What is a sivak for brushing teeth? How to properly use a miswak stick?

Miswak is a complete replacement for conventional teeth cleaning products. It is used for both hygienic and therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity. The use of miswak requires some additional skills, so it is recommended that you become familiar with it before you begin to actively use it.

What is siwak (miswak)?

But how can you avoid health problems caused by using toothpaste?
Not brushing your teeth? You should not resort to such radical measures! A natural component – sivak – will help. Another name for this unique hygiene product, used by humanity for thousands of years, is miswak. What is sivak (misvkak)? Sivak is a small stick made of arak wood. In the scientific world, arak is called Salvadora Persica; the plant grows in China, India, the Philippines, and the Middle East.

Sivak is used like a toothpick. The tip of the stick splits, easily penetrating into the most difficult places, removing food debris and bacteria accumulated between the teeth. Miswak is especially widespread in Muslim countries. An important point: the herbal remedy is mentioned in the Quran, so it can be considered part of the treatment according to the Sunnah. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of the Creator upon him, used siwak to clean teeth and advised his students and fellow believers to use this stick.

Composition of Miswak Root

Flavonoids. These substances protect against the effects of free radicals. Flavonoids prevent tissue damage due to an excess of histamines - substances that are actively produced during an inflammatory or allergic reaction.
Alkaloids. This component has a bactericidal effect and has a positive effect on the condition of the gums.
Tannic acid. Helps clean teeth and gums, promotes healing of wounds, including purulent ones, in the oral cavity and stops bleeding. The substance accumulates in layers on tooth enamel and prevents the development of caries. Products containing tannic acids are prescribed for stomatitis and gingivitis. In addition, tannic acid has a calming effect on digestion.
Silica. Helps eliminate stains on teeth.
Bicarbonate of soda. The substance helps clean the surface of teeth, neutralizes acids, and preserves the natural shine and color of enamel.
Essential oils. They have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Essential oils can relieve pain and prevent the formation of tartar.
Vitamin C. A natural antioxidant that promotes teeth whitening and tissue repair. Vitamin C strengthens the body's natural defenses and tones all systems.
Fluoride and calcium. Prevent tooth decay and ensure remineralization of enamel.

Additionally, miswak contains styrene, trimethylamine, saponins, mineral salts and sulfur substances. This rich composition explains the beneficial effects of miswak on the entire oral cavity. The product removes plaque and brightens the enamel to a natural shade. Thanks to essential oils and trimethylamine, it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it can be used for diseases of the gums and tongue.

Many dentists recommend miswak to prevent tooth decay, reduce toothache and bleeding gums. In addition, the plant has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the immune, digestive and visual systems, and also improves overall tone.

History of application

Miswak is very popular in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, that is, where the Arak tree grows. Local residents dig up the flexible long roots of the plant (or cut off branches) and cut them into sticks of the required length. The twigs make a juicier and more flexible miswak, and the roots contain more nutrients.

This practice of making oral hygiene products goes back thousands of years. Salvadora Persian sticks were used by the Babylonians long before our era. Later, the tradition of using dental sticks was supported by Islamic countries. The Prophet Muhammad himself brushed his teeth with siwak and recommended it to others.

Today, miswak has become widespread among vegans and supporters of a healthy lifestyle, as well as those who prefer natural hygiene products.

Where does miswak grow?

The tree from which miswak is made is called “Salvadora persica” (from Latin). In Arabic, the name of this useful shrub is “Arak”. Grows in subtropical and tropical climates. The “toothbrush tree” can be found in India, Pakistan, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. This is a small shrub up to 5 m high. The bark is brown, with a pleasant smell. The leaves are edible, with a mustard flavor (which is why arak is also called mustard tree). The leaves are used in India as a green for vitamin salads.

Salvadora Persiana grows in desert and clay soils. Harsh growing conditions contribute to the accumulation of large amounts of biologically active substances in the plant. This is necessary so that the tree can survive in unfavorable conditions.

Chemical composition of siwak

The beneficial properties of siwak are associated with its excellent chemical composition. Miswak contains over 25 natural highly active components that have an extremely beneficial effect on human health. This:

tannic acids;
soda bicarbonate;
cellulose components;
essential oils;
aromatic resins;
substances of the alkaloid group;
salts of useful minerals;
fluorine;
substances of the sulfur group;
vitamin C;
silicon in the form of dioxide;
saponin;
flavonoids;
styrene;
trimethylamine.

One can only be amazed at the wisdom of nature, which has combined in one plant a chain of components that are beneficial specifically for the health of teeth, gums and oral mucosa! This makes Sivak an absolutely unique natural product.

