The influence of miswak on dental health

Name: Nurul Nurwulan

Nim: 221051066

Class: Gigi B

The influence of miswak on dental health

       Before getting to know toothbrushes and toothpaste, ancient people used miswak to keep their teeth and mouth clean. Even though it's not widely used, in fact miswak does have a variety of benefits that are a shame to miss. Miswak or miswak is the stem or branch of the arak tree (Salvador persica). Trees that are included in this category of shrubs can be found in the Middle East region.

        There is no doubt about the benefits of Miswak for dental and oral health.  One of them is to prevent cavities.  It is not surprising that the tradition of siwak (cleaning teeth with miswak) is still quite popular in Middle Eastern countries and several African countries.There are many natural ingredients in miswak which are believed to be able to maintain healthy teeth and mouth, including alkaloids, silica, sodium bicarbonate, chloride, and fluoride.  In addition, miswak also contains other natural ingredients, such as vitamin C, calcium, sulfur, essential oil, and tannins.

What are the benefits of siwak for dental health?

1. Prevent cavities and maintain tooth strength
     Miswak is believed to prevent cavities.  This benefit can be obtained thanks to the essential oil contained in miswak

2. Prevent bad breath and freshen breath
     In addition to preventing cavities, miswak is also useful for eliminating bad breath.  This is because miswak stems or branches contain natural antibacterial substances that can inhibit the growth of germs that cause bad breath.

3. Prevent the formation of dental plaque
     Dental plaque can easily form if you are lazy to brush your teeth after eating.  Plaque can be converted by bacteria in the mouth into acids which can damage teeth.

4. Protect gums
    Another benefit of regularly cleaning your teeth with Miswak is protecting your gums.  This is because miswak is able to prevent the formation of plaque and the growth of bacteria between the teeth and gums, thereby reducing the risk of gingivitis.

How to use miswak correctly?

    Here are the steps to use miswak to clean teeth:

1. Cut and peel the tip of miswak about 1 cm.
2. Chew the tip of the siwak that has been peeled until the stem fibers open and form feathers.
3. When it is soft and forms bristles, immediately soak miswak in water.
4. Clean the teeth with the part of the miswak that has the shape of the bristles.

"Miswak has antimicrobial properties, inhibiting the growth of bacteria to prevent two common diseases, namely cavities and gum disease"