generated. Many scholars actually say a strict 'no' to toothpaste during fasting. Using miswak or siwak stick is Sunnat.
Each miswak is approximately six fresh brushes, so if you cut yours once a day, one stick should last you approximately one week. To keep your miswak fresh, store it in a dry environment where it can breathe, away from sunlight. Avoid keeping it in the bathroom as it is highly absorbent.
The Miswak plant use by the patient to clean her teeth. It works as a small tufted toothbrush to mechanically remove plaque from tooth surfaces. Patient demonstrated how she uses the Miswak plant.
In a previous study found that the periodontal health of miswak users was better than the periodontal health of manual toothbrush users, also it was concluded that miswak is more effective than tooth brushing for reducing plaque and gingivitis when preceded by professional instruction regarding its correct application.
Salvadora persica Seed and Seed OilSalvadora persica Linn., is known as miswak (tooth brush), belongs to the family Salvadoracea is a large, well-branched evergreen shrub or small tree having soft whitish yellow wood. The oil content of S. persica seeds is between 20% and 45%.
: a genus (the type of the family Salvadoraceae) of trees and shrubs of Africa and southern Asia having opposite leaves and small panicled flowers with a bell-shaped corolla — see toothbrush tree.
Noun. persica. (Late Latin, Vulgar Latin) peach (fruit and tree)
The miswak (miswaak, siwak, sewak, Arabic: سواك‎ or مسواك) is a teeth cleaning twig made from the Salvadora persica tree (known as arÄk, أراك, in Arabic). It is reputed to have been used over 7,000 years ago. The miswak is predominant in Muslim-inhabited areas.
Salvadora persica or the toothbrush tree is a small evergreen tree native to the Middle East, Africa, and India.
Salvadora persica is native to the Arabian Peninsula, Africa, western Asia, the Middle East, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Although it is drought tolerant, toothbrush tree is often found where there is some ground water. It is also salt tolerant, growing along coasts or on saline soils.
Some of the benefits of using miswak are:
- Fights plaque.
- Fights gum disease.
- Prevent any existing teeth decay from getting worse.
- Contains minerals such as chloride, sodium bicarbonate and potassium.
- Strengthen the enamel in your teeth.
- Leaves you with a healthy mouth.
Dandruff is cured by using water with neem leaves as rinse. The tender twig of the tree is used as toothbrush to clean the teeth.
How to grow Salvadora persica tree?
- Sunlight- 4-6 hours of natural direct bright sunlight is required.
- Soil- Soil or potting mixture should be well-drained, fertile and nutrient-rich.
- Water-Water the plant when 1-2 inch surface soil layer feels dry to touch.
The tongue is considered to be the cause of bad breath/halitosis if there is a buildup of a white coating on the dorsum of the tongue. Likewise to cleaning teeth with it, the miswak is very effective against cleaning the surface of the tongue in two ways.
Miswak chewing sticks have been found to be associated with high level of gingival recession and tooth wear. Eid MA et al. reported high level of gingival recession in Miswak chewing stick users.
Chewing sticks (Miswak) is most commonly used int he Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Salvadora persica (Arak) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) are commonly used as oral hygiene tools in different parts of the world, Several studies have demonstrated the anti-plaque anticarious and antibacterial effect of these sticks.
They have a slight odor and taste - kind of mustardy but very slight. No problem getting them to bristle.
Babylonian chew sticks from 3500 BC are probably the oldest oral hygiene artifacts on record. The first bristle toothbrush was invented by the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty (619-907) and was most likely made from the coarse hairs of the cold-climate hog.
Saliva helps fight tooth decay by preventing the buildup of acid and giving your teeth time to repair themselves. Additionally, using Miswak helps strengthen teeth enamel thanks to the sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and calcium oxide present in Miswak, thereby promoting tooth whitening too.