What's in it?

The canonical miswak - made from arak wood - is famous for the fact that it contains about 25 healing ingredients. This:

tannic acid (tannin);
vitamin C (ascorbic acid);
essential oils;
bicarbonate of soda;
salt;
aromatic resins;
flavonoids;
saponins;
silica;
fluorine, etc.

Although ascorbic acid and essential oils definitely add points to mesvak, many dentists are wary of it. One of the reasons is the fluoride content.

In many Russian cities, tap water comes out of the tap with a high fluoride content; Manufacturers generously add this element to toothpastes. So if you are wondering how to brush your teeth with miswak, first avoid fluoridated toothpastes. This can harm health, especially children's health.

Useful properties of siwak

In 2012, scientists from one of the research centers in Germany decided to conduct an interesting experiment in which 100 people took part. The first fifty participants were given toothpaste for a month, the second half of the subjects were given miswak. The results were simply amazing!

Those who used toothpaste complained of poor condition of the mucous membrane, pain in the gums, and the appearance of ulcers in the mouth. In contrast, the group using sivak showed a dramatic improvement in the condition of the oral cavity. The teeth of the experiment participants became whiter, and many stains on the enamel disappeared. Scientists explained this effect by the high concentration of silicon and other bleaching substances in arak wood. The components of the sulfur-galvanic group suppressed the growth of bacteria, preventing the development of caries and bad breath.

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Trimethalamine contained in sivak relieved the experiment participants from inflammatory and abscess processes in the oral cavity. Using a toothpick for children relieves pain when new teeth appear. Fluid components make miswak an excellent means of preventing caries in children.

As a result of the experiment, German scientists recommended that everyone use a “magic wand” made from arrack wood as a toothpick.

In 2021, the findings of scientists from Germany were confirmed by their American colleagues. In particular, it was found that sivak has a calming effect on the mucous membrane. This is due to the suppression of the viral and pathological environment. After the first use, 80% of bacteria and microbes die. This prevents the development of caries, periodontitis and even scurvy. The beneficial effects of miswak on teeth do not stop immediately after use: the substances act for 2 days.

In addition to its purely hygienic effect, the herbal preparation also works as a dietary supplement. It is known that in the oral cavity, especially at the junction of the gum and tooth, there are a huge number of biopoints responsible for the functioning of the sensory organs. In addition, biopoints are associated with the jaw joints, frontal sinuses and spinal nerves. The connection between biopoints and nerves is especially important, because the condition of our muscles, joints, and limbs depends on the proper functioning of the nervous system. Biopoints are also involved in the functioning of other organs: liver, heart, lungs, blood vessels, stomach, spleen, intestines, hormonal glands, bladder, etc.

Using sivak, we massage the bio-points of the oral cavity. This effect eliminates pain, relaxes muscles, and promotes a speedy recovery from osteochondrosis. Daily use of miswak is an excellent prevention of more than 70 diseases. In addition, this procedure allows you to gain mental clarity and improve memory.

Note! If you just can’t quit smoking, the same siwak will help you: using a stick made of arrack wood relieves the craving for tobacco and makes it easier to quit the bad habit.

The healing properties of miswak

Many components in the composition of the siwak wood stick are also used in industrial pastes. Silicon dioxide removes plaque and whitens, fluoride (in reasonable amounts) strengthens enamel, tannins and antibacterial oils kill bacteria and freshen breath. Miswak can boast of all these properties.

But the real beneficial properties of this miracle brush are even more impressive. At one time, even scientists became interested in Mishvak - several studies were devoted to it. And for about 30 years, the World Health Organization has recommended brushing your teeth with a siwak.

The instructions for using miswak name the following healing properties of the dental stick:

strengthens teeth and freshens breath;
dissolves tartar and whitens enamel by several tones;
improves vision (dental nerves are directly connected to the eye nerves);
treats vocal cords;
kills bacteria in the oral cavity and prevents new harmful microbes from multiplying;
relieves inflammation in the mouth;
invigorates and increases the overall tone of the body;
helps to quit smoking.

What else is sivak useful for?

