How To Use Miswak, Its Importance & Excellence
The article about Miswak is divided into following headings:
A) Importance of Miswak from hadiths:
B) Medical discoveries:
C) Health effects of Miswaak:
D) Cytotoxicity:
E) Scientific comparison between Miswaak and toothbrushes:
F) How to use Miswaak:
G) Brushing technique:
H) When to use Miswaak:
I) Common mistakes in Miswaak use:
A) Importance of Miswak:i) "If it were not that it would create hardship for my people, I would have ordered them to use the Miswaak with every ablution and with every prayer. [Bukhari]Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that the Prophet (saw) liked to clean his teeth with Miswak with every Salat, but he did not made it obligatory for the reason that it would be inconvenient for his followers. It shows that he was extremely affectionate and kind to his Ummah. ii) Hudaifah (ra) reported: Whenever Prophet (saw) got up (from sleep), he would rub his teeth with Miswak (tooth-stick)[Bukhari & Muslim].iii) `Aishah (ra) reported: We used to prepare for the Prophet (saw) a Miswak (tooth-stick) and the water for making Wudu'. Whenever Allah wished to awaken him from sleep at night, he (saw) would brush his teeth with Miswak, make Wudu', and perform Salat[Muslim].Commentary: This Hadith shows how particular the Prophet (saw) was about using Miswak. Besides pointing out the importance of Miswak, it also throws light on the noble conduct of the wives of the Prophet (saw) as it shows how keen they were about his needs, habits and temperament. iv) ‘Aa'ishah(ra) related that the Prophet(saw) said: "Ten things are part of one’s natural disposition: Trimming the moustache, growing a beard, (using) the Miswaak, sniffing water, cutting the nails, washing hands, plucking armpits, shaving pubic hair, and conserving water[Muslim]
B) Medical discoveries:The Miswaak is a natural tool for brushing the teeth. It is taken from the roots and branches of particular desert trees.It differs from one region to another, but in Arabia and Asia it is taken from the Arak tree. This is the most famous variety, and is the kind that was used by the Prophet (saw).Its scientific name is Salvadora Persica.It is a tree that grows in hot equatorial countries, especially in desert valleys.It is widespread in the South of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, and elsewhere.Salvador Persica is an upright evergreen small tree or shrub, seldom more than one foot in diameter, reaching a maximum height of three meters. The leaves are small, oval, thick and succulent with a strong smell of cress or mustard.The Miswaak is also obtained from other trees.In Africa, for example, it is cut from Lime and Orange trees, and in America some are cut from the Senna tree.As the Arak tree is so well-known, and as it was the kind that the Prophet (saw) used, it has been scientifically studied.
C) Health effects of Miswaak:Physically, the Miswaak is a natural toothbrush. It is composed of a compact group of minute natural fibers that perform exactly the same function as a normal toothbrush except that it is made of natural rather than plastic fibers. For this reason it may be more gentle on the gums.Miswaak's natural toothpaste is made up of many substances that are important for cleaning teeth. Many researchers have studied the Miswaak in depth, and have proven that Miswaak contains over ten different natural chemical compounds considered essential for good oral and dental hygiene.They are: fluoride, silica, tannic acid, resins, alkaloids (salvadorine), volatile oils (sinigrin), sulfur vitamin C, sodium bicarbonate, chlorides, calcium, benzylisothiocyanate (BIT), and others including salicylic acids, sterols, trimethylamine, saponins, flavenoids.Some of these components are stain removers and teeth whiteners, some protect teeth against caries, some are bactericidal and antiseptic, some help in healing and to repair tissues, some promote remineralization (building) of tooth enamel, and some give the pleasant taste and smell.
D) Cytotoxicity:Results of cytotoxictests showed no cytotoxic (cell damaging) effects from using freshly cut Miswaak. However, the same plant used 24 hours after cutting did contain harmful components. Based on these findings, researchers recommend cutting the used portion of the Miswaak after it has been used for a day and preparing a fresh part.
E) Scientific comparison between Miswaak and toothbrushes:A clinical trial study on Ethiopian schoolchildren, comparing Miswaak with the conventional toothbrush, found Miswaak to be as effective as the toothbrush in removing oral deposits. The study also found instruction and supervision to be important since the children in the sample were not familiar with techniques for using Miswaak.
F) How to use Miswaak:The method of preparing a Miswaak for use is to cut a branch or root of the Arak tree into pieces between 10 cm and 20cm in length, and between 4mm and 14mm in diameter. Occasionally some are thicker than this.Fresh Miswaak is brown in color, with a hot, pleasant taste. People usually strip off some of the Miswaak's thin bark from one end, then chew that end a little to separate the fibers so that they become like the fibers of a normal toothbrush. They then use it to brush their teeth.i) Length and diameter:A length of 15cm is recommended, which is convenient to grip, and easy to manipulate in a confined space. The diameter is normally less than 1 centimeter, which provides a supple stick firm enough to transmit the pressure of the cleansing action to the teeth without breaking.ii) Freshness: Miswaak should be freshly cut so that it is supple, easily chewed, and still rich in active constituents. The root should be whitish-brown in color; a dark brown color indicates that the Miswaak is no longer fresh.If a stick is dry, the end for chewing should initially be soaked in fresh water for 24 hours. It should be noted that soaking for unduly long periods causes loss of active constituents and diminishes the therapeutic properties, although the mechanical effects on the teeth can still occur.iii) The end: Before Miswaak is used, the end should be washed with water. It is then chewed repeatedly until the fibers stand out like the bristles of a toothbrush. These fibers should be trimmed every 24 hours.
G) Brushing technique: The techniques employed for removing plaque mechanically are similar to that for the toothbrush and the chewing stick; i.e., vertical and horizontal brushing. The cleaning movement should always be directed away from the gingival margin of the teeth (away from the gums) on both the buccal (outer cheek) and lingual (inner cheek) surfaces.Care should be taken to avoid damaging the soft tissues of the mouth. Satisfactory cleaning can be achieved if this procedure is followed for five minutes..There are two basic holds: Pen-grip (three-finger) or palm-grip (five finger-grip). In each case the aim is to ensure firm but controlled movement of the brush end of the Miswaak within the oral cavity, so that every area of the mouth is reached with relative ease and convenience...
H) When to use Miswaak:In general, the Miswaak should be used a minimum of five times a day (i.e. before each prayer). However it is recommended to use it all the time, whenever possible...
I) Common mistakes in Miswaak use:1. The end is either too thin or too thick.2. Keeping it in the mouth while doing other things.3. Not cutting the end every day.4. Forgetting that teeth have five faces (inner, outer, two sides, and biting/chewing face), and only using Miswaak to clean the outer faces...Sources: Hadiths & commentaries have been taken from Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen Chapter 215 The Excellence of using Miswak (Tooth-Stick)
