Over 1400 years ago it was a sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, along with all other Prophet's (peace be upon them all) to use the miswak for the purification of the mouth and teeth. He Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam used it regularly, and strongly advised his followers to do the same. A Miswak, or siwak, is a natural tooth-stick made from a twig of a tree. Typically made from peelu, olive or walnut tree. Miswak is amongst those sunan which are becoming rare especially in western societies.
Abu Umamah (May Allaah be pleased with him) has narrated the following saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, "Miswak is a means of the purification of your mouths and the pleasure of your Rabb." [Ibn Majah, Pg 2495, Hadith 289]
Using a plastic toothbrush regularly is the known to be the best way to keep our teeth and gums healthy. But which toothbrush is best? For centuries people around the world cleaned their teeth with the natural toothbrush tree. After the advent of plastic, synthetic toothbrushes people adopted this new and cheap tool for cleaning their teeth. Is plastic toothbrush better than natural toothbrush? Or natural toothbrush (Miswak) is a better tool to keep dental health and hygiene?
Research studies about use of Miswak:
The Wrigley Company made a study on Miswak which was published in 'The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry'. The study found that mints laced with Miswak extract were 20 times more effective in killing bacteria than ordinary mints. A small testimony to this fact is that after half an hour, the mints laced with Miswak extract killed about 60% of Thè bacteria where as the ordinary mints managed only 3.6%
In August issue of Journal of Periodontology (2008) appeared a study, conducted by Swedish researchers on Miswak. The study apparently found that suspended Miswak pieces in a petridish (medium for culturing bacteria) were able to kill bacteria that cause periodontal disease with out being in physical contact with the bacteria. The researchers suggested that Miswak might be giving antibiotics as gases trying to explain this phenomenon.
A study which compares toothbrushing and using Miswak can be seen on Pubmed (U.S National Library for Medicine Service). The study concluded that Miswak was more effective than toothbrushing in reducing plaque and gingivitis provided it was used correctly. Similar studies found on the same website and elsewhere vouch for the effectiveness of Miswak over toothbrush.
Toothbrush performs these important tasks for out dental hygience and health:
- To clean teeth and interdental spaces where food remnants debris and stains accumulate.
- To prevent plaque formation by mechanically disrupting it.
- To stimulate and massage gingival tissues.
- To clean tongue.
Now check it with the benefits we get from natural toothbrush (miswak):
Health benefits of Miswak:
- Kills gum disease causing bacteria.
- Fights plaque effectively.
- Fights against caries.
- Removes Bad breath and odor from mouth and creates a fragrance in the mouth.
- Effectively clean between teeth due to its parallel bristles.
- Increases salivation and hence inhibits dry mouth (Xerostomia)
This is why Muslims follow the sunnah of our beloved Prophet without questioning it. Science is only now discovering a tradition that was introduced 1400 years ago because Islam was and still is the forefront of development.
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