One of the best
ways to protect one’s teeth is the siwak, which was mentioned in
several sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Siwak are the wicks that
are used to rub inside the mouth, and they get their name from the
Arabic word “yudlik,” which can be roughly translated to mean
“massage” (i.e., massage the inside of the mouth). It means more
than “tooth brush.”
The best type of
siwak is that which comes from the araak tree. The siwak of the
Prophet (pbuh) was from that tree. The siwak is a natural twig
fortified with natural minerals that help clean the teeth, other
inhibitors that prevent gums from bleeding, cleaning agents that
kill microbes and germs and a scent that gives breath a naturally
fresh smell. The siwak is an ideal, natural brush that has been
endowed with more than any artificial toothpaste could ever
have.
Like a
toothbrush, the wicks on the siwak clean between the teeth and do
not break under any amount of pressure; rather, they are flexible
and strong. The small wicks bend to the appropriate shape to get
plaque and leftover food out from in between teeth while avoiding
any damage to the gums.
The Prophet
(pbuh) taught us more than 1,400 years ago to use the siwak to clean
our teeth and mouth and give it a nice scent. Anas quoted the
Prophet (pbuh) as saying: “Whenever the Angel Gabriel would visit
me, he would advise me to use the siwak.”
The leftovers of
food found between teeth provide an excellent environment for the
festering of millions of bacteria, which can lead to painful and
bloody gum disease and cysts. In the worst cases, there can be
inflammation of the jawbones.
Bacteria also
produce damaging enzymes that eat away at the calcium of the teeth,
which causes cavities. In severe cases, the bacteria produce gases
that emit nasty stenches from the mouth. Recent studies have found
that siwak has natural minerals that kill microbes and germs and
remove plaque.
The Prophet
(pbuh) used to rub the siwak over his tongue, teeth and gums. Abu
Musa Al-Ash’ari said, “I visited the Prophet, peace be upon him, and
the siwak was at the edge of his tongue.”
Chemical Breakdown Of A Siwak
Siwak has 19
beneficial ingredients in it. Most important among them
are:
- Antibacterial acidic inhibitors that
fight decay and diarrhea. They are natural disinfectants and can
be used to stop bleeding. They disinfect the gums and teeth and
close any microscopic cuts that may have existed in the gums. On
first usage, the siwak will taste harsh, and maybe even burn,
because of a mustard-like substance found in it, but this is the
ingredient that fights decay in the mouth and kills
germs.
- Minerals such as sodium chloride,
potassium, sodium bicarbonate and calcium oxides. These clean the
teeth. For instance, the American Dental Association considers
sodium bicarbonate to be a preferred ingredient in
toothpastes.
- Natural scented oils that taste and
smell nice, give the mouth a nice smell. They make up about 1% of
the siwak.
- Enzymes that prevent the buildup of
plaque that causes gum disease. Plaque is also the no. 1 cause of
premature loss of teeth.
- Anti-decay and anti-germ ingredients
that act as a penicillin of sorts, decreasing the amount of
bacteria in the mouth, which means cleaner teeth and cleaner air
when breathing through the mouth.
Some researchers
have found that tooth decay is rapid when a dry brush is used, and
that wetting one’s toothbrush mitigates the damage. So the siwak
should be dampened before usage. If there is no alternative, one’s
saliva will suffice to dampen the stick. Siwak also has chemicals
that cause the mouth to produce extra saliva, which is the mouth’s
organic defense and cleaning mechanism.