As already mentioned, miswak is mentioned in the hadiths of the Prophet. But this is far from the only description of the beneficial properties of a mouth cleaning stick. Thus, the great scientist of Islam Ibn Qayim in his work “Medicine of the Prophet” described in as much detail as possible the beneficial properties of siwak. Ibn Qayyim identified the following features of arak wood:

prevention of caries, periodontitis;
treatment of gum and dental diseases;
high-quality cleaning of the entire oral cavity;
refreshing effect;
wound healing;
antibacterial effect;
decreased salivation;
getting rid of bad breath caused by poor condition of teeth and gums;
prevention of scurvy;
improving vision by influencing the nerve endings in the oral cavity associated with the eyeballs;
removing stains on enamel, tartar (it is extremely difficult to remove tartar using a toothbrush and paste, since most of it is concentrated in a hard-to-reach place, on the neck of the tooth);
treatment of cords, voice restoration;
improving the condition of the digestive system, treating the stomach and intestines, normalizing stool;
general strengthening and tonic effect;
return of mental clarity, acceleration of thought processes, getting rid of lethargy and apathy;
positive effect on the male reproductive system.

In other words, miswak is a true storehouse of health. A person who uses this amazing remedy will strengthen both body and soul; he will not need doctors.

Flaws

If you have braces installed, you cannot use a wand. Reason: In preparation for use, the miswak is “fluffed,” that is, one end is separated into fibers. These woody “threads” slide along the front and back surfaces of the teeth, also getting into the interdental spaces and cleaning out food debris. If the thread gets stuck in the braces, it can damage them. It is difficult to extract the fibers yourself. You'll have to go to the dentist.

The second risk group is people with hypersensitive teeth. They have thin enamel that wears off with rough impact. And the next stage is caries.

Difficulties also arise for those who took a stick that was too hard and poorly prepared it for “work.” Sharp villi damage soft tissues when pressed. As a result, instead of benefit, we get harm: small wounds are applied to the gums, it bleeds, and if an infection occurs, the first symptoms of gingivitis or periodontitis will appear.

Be especially vigilant if you are over 50 years old. At this age, periodontitis is common and leads to pocket formation, halitosis and tooth loss.

Sivak, as we see, is not a panacea for oral diseases. Therefore, remember to be careful when using it. In addition, some complain that it is difficult to reach the back row of teeth with a stick.

Contraindications

The only contraindication to the use of Sivak is individual intolerance. It is undesirable, although possible, to use it when wearing braces and skyes (dental jewelry), since the bristles can get stuck in the structures.

There are no restrictions during pregnancy and breastfeeding. When brushing your teeth with mustard tree root, no harmful components enter breast milk and blood.

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.

What is the price

The cost of a natural toothbrush varies depending on the length and thickness. A small stick 15 cm long costs about 150 rubles. They are sold in vacuum packaging individually. Some manufacturers add flavoring - lemon, mint.

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Sivak Sewak al-Falah - made in Pakistan, 15 cm long, sold in vacuum packaging one piece at a time, cost about 150 rubles.

The Al-Khaleej branch is a black stick, does not require the use of toothpaste, costs 80-100 rubles.

Sivak Khair - made in Pakistan, has a length of 15 cm, cost - 90-120 rubles.

At the same time, you can purchase a case for convenient storage. You should not immediately switch to cleaning your mouth with such a stick. It is better to use it between regular teeth brushing, and when you have the skills to clean each tooth, then you can switch to the siwak stick. You can’t do without consulting a dentist and a specialist’s opinion on this matter.

How to use

Step-by-step instruction:

Open the vacuum packaging (original products are stored and prepared for sale only this way to avoid damage).
Wash the miswak.
Remove the bark from one end. It peels off easily - with your hands or a knife.
Chew the future “brush”. It will unfiber and be ready for use.
Start cleaning.

Making it a miswak is more difficult and you have to adapt. Starting with the upper jaw, brush each tooth using a sweeping motion. The speed is slow at first. You will do it in 10–12 minutes. The procedure takes longer than simply using a brush. But there are “advantages”: sivak cleans the spaces between teeth and makes the enamel lighter. True, this effect will appear after 2-3 procedures.

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After brushing your teeth, rinse the stick and put it in an open container.

Terms of use

Peel a centimeter of miswak from the bark. This can even be done with your teeth: bite around the circumference and pull back.
Gently chew the peeled end to soften the stick and separate the fibers. You need to chew the stick with your side teeth 5-10 times. Thick sticks are slower and more difficult to chew than thin sticks.
Brush your teeth as you would with a regular brush. You can massage your gums during the process. It is recommended to brush your teeth with the side surface of such a brush, and with the tips – the space between the teeth. The inner surface of the teeth should be cleaned using sweeping movements. You can chew a small piece of the stick and roll it over your teeth.
Since the surface of the miswak is not designed to be cleaned, the procedure may take a little longer than using a regular brush.

After the procedure, the used part must be cut off and the miswak returned to the package to prevent it from drying out. The package with miwak should be kept in a dry place at room temperature. If the stick is dry, it cannot be used without first moistening it, as it becomes hard and can injure the gums.

