Fortunately, there is an alternative to industrial products - a natural and safe miswak stick, which copes with oral hygiene and without the use of toxic toothpastes.
What is miswak (sivak) for brushing teeth?
Miswak, or siwak, is a brush for cleaning teeth, which is a piece of a branch or tree root , split at the end like a brush. Traditionally, miswak is made from arak (mustard tree), but olive, orange, neem, and Pila (Salvadora Persian) wood are also used.
By the way! Sivak has been known in the East since pre-Muslim times, but does not lose its popularity even today. “Chewing sticks” are also in demand in the countries of Southeast Asia.
Stick composition
Miswak is a completely natural dental care product. These “magic wands” contain more than 25 natural ingredients that are beneficial for dental health :
- tannic acid;
- bicarbonate of soda;
- cellulose;
- essential oils;
- fragrant resins;
- alkaloids;
- mineral salts;
- fluorine;
- sulfur substances;
- silica;
- vitamin C;
- saponins;
- styrene;
- flavonoids;
- trimethylamine.
Important! Miswak is a 100% natural, natural teeth cleaner, it is simply a part of the plant.
Unlike conventional toothpaste, it does not contain any harmful substances such as sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, dyes, fragrances, etc.
Beneficial features
The rich natural composition of the stick determines its excellent properties for maintaining dental health and treating them.
- Thanks to silicon, miswak helps whiten teeth and remove stains on enamel.
- Sulfur and galvanic substances prevent bacteria from growing on the gums and between the teeth.
- Trimethylamine in a stick will relieve inflammation and soothe pain during teething.
- Fluoride in the stick protects the teeth of adults and children from caries.
- Tannic acids and tannin relieve bleeding and sensitivity of the gums, heal wounds, have an astringent effect, protect against inflammation, protect against stomatitis and gingivitis.
- Bicarbonate of soda serves to effectively clean teeth, preserving their natural whiteness and shine, and gives freshness.
- Essential oils act as an antiseptic and pain reliever, prevent the formation of tartar and the appearance of putrefactive processes.
- Flavonoids serve to neutralize free radicals and protect against the destruction of cells and intracellular structures.
According to research by American scientists, the substances contained in the wooden stick are similar in their action to the usual antibiotics and antiseptics - triclosan and chlorhexidine, but unlike them, they do not suppress the beneficial flora of the oral mucosa .
It has been clinically proven that the use of miswak can reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria by up to 75%, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and candida is suppressed, and the effect lasts up to 2 days .
For your information! When using miswak, it affects biologically active points in the mouth located at the border of the gums and teeth. Their stimulation has a positive effect on vision, vocal cords, eliminates lethargy of the body, and increases vitality.
What is good about toothpaste with miswak extract?
Throwing away your favorite toothbrush and switching to some strange stick (even with a rich history) is a brave act. And if you are not quite ready for it yet, there is an intermediate option - miswak paste.
In appearance, this is an ordinary toothpaste, just with an extract of the same arrack tree. It retains many of the beneficial properties of miswak: it strengthens gums, noticeably whitens enamel, and protects teeth from caries. What are the advantages of this paste?
- Natural composition. It contains all those essential oils, tannins and flavonoids for which wood siwak is famous.
- Pleasant taste. There is no trace of the “horseradish” taste of the meswak stick here. The product contains anise extract. As reviews say, miswak toothpaste has a special sweetish tint that children like.
- Affordable price. In online stores, such an eco-product costs about 250 rubles.
Miswak Dabur toothpaste is usually found on sale; this is the main product.
Flaws
Along with the extensive list of advantages of miswak, it also has several disadvantages :
- It is difficult to clean the outer teeth and the inner surface of the teeth with a small brush .
- Also, due to the small area of the bristles, brushing your teeth will take longer than usual. Cleaning will take 5-10 minutes , as opposed to the usual 2-3 minutes when using a traditional nylon brush and paste.
- After using miswak, you will not have the usual “minty breath” as when using paste.
How to use it correctly?
For cleaning, sticks 12-17 cm long and 0.8 - 1.5 cm thick , made from branches or roots of the arak tree or Salvadora Persian, are used. Dental sticks are made less frequently from other trees.
Freshly cut sticks are sold packaged in vacuum packaging, in which they remain fresh for a long time.
A good quality miswak should be flexible, not dry, and have a pungent, spicy woody odor reminiscent of horseradish or anise. The thinner the siwak, the softer its bristles will be .
Before use, remove the sticks from the packaging, wash them with warm water and clear one end of the bark. This can be done with a knife, teeth or just nails. The cleaned end must be split to form bristles . To do this, you need to chew the stick, or also use a knife. The resulting brush can be used to clean your teeth and tongue.
The inner surface of the teeth should be properly cleaned with the side of the brush, as if sweeping away plaque from the teeth. The movement is reminiscent of removing excess paint from a brush on the edge of a can.
Attention! Do not press hard on the stick so as not to damage the enamel and gums.
Miswak should be used in the morning, evening and every time after meals . After use, the stick should be rinsed with water. If the miswak's bristles become sparse, you need to trim the tip and make a new brush. Usually the stick lasts for 1 month of use .
FAQ
1. Is it possible to give a stick to children and at what age ? A child can be given a stick if he has at least one tooth erupted. This will help him get used to the need for dental care; in addition, chewing a stick can relieve teething pain.
2. When is the best time to trim used fibers ? It is recommended to trim the used brush after 2-3 cleanings.
3. How long does it take to chew miswak ? The stick should be chewed until the fibers separate from each other and a soft brush is obtained. Usually requires 5-10 pressings with chewing teeth.
