If you have never heard of a Miswak stick, think of it as an ancient toothbrush. These toothbrush reminiscent twigs have been supporting oral health of countless people for thousands of years. Before the rise of the modern toothbrush and toothpaste industry, Miswak sticks were the primary source of dental care.
In many ways, they are a much better option than the man-made dental products that we have become used to. With a growing realization of the negative side effects caused by some man-made chemicals and ingredients in modern products, there is a growing movement to turn back to nature.
13 Benefits of Brushing Your Teeth With a Miswak Stick
There are many stupendous reasons why the Miswak stick is gaining more traction as a viable option for dental care. Read on to discover the benefits of this age-old tool.
1. Delay Decay
The first, and perhaps most important benefit of the Miswak stick is an ability to fight against tooth decay and the development of cavities. In a world that by and large is eating too much cavity causing sugar, protection against tooth decay is simply a must. It accomplishes this first by encouraging production of saliva, which naturally helps you fight tooth decay from the inside out.
Second, Miswak sticks contain natural sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and calcium oxide that all work together to provide a strengthening effect for tooth enamel. This results in an extremely effective strategy of fighting cavities without the need for special toothpastes or treatments, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in dental work.
2. Goodbye Bacteria
At any given moment, hundreds of different kinds of bacteria can be found in the human mouth. While some of these are vital for oral health and helping to aid in digestion, others can cause harmful breakdown and erosion of tooth enamel. Miswak sticks have been found to be effective in establishing control over bacteria levels due to its antibacterial effects.
Studies conducted by the World Health Organization have shown a correlation between regular use of a Miswak and fewer dental hygiene issues, as compared against standard oral care products. This balancing act with bacteria is directly connected to some of the other benefits of using a Miswak stick.
3. Plaque Protection
If you have ever visited a dentist for a cleaning, you are most likely familiar with the concept of plaque and plaque build-up. In nutshell, plaque build-up is created from a layer of bacteria that covers your teeth and gums. This layer builds up over time if left untreated, and can cause yellowing of teeth, gum disease, and even loss of teeth.
Fortunately, the same antibacterial properties we talked about previously play a vital role in ensuring this doesn’t happen to you. While brushing regularly with a normal toothbrush and toothpaste can fend off plaque build-up, it doesn’t have the same natural bacteria fighting properties as Miswak.
4. Whiter with Wood?
As a natural consequence of the balancing of bacteria that results from use of a Miswak stick, you can have whiter teeth. While it prevents the build-up of plaque, it is also fighting through stains left by many of your favorite foods and drinks.
These include coffee, tea, tobacco, and other food products. It does a great job of removing the build-up that causes the common, yellow stains found on the teeth of people who smoke or drink coffee on a regular basis, unaccompanied by good oral hygiene.
5. Bad Breath, Away!
One of the first things that happens when using a Miswak to achieve better control of the bacteria inside your mouth is noticeable better breath. One major cause of malodor or halitosis is the presence of bad bacteria. While normal toothpaste and brushing can temporarily relieve the bad breath, it is only treating the symptoms of a deeper issue.
Even if the root cause of the bad breath is related to diet or untreated gum disease, the Miswak will still increase saliva. A Miswak’s antibacterial properties coupled with its ability to increase saliva production are the perfect treatment for minimizing bad breath.
6. Good Gums
Any dentist will tell you that gum health is just as important as the health of your teeth themselves. This is because your gums house and protect the roots of your teeth, allowing them to stand strong through all your chewing and chomping. The anti-bacterial and anti-plaque properties of a Miswak causes a chain reaction that allows your gums to heal and remain strong through continual use.
This significantly reduces your chance of developing gingivitis, which makes your gums sore and sensitive. It also prevents gingivitis from progressing into periodontitis, which causes irreversible effects on the structure of your jawbone.
7. Brush Away the Pain
If you have already gotten to the point where your gums need repair, don’t fret! Miswak sticks are a natural analgesic substance, which means they have the capacity to alleviate the pain caused by inflammation and disease in your gums.
Using a Miswak stick not only promotes healing in these areas but numbs the pain to make the healing process much more comfortable. It may seem counter-intuitive, but this allows for unhealthy gums to feel better after, or even during brushing when you use a Miswak stick.
8. Combat Cancer
In addition to the obvious benefits to your oral health such as better breath, decreased risk of gum disease, and whitening of teeth, Miswak sticks actually help you fight off cancer. As a natural anticarcinogenic, using Miswak sticks to brush can reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
The reason this is true is due to the presence of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, polyphenol, and peroxidase. While there is no indication that it will make much of a difference for those who already have active cancer, it is still a great at lowering your risk of developing cancer in the first place.
9. Yummmmm!
When it comes to the benefits of using Miswak sticks instead of a regular toothbrush and toothpaste combination, it doesn’t end with the various health benefits. You are probably thinking that with all the good things about Miswak, there has to be a drawback, like an awful taste, right?
After all, it is essentially chewing on a stick. Contrary to what you might think, the taste and aftertaste of a Miswak stick is quite pleasing. Some have compared it with the feeling that you get after using a mouthwash. This feeling of a clean and fresh mouth is because of gas released by the natural volatile compounds found in each stick.
10. Simply Better
It may seem odd, but there is a lot of evidence that brushing with a Miswak stick can be significantly more effective than our modern toothbrushes. Researchers have observed that people who regularly use a Miswak are less likely to encounter oral problems such as bleeding gums or jaw problem when compared to those using typical toothbrush and toothpaste. The simple answer is that a Miswak stick contains benefits that just are not found in what we refer to as “normal” brushing.
11. Designed by Nature
Along with the list of benefits that Miswak sticks hold over standard tooth care items, it is better equipped to address the most problematic areas in tooth brushing. Because the bristles are naturally in line with the “handle” of the stick, the user experiences increase reach and improved leverage.
This is especially handy when it comes to reaching between tight teeth and cleaning the surfaces of your teeth, areas that are commonly missed when using a toothbrush.
12. Save Your Teeth, and Your Cash!
Another reason that you may consider switching from standard brushing to using a Miswak stick is the cost savings. You may not realize how much you spend on oral care products but added up across time it can be a lot of money.
In addition to being more affordable than most toothbrushes, the savings from using Miswak sticks is multiplied since it can replace all of your normal mouth care products. This includes not only your toothbrush, but also toothpaste and mouthwash.
13. Better for You, Better for Everyone
Last, but certainly not least, Miswak sticks have no detrimental effect on the environment. Unfortunately, normal bathroom products are almost always made with plastic, and contain other ingredients that contribute to a growing problem of pollution. This is especially true of products that are disposable in nature, as they find their ways into landfills where they will take years and years to break down naturally. Miswak sticks however are all natural and biodegradable.
Conclusion
With all this information backed by research, it is hard to think of any reasons not to begin using Miswak sticks. It may seem odd to be putting a twig into your mouth, but when you think about it, is it any more strange than putting a plastic brush into your mouth?
If anything, the Miswak stick almost seems more normal, being that it is much closer to being edible than our plastic handled habit. Take a chance on the most natural way to take care of your mouth and find out why this method has stood the test of time and is making a comeback today!
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