When the product has dried out or diminished, you can leave it overnight in warm water and dry it a little in the morning. This will allow the stick to absorb moisture and be ready for use again. It is advisable to moisten only the part that is needed for one-time cleaning.

Miswak does not harm tooth enamel, because it contains no abrasive substances. In case of inflammation or increased abrasion of the enamel, it is necessary to use softer sticks and make sure that they do not dry out.

If an infection develops in the mouth, the use of miswak may be accompanied by tingling. Until the infection is eliminated, it is advisable to use a fresh part of the stick each time and brush your teeth more often. You can also chew small pieces of miswak to quickly cope with the disease.

How to properly brush your teeth with a miswak stick

It is recommended to move the stick up and down (for the front teeth). Both the front and the inside need to be cleaned.
The back teeth should be brushed especially thoroughly, including the chewing surfaces. That is, you need to clean your teeth from all sides.
Don’t forget to clean your tongue, especially if there is a strong coating.
If necessary, do an additional light massage of the gums. To do this, you need to pull the upper/lower lip with one hand and massage the gums with the other.

Brush your teeth for a few minutes. The more thoroughly the oral cavity is treated, the better the therapeutic effect.

Cautions:

Do not put too much pressure on the enamel of teeth and gums, so as not to cause tissue damage;
It is not recommended to hold the stick in your fist, as it is more difficult to control the force of pressure;
You should not suck out the miswak so that the beneficial substances remain and act in the oral cavity;
With thinned and sensitive enamel, it is recommended to brush your teeth very carefully.

Not only adults, but also children can use miswak for dental hygiene. Children should do this under adult supervision. It is necessary to ensure that children do not bite off or swallow the brush to eliminate the risk of lint getting into the windpipe.

The use of miswak is also permitted if there are restored teeth. But it should be taken into account that the enamel of artificial teeth will remain the same, while the remaining teeth will become whiter.

It is possible to use a dental stick during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding. The natural composition of miswak is beneficial for the body of a woman and child.

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Assistive methods for brushing with a toothbrush

Fones method

It belongs to the American dentist Alfred Fones, who is considered one of the founders of hygienic dentistry. The method is suitable for adults, children and people who do not have periodontal disease.

To clean the external surfaces, the teeth are closed and the bristles of the brush are placed perpendicular to the surface. The brush head makes circles while simultaneously capturing the teeth of both jaws and the adjacent gums.
The same movements are performed to clean the internal surfaces (separately for the upper and lower jaws).
Chewing surfaces are also cleaned using circular movements.

Pros:
good gum massage.

Bass method

The method involves cleaning and massaging the gums with vibrating movements, and cleaning the chewing surfaces with horizontal movements. Advantages:

The method is suitable for cleaning teeth with exposed roots. You can only use a soft brush.

Restrictions for pregnant women and children

Miswak is allowed to be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The product does not affect the development of the child and does not contain allergic components. It is believed that miswak can affect the taste of breast milk, but this varies from person to person.

Sticks can be given to children from 5 months to chew. The product helps ease teething, relieve discomfort and relieve swelling. Parents should control this process; they should not give a miswak stick to their child unattended, as they may choke or injure their throat.

Treatment with siwak according to the Sunnah

One of the hadiths contains the following words: “Sivak cleanses the mouth, and this pleases the Lord. Every time he appeared to me (the Prophet, peace be upon him - editor's note), Jabrail instructed me to use siwak, I was even afraid that the use of siwak would be made farz (duty). If I weren’t afraid of burdening my ummah (Muslim community - editor’s note), I would make it a duty.”

That is, the use of siwak is a matter pleasing to Allah, it is treatment according to the Sunnah, which is extremely important for Muslims.

Miswak is a natural substitute for toothpaste, toothbrush and dental floss. You will quickly notice improvements in the condition of your teeth and entire oral cavity.

In addition, siwak has a pleasant taste with a slight bitterness; it easily “burns” the skin. Sticks with a diameter of 1 cm, packed in vacuum bags, go on sale. Sivak can be stored in this state for about a year.

Before use, the stick must be held under running warm water. Peel the tip from the bark to about 1 cm and chew. Bristles will appear at the end, almost like on a toothbrush, and you should use them to brush your teeth. After brushing your teeth, run the bristles across your tongue - this will get rid of bacteria and unpleasant odor.

Types of brushes.

