Amazing Health Benefits Of Miswak

Has the fear of cavities been keeping you off your favorite desserts? Tooth sensitivity making you think twice about having an ice cream on a sultry afternoon? Aching gums reducing you to the dietary habits of a caveman?

Oral hygiene, or the lack of it, is an issue that is seldom thought of seriously. I mean, in a world full of conditions like cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, etcetera, it comes as no surprise that an aching tooth is the least of most people’s worries. But only one who’s suffered the ache of a bleeding gum or an infected tooth truly knows what a solid ‘pain in the mouth’ it can be. If you count yourself amongst one of the ‘unlucky’ ones or dread this ever happening to you, allow me to introduce you to your favorite new superhero.

Scientific Research

In multiple studies done by the WHO and other independent health organizations, it has been found that people who used Miswak on a regular basis require much lesser dental care than those who used toothpastes and powders. (1)

Research has established that regular use of Miswak has a therapeutic effect on gingival disease, and acts against multiple gum disease causing organisms such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans etcetera. (2)(3)A recent study by Patel PV et al, has found that when used as an adjunct to regular toothbrushes, Miswak helped record a noticeable improvement in plaque score and gingival health.

Benefits Of Miswak

What are the benefits of using ‘Miswak’ over a regular toothbrush? Between a regular toothbrush and Miswak, how does Miswak score over the regular toothbrush, you ask? Without further ado then, here are the top 8 benefits to making Miswak a part of your everyday routine-

1. Fights Tooth Decay And Cavities

One of the greatest blessings of this modern age has been the wide availability of food. Sweet, sour, tangy, bitter, farm fresh, processed—you name it, and your supermarket probably has it. But the increase in the availability of food, especially rich-in-sugar processed food, has manifested itself in the growing incidences of tooth decay in the general population.

Tooth decay occurs when enamel (the glossy white cover on your teeth) is destroyed. But how does it get destroyed despite regular brushing you ask? Simple. Our mouths harbor hundreds of different varieties of bacteria—some good, some bad. These bacteria use starch and sugar present in food to produce acid that wears off the enamel, thereby ushering in the process of decay that eventually leads to a cavity.

While most commercial toothpastes use fluoride as a means to beat this decay, another effective solution to this is right inside you in the form of your saliva. Saliva helps fight tooth decay by preventing the buildup of acid and giving your teeth time to repair themselves. Miswak has been known to increase the formation of saliva in the mouth without the need for any commercial enhancers or additives, thus naturally fighting tooth decay.

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.

2. Protects Against Tartar And Plaque

Did you know that plaque is building up in your mouth as you read this? (No, don’t rush to rinse now, breathe).

Surprisingly enough, the formation of plaque is a common process. Plaque is what they call the colorless film of bacteria that forms on the teeth and gums as the bacteria grow and multiply. But while regular brushing can easily remove plaque, its build-up leads to the formation of ‘tartar’—a visible yellow coloration that sticks to the teeth and gums and may cause gum disease and tooth loss in the future.

The easiest way to prevent the buildup of tartar and plaque, and thereby prevent gum disease and tooth loss, is to brush regularly and in the right manner. Miswak being the ‘toothbrush twig’ helps here thanks to its antibacterial property that prevents the bacteria from accumulating on the teeth and gums.

3. Removes Malodor

Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is an indicator of a multitude of dental issues. Starting from eating particularly strong foods, to gum disease, and dental cavities, bad breath is a clear warning that things are not how they should be within your mouth. A lack of the production of saliva can lead to malodor too.

Considering how there isn’t one certain cause for bad breath, an all-in-one solution can go a long way in treating this condition. Miswak’s strong antibacterial activity along with its property of enhancing saliva production in the mouth, are an effective remedy for bad breath. Additionally, since it is a naturally occurring substance, using the twig releases certain compounds that create a mild fragrance that is peculiar to Miswak.

4. Fights Harmful Bacteria And Germs

The human mouth harbors no less than 700 different strains of bacteria, not all of which are harmful. While most of the bacteria present in the mouth aid in the breakdown of food, and in many cases even help maintain healthy teeth and gums, some bacteria are bad bacteria that actively destroy the teeth and gums. Dental cavities, tartar, gum disease and periodontitis—a painful condition affecting the gums and jaw bone—are all related to bacteria residing in the mouth.

In numerous studies conducted by the World Health Organization, and other independent research groups, Miswak has been shown to contain a number of active antibacterial compounds that actively fight bacterial growth in the mouth. Also, people using Miswak on a regular basis were seen to suffer from lesser instances of oral hygiene issues than those who didn’t/used regular toothpastes and tooth powders.

4. Protects And Strengthens The Gums

Here’s a pro tip—if you’re worried about whether or not your oral health is in good shape, look at your gums. The gums are the soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and help keep them in good condition. And as such, any condition affecting the teeth is manifested in the gums too.

Plaque build up affects the gums, just as it affects the teeth. The development of plaque into tartar can affect the gums and teeth in three different ways, namely Gingivitis, Periodontitis and Advanced Periodontitis. Most of us might have experienced the sharp pain on having something too cold or hot once in a while. However, if this is a regular occurrence and is accompanied by swelling and inflammation of the gums, the condition is called Gingivitis and needs immediate attention and treatment. Untreated gingivitis with a further buildup of tartar affects the underlying bone structure causes gums to recede, dentures to change, and teeth to be lost eventually—a painful, irreversible condition known as advanced periodontitis.

Scary, right?

Thankfully for us though, Miswak comes to the rescue here too! By helping to prevent the formation of plaque, and the subsequent tartar accumulation, Miswak significantly reduces the chances of gingivitis and periodontitis keeping your gums healthy, and you happy, all through.

5. Anticarcinogenic And Analgesic

Apart from its benefits in oral hygiene and health, Miswak has certain therapeutic effects to recommend its use too. Antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase, catalase, and polyphenoloxidase present in Miswak are said to have anti-carcinogenic properties, that is, they help prevent cancer. While it is yet to be established how effective Miswak is at fighting cancer that already exists in the body, its use as a preventive measure has been established via research.

Additionally, the active ingredients present in Miswak have analgesic, or pain relieving, properties that help deal with inflammation and pain, especially in the gums.

When was the last time a toothbrush could claim this?

6. Refreshing aftertaste

A key benefit of using Miswak has been its refreshing aftertaste and fragrance. Packed with a whole load of naturally occurring volatile aromatic compounds, using Miswak promotes a feeling of cleanliness and pleasant breath that is comparable to that of any commercially available mouthwash.

7. Affordable and effective

It often stuns many first time users about how affordable and effective Miswak is. Whether you choose to use it in its original ‘toothbrush twig’ form or use formulations made from the Salvadora persica (Miswak) tree, the cost of using Miswak is substantially lower than most commercially available products. Also, considering how Miswak functions as a toothpaste-toothbrush-mouthwash all-in-one, the cost benefits of this can surely not be overlooked.

Additionally, one look at the Miswak twig is enough for anyone to get an idea as to where toothbrush manufacturers get their inspiration from. With a multitude of natural fibers acting as ‘bristles’, the Miswak twig reaches every corner and nook of the mouth for an effective cleanse.