Miswak

Miswak (Arabic السواك, DMG miswak, Pl māsawīk ), also called Siwak a branch, a bud or a root of the toothbrush tree ( Salvadora persica ), which is used to clean the teeth. The miswak is a traditional Arabic form of the toothbrush. The approximately 20 centimeters long branch is triggered chews at one end, to a kind of brush is created.

Dissemination and use

The toothbrush tree grows in the deserts of Arabia, East Africa and the Middle East and combines the properties of toothbrush and toothpaste. It naturally contains dental protective and Preening substances. It is used for cleaning the teeth with miswak needs no water and no toothpaste. A branch is cut off, and then as long as chewed until an end is so frayed that it is reminiscent of a brush. So that the teeth are brushed Then, the breaking off pieces of wood are spat out. These toothpicks are used for cleaning the teeth than tongue scraper and for massaging the gums.

The Miswak has a relatively high fluoride content of 8-22 ppm and is used for cleaning teeth since ancient times. The use of fibrous chewed branches was mentioned in ancient Hindu law book of Manu (600 BC) and recommended in the famous ancient Indian collection of medical knowledge Sushruta ( about 400 AD).

In the Muslim world the miswak plays a major role, he is not mentioned in the Koran, but it should have used regularly for the hadith Muhammad. In the Twelver Shia, the use of the Siwak is considered to be recommended ( Mandub ). The patterns available in Germany are mostly imported from Pakistan.

Tooth Conditioning ingredients

Included are the Miswak: fluorides with useful effect as a structural element of our skeleton and teeth, silicon - indispensable for the maintenance of connective tissue, cartilage, bone, hair, nails, teeth, and calcium sulfate - this is important in the development of leaves, bones, teeth and mussels ( in addition to potassium and sodium calcium sulfate plays an important role in the transmission of impulses in nerve cells). The gypsum crystals are used in the Miswak as Putzkörperchen. They help to loosen the dirt adhering to the teeth. Other ingredients are tannins (tannins are responsible for the slightly bitter taste, has a soothing effect on mucous membranes, accelerate the healing process for injuries and inhibit inflammation ), saponins, vitamin C, flavonoids ( strengthen the immune system, prevent certain types of cancer, regulate blood pressure and inhibit inflammation - they also are regarded as anti-oxidants) hydrochloric acid and chlorides ) ( chloride Cl - is one of the electrolytes are salts of chlorides (eg occurring in the stomach. ). .

Other types of wood

There are other dentifrice wood sticks are made ​​. In the Western Sahara are the Maerua crassifolia (family caper family), a woody shrub whose bitter-tasting leaves can be eaten. In Mauritania, it was on Hassaniya Atile (Pl. Atil ). Salvadora persica is, there tiǧṭaīye (Pl. tiǧǧet ). Also used in this region Commiphora africana (family balsam tree plants, adreṣaīe, Pl ADRES ) and Wüstendattel ( Balanites aegyptiaca, Hassaniya tišṭāye, Pl tišṭāy, teīšeṭ ). In India twigs of the neem tree are used for brushing teeth.