They can be curved, cylindrical and conical

Now you can find three types on sale, they differ in shape and purpose:

Curved. Their handle and shaft have a semicircular shape. This is the optimal design for cleaning orthodontic units. The curved shape easily copes with dirt that accumulates on the clasps of braces.
Cylindrical. This species has villi of the same length. This form is designed for cleaning interdental spaces and caring for gums, in addition, it is suitable for caring for the neck of the implant.
Cone-shaped. The bristles are arranged in the form of a cone, with the longest of them located near the base, and in the upper part of the cone the bristles are very small - 1 mm. This form is suitable for those who have the correct structure of teeth and a standard dentition.

How to choose a quality miswak

The sticks may have a salty taste if the plant grew in brackish soils. Such a miswak may even have a white coating, but at the same time it is of quite high quality. A sweet taste indicates the addition of synthetic ingredients to increase shelf life. It is better to buy siwak without additional preservatives. The natural substances of the plant are quite enough to protect against spoilage. Provided that the miswak is of high quality and packaged fresh. It is also not recommended to purchase siwak with additional flavors, for example, mint, since in this case synthetic flavors are used.

Thin sticks (up to 1 cm in diameter) are more tender, easier to chew, and more juicy. They are best used for painful gums that are prone to bleeding. Thick ones have hard fibers, so this brush has the best whitening effect. But its coarse fibers penetrate harder into hard-to-reach places, making it more difficult to clean the side surfaces of the back teeth.

A good siwak has a strong, pleasant aroma. The stick should not be too thick or too long. The average length is 15–20 cm. This miswak is best suited for comfortable use.

Miswak powder - features

As an alternative or in addition to the toothpick, you can purchase a charcoal-based toothpowder made from arrack wood. This natural remedy has a pronounced whitening and anti-inflammatory effect, reduces bleeding gums, and freshens breath. The composition includes additional ingredients that increase the healing properties of the powder (cloves, black cumin, cinnamon).

It is used in the same cases as sticks: for the prevention and treatment of caries and gum disease.

The powder is more convenient to use, as it does not require special preparation and storage. It is more suitable for children, as well as those who have difficulty chewing a stick for a long time.

I buy pure miswak powder without additives and make my own tooth powder according to my recipe. I take one part miswak, one part ground herbs and one part store-bought “Special” or “Mint” tooth powder. I mix everything, add essential oils and sift through a strainer. I store it in a jar with the lid closed.

How to store

Are you going to keep a miswak in the bathroom next to your brush? Okay, but then use it every day. Bacteria will not have time to “settle” on it.

Are you planning to bring out the “heavy artillery” a couple of times a week? Store the stick in the refrigerator in an open container. After two uses, trim the bristles, further cleaning the bark. And do the same if the bristles become sparse.

Use the miswak until it runs out.

What's the catch?

The miswak stick has practically no contraindications.

It can be given to children from 5 months - of course, under the strict supervision of adults. You can brush your teeth during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Allowed to be used for any chronic diseases.

The only prohibition is individual intolerance to the acara tree, but it is extremely rare.

But miswak has some disadvantages: reviews talk about them in detail.

Specific taste. People who have used siwak with a toothbrush admit: the stick tastes like horseradish. There is no need to be afraid: after hygiene procedures, your breath does not smell like horseradish. But it’s hard to forget this taste. On the other hand, many people like this taste and this is a rather subjective drawback.
Inconvenient shape. Meswak is still not a flexible plastic brush, but an ordinary branch. It simply cannot penetrate into “hard-to-reach places,” so the back jaw and the inside of the teeth may remain uncleaned.
Uneconomical. The wood brush itself is inexpensive, but it lasts only 2-3 weeks. And if you don’t take care of storage, then for an even shorter period.

Plus, chewing a stick won't get rid of bad breath. While fragrant menthol pastes can mask the smell for a while, neutral siwak will not do this. In addition, in most cases, the cause of the unpleasant odor is problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and only a visit to a gastroenterologist can solve them.

Sources:

https://www.tauba.ru/lechenie-bolezni/sivak-i-ego-poleznyie-svoystva-dlya-zdorovya-polosti-rta.html
https://kcdc.ru/rot/misvak-palochka.html
https://osp-sakhalin.ru/uhod/sivak-dlya-chistki-zubov.html
https://DrZubastik.ru/chistka-zubov/palochka.html
https://CreateSmile.ru/miswak/

Storage conditions

The service life of a miswak is 3-3 weeks. Next, you need to purchase a new root and prepare it again. Since we are talking about a natural remedy, miswak may become moldy or stale if stored in the wrong conditions. To avoid this trouble, build a small paper or cardboard box. For ventilation purposes, make several holes in a kind of cover.

Every 4-5 days it is necessary to renew the edge of the root. To do this, use a knife to cut off 1-2 centimeters of the part of the plant being used and again prepare the edge of the root.