Toothbrush Stick

Miswak comes from the Salvadora persica plant, a small evergreen tree native to the dessert floodplains, riverbanks and savannahs of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The natural form and grooves of the twig make miswak pleasant to hold - woody, but not rough. The outer bark is a soft brown, whilst the inner surfaces reveal a creamy, light beige shade.

For over seven thousand years, humans have been using miswak as a tooth cleaning stick. Known to the early Babylonians, miswak has retained its popularity in modern times amongst Muslim cultures. This is because of the advocacy of its regular use by the Prophet Muhammad, such as before sleeping and after waking up, or before attending a gathering.

To turn the Salvadora persica into a natural toothbrush, a piece of the plant’s twig, root or stem is soaked in water to make it soft. An inch or so of bark is removed from one end, and the exposed surface is then chewed until it frays into a brush-like texture. After several uses, the brush end will degrade. Simply chop it off and repeat the process until length of miswak is finished. The interchanging functions of handle and brush make the miswak a fully renewable take on the modern toothbrush.

Beyond its mechanical properties, the chemical composition of miswak mimics the additional functionality of toothpaste. It is known to be antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-cariogenic, and brushing releases beneficial chemicals such as fluoride, calcium and salicylic acid. Using miswak is said to improve fragrance of breath, and even sense of taste. These properties make miswak well-suited to its role in dental hygiene, performing on par, or more strongly, than regular toothbrushing in sample studies.