Health Benefits or Uses of Miswak (Salvadora Persica)
Cavities, tooth sensitivity and pain in the gums are some of the oral problems you may suffer from. Oral hygiene, or the lack of it, is the reason for various tooth and gum problems. With many other serious diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, heart diseases etc an aching tooth is one of the last things to be considered seriously. But if you have suffered tooth pain, or ache of a bleeding gum, then you will know how it can make you suffer. So, it is important that you take proper care of your teeth and the gums. When we talk about oral hygiene, Miswak occupies and important part in it.
Some History About Miswak:
Miswak is a twig and it has been used for cleaning the teeth for over 7000 years from now. It plays the role of a toothbrush as well as toothpaste. You might have seen people in rural areas walking with a stick in their mouths in the early mornings. This sick is Miswak. It is said that it has been in use since the time of ancient Babylonians and Egyptians.
The scientific name of Miswak is Salvadora persica. Commonly it is known as ‘arak’ in Arabic.
Miswak Ingredients You Must Know:
Miswak has 19 active ingredients in it and these ingredients help in promoting stronger4 teeth. They also maintain the oral health.
- Alkaloids – Salvadorine, Trimethylamine. They have antibacterial properties.
- Silica – Nautical abrasive and helps in removing stains.
- Calcium, chlorides, fluorides – They are important for dental care. Fluoride helps in remineralizing the tooth structure.
- Sulphur
- Vitamin C
- Resins – They form a protective layer over the enamel and help in preventing the formation of caries.
- Tannins – They are natural astringents and help in the stimulation of premolar saliva production.
- Saponins, flavonoids and sterols present in small amounts.
- Essential oils – They impart a mild taste and flavour to this twig. They also help in the stimulation of saliva. Essential oils also relive flatulence.
Why is it called all natural toothbrush?
Most of us brush our teeth with a streak of shiny white toothpaste twice daily. Why we do is that toothpaste can ensure oral health. But the first toothpaste was invented in about the mid nineteenth century using chew sticks, or Miswak. This shows how beneficial Miswak is for oral health.
It has naturally occurring active ingredients in it and is totally free from any chemicals. So, it is very safe to use. Adults as well as children can use it without any worry of suffering from any side effects. But the commercially available tooth pastes and toothbrushes are to be used with great caution, especially with the younger children, because of the conditions like fluorosis etc. You can use Miswak as a natural toothbrush as well.
Benefits of Miswak:
Anti-carcinogenic and analgesic:
Miswak also has therapeutic properties. The antioxidant enzymes in Miswak have anti-carcinogenic properties and can help in preventing cancer. Miswak is also good for providing you relief from pain as it contains active ingredients in it with analgesic properties. This makes it good for dealing with inflammation and pain, especially in the gums.
Fights tooth decay and cavities
Consuming various types of foods, especially sweets and processed foods, can lead to tooth decay. You suffer from tooth decay when the enamel of your tooth is destroyed. In spite of brushing your teeth twice daily, you may have tooth decay. This is because there are hundreds of different varieties of bacteria in our mouths. Some are good and some may be bad. These bacteria use starch and sugar present in the food, and produce acid. This acid is responsible for destroying the enamel and leading to tooth cavity.
Most of the commercial toothpastes use fluoride to fight tooth decay. But there is another effective solution to prevent tooth cavity. This is saliva. Saliva can prevent the build up of acid and fight against tooth decay by giving your teeth time enough to repair themselves. Miswak has the ability to increase the formation of saliva inside our mouth. So, it is a natural way to fight tooth decay without the need to use commercial enhancers or additives.
Fights harmful bacteria and germs:
It is estimated that there are about 700 different strains of bacteria in human mouth. All of them are not harmful. Some help in the breakdown of food and even in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Some can destroy the teeth and gums by causing dental cavities, tartar, gum disease and periodontosis.
The active antibacterial compounds in Miswak can fight against the bacterial growth in the mouth and keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Protects against tartar and plaque:
Plaque is a colourless film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and the gums as the bacteria grow and increase number. It is a common process. By brushing your teeth regularly you can remove them, but when it builds up in your tooth, it can lead to the formation of tartar. This is a yellow colouration that you can often see sticking to the teeth and gums. If not removed on time, it can cause tooth loss and diseases of the gum.
The best solution is to prevent the build-up if tartar and plaque. This you can do by brushing your teeth regularly in the right manner. Using Miswak as a toothbrush twig is great as it has antibacterial properties that prevent bacteria from collecting on the teeth and gums.
Removes malodour:
Bad breath is often a sign of dental problems. Lack of production of saliva can also cause bad breath. Miswak is very beneficial for preventing bad breath as it has antibacterial properties and also helps in the increased production of saliva in the mouth. It also gives a mild fragrance to your mouth.
Refreshing aftertaste:
Miswak also has a refreshing aftertaste and fragrance. This is because of the volatile aromatic compounds present in Miswak. So, using this as a toothbrush provides you a feeling of cleanliness and pleasant breath.
Miswak is also very affordable compared to the commercial toothpastes and toothbrushes. It is a combination of toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash.