4. Is it possible to use sivak during pregnancy and breastfeeding ? Pregnancy and lactation are not a contraindication for the use of miswak. The stick contains no substances that can cause allergies in the child or affect the contractility of the uterus. There is an opinion that during lactation, mothers need to exclude from the diet foods that have a pungent and strong odor. Miswak, of course, has a specific smell, but it is not eaten and is unlikely to affect the taste of milk.
5. Will the product damage tooth enamel ? Miswak does not contain abrasives and is not capable of damaging enamel.
6. Should you just brush your teeth with the toothbrush or add toothpaste ? When using miswak, there is no need for toothpaste, since all the elements beneficial for dental health are already contained in the stick itself.
Irrigator Oral-B (Braun~Oral-B) –
Oral-b is the world leader in electric toothbrushes and irrigators, and it was the company that developed the microbubble technology we discussed above. The Oral-b company produces only 1 model - the Oral-b Professional Care OxyJet MD20 irrigator. This irrigator has 2 operating modes: “monoflow” and “turboflow” (in both modes, the water jet has 1200 pulsations per minute, and the water pressure is adjustable from 150 to 600 kPa).
The “turbo flow” mode is distinguished by the fact that in this mode, a turbine built inside the nozzle (rotating at a speed of 8000 rpm) is activated in the nozzle, which creates spiral-shaped turbulence in the liquid flow. This mode is especially suitable for gum massage (24stoma.ru). Plus, in both modes, microbubble technology is active, which allows you to better clean teeth, bridges and braces from plaque and food debris, and also, thanks to the saturation of water with oxygen, have a bactericidal effect on pathogenic microflora in case of gum disease.
Irrigator Oral Bee and attachments for it -
Additional advantages are a 2-year warranty, a wide network of service centers, as well as the possibility of service even after the warranty period has expired. To summarize, this is a high-quality, reliable device that will serve you for many years. Cons - the kit includes only universal attachments, which are sufficient in all cases except one. For example, the Oral-b OxyJet irrigator is perfect for cleaning between teeth, in the presence of braces or bridges, as well as in cases of gingivitis or mild periodontitis.
But, if you have moderate or severe periodontitis (i.e., if you have deep periodontal pockets), then it would be optimal to use a special periodontal tip with a narrow spout. This tip can be lightly inserted into the upper part of the periodontal pocket, which makes rinsing deep periodontal pockets more effective. Irrigators have such attachments, for example, Waterpick and Donfil.
Consumer Reviews
Below are some customer reviews. If you have something to say, leave your feedback in the comments below the article, it will be useful to our readers.
Succumbing to the advertising of an online store, I bought a stick of miswak “to try”, fortunately the price was low. I opened it, washed it with water, chewed it, everything according to the instructions. The hot water made the bristles soft and brushing my teeth was pleasant. I was surprised at the pleasant feeling of cleanliness on my teeth, there was no plaque, and this despite the fact that I just cleaned them with a branch, without any product! I liked the effect, I will continue to brush my teeth with this stick!
I bought a miswak on the advice of a friend. I liked that there was no pronounced taste or smell, there was a slight bitterness, like cigarette smoke. It cleans well, but it takes more time than using a regular brush. You can leave it for evening cleaning, or take it with you and use it throughout the day, and you don’t have to carry the paste with you.
Irrigator Panasonic EW1611 –
Another great device with microbubble technology is the Panasonic EW1611 irrigator.
In addition to a water jet with a pulsation of 1900 pulses per minute and a pressure of up to 646 kPa, this device implements ultrasonic technology for creating microbubbles. The device also has 10 water jet pressure modes. The set includes 2 universal attachments. The warranty is 2 years. It should be noted the high cost of the device - from 9,500 rubles, but you will immediately notice a completely different quality of cleaning (especially in comparison with cheaper devices below). Ultrasonic irrigator Panasonic EW1611 –
This particular model of irrigator was purchased by the author of the article in February 2022 (for his 65-year-old mother) - photo above. You could see a video of the Panasonic EW1611 irrigator in operation (slow motion) at the beginning of this article. I can only leave positive reviews for this oral irrigator, because... According to my mother, he copes with his function perfectly, and the “patient” was very pleased with his work. In addition, during 8 months of use there were no technical problems.
Useful video
From this video you will learn what a miswak is for and how to use it correctly:
To date, many studies have been conducted confirming the benefits of using miswak for the oral cavity. The active natural substances it contains protect teeth from diseases, the stick gently removes plaque and tartar from teeth, and is very convenient and pleasant to use .
In addition, after serving its life, the stick does not pollute the environment, as it is 100% natural. This is probably why miswak is so popular among people who care about their health, who prefer everything natural to synthetic and who care about the environment.
Real life application
Reviews from consumers who have been using Miswak in everyday life for several months now.
I was recently in Egypt and bought myself a couple of these products. To be honest, it was only there that I first heard that such a thing existed. I was told in detail how to use Miswak and how to store it. I didn’t believe that some kind of stick could help whiten my teeth, which used to cost a lot of money. But I decided to try it and was pleasantly surprised. Within two days, improvements became noticeable, and an extraordinary feeling of cleanliness appeared in my mouth. Next time I will definitely buy myself a few more packs.
Marina, 38
I am probably one of the few who have known about this product for a long time and use it regularly. Once upon a time, I read a long article about it, learning about its extraordinary properties. Everyone in our family brushes their teeth this way. When I run out of sticks, I buy a special paste containing Sivak. I must say that visiting the dentist in our family is a rare occurrence.
Nina, 31
Great natural product. No toothbrush is needed to keep your teeth clean. Personally, I carry Sivak right in my purse, but at any time they can brush their teeth after eating, even at work.
Larisa Petrovna, 46
