Brush Your Teeth with This Stick

By John Farrier in Health, Living on Jan 29, 2011 at 7:26 pm

A miswak is a tooth cleaning stick made from the Salvadora persica tree. It’s traditionally used in Pakistan, India, and the Middle East in place of a modern plastic toothbrush. The bristles inside the plant, once exposed by cutting across the stem, are effective as a cleaning instrument. Leen Sadder, a design student, decided to make a modern version:

THIS aims to repackage and promote the miswak as an organic, biodegradable, portable, more beneficial substitute for toothpaste and a toothbrush. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to package and market the twig to a contemporary American audience, who would not be entertained with the idea of biting off the top of the stick in order to use it. The solution for this is a cigar-cutter-like cap that peels off the outer layer to reveal the natural bristles, and slices them off after use. It also protects the stick from germs and microbes.

Link via Gizmodo

Tags: toothbrushes

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Mr. Awesome
Jan 29th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
They sell these at the local supermarket here in the middle east. First and foremost arabs have lousy teeth so why would you want to adopt their dental hygiene techniques.

These things are awful. First it tastes like you are chewing on sour tree bark and you spend a majority of your time picking slivers of wood out of your mouth.

Stick to a standard toothbrush.
Frau
Jan 29th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
@ Mr. Awesome -if you are picking slivers out of your teeth, then you may be scrubbing to hard.

Having actually used these, I do not see a need for them in a place that has products like Wisp available.
If I were somewhere without my toothbrush in the middle east and that was available to me, then yes. But in a modern place, no.
CYBret
Jan 29th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
I bought several of these online and used them regularly for about 6 months (in addition to regular brushing). When I went for my next tooth cleaning the hygienist was impressed at how little work she had to do on my teeth.

I didn’t mind the taste but the process itself was a hassle.
Jessss
Jan 29th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
“more beneficial substitute”

Bull**t. How is it more beneficial?
Sumayyah's Mommy
Jan 29th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
I actually use one of these regularly and it is quite effective. It is biodegradable and there are a ton of benefits from within the bark itself for oral health and overall health as well. Here is an article to get you started: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12239575

I was wondering how do I purchase this particular brand? I tried googling but couldn’t find anything?
Kalel
Jan 29th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Just give it a more comfortable angle-head.
Ajan
Jan 30th, 2011 at 1:14 am
hehe!! Nostalgic!! Reminds me of summer hols at gran’s.. good old days..
Jessss
Jan 30th, 2011 at 2:12 am
Is the plastic container it comes in biodegradable too?
Splint Chesthair
Jan 31st, 2011 at 5:22 am
If you live int he mid-atlantic/southeastern US, you’ve probably heard of the sweetgum tree. Same use.
Live Eels
Feb 1st, 2011 at 12:36 am
A Pakistani friend gave me a root once, without all the wasteful packaging etc. It was different from a commercial toothbrush but very effective.

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