Re:Help, Bad Breath/Bullying- julie

[Guest guest]

sorry julie

where the something you wanted to ask?

nasreen

>

>

> Re:Help, Bad Breath/Bullying

>

>

> hi

> this product is a miraclly and not expensive if looked after could

> last upto 6 months.

> available from nutricentre. just type toothbrush on the search panel.

> nasreen

>

> Miswak -- the natural toothbrush

>

> Public care of one's teeth is perfectly acceptable in Saudi

> Arabia, and is done with the miswak (pictured), a natural

> toothbrush-cum-toothpaste. This multi-purpose stick cleans the mouth,

> whitens the teeth and sweetens the breath, and is widely used

> throughout the Arab world.

>

> Muslims use it on the recommendation of the Prophet Mohammed (may

> peace be upon him), who used to use it during fasting and also advised

> its use as a breath freshener before prayer. By contrast with the

> conventional plastic toothbrush, the miswak can be used any time,

> anywhere. It completely dispenses with the need for toothpaste

> squeezing, vigorous brushing, foaming at the mouth or spitting.

>

> The best source of the miswak is the root of the arak tree

> (salvadora persica), more commonly known as the 'toothbrush tree'. The

> arak tree grows in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Southern Egypt, Chad and

> Eastern parts of India. In other parts of the Muslim world where the

> arak tree is not found, other trees are used for the same purpose.

> Strips of bark are used in Morocco and the nim tree in India.

>

> Many young Saudis combine modern and traditional methods, by

> brushing with a plastic toothbrush in the morning and carrying a

> miswak with them to work or college, in order to freshen their breath

> as the day progresses, especially before praying.

>

> Dental research has discovered interesting information about the

> miswak. Chemical analysis revealed that it contains a total of 19

> natural substances, which are beneficial to dental health. Its natural

> antiseptics have a bactericidal action, killing harmful

> micro-organisms in the mouth, the tannic acid it contains has

> astringent qualities which protect the gums from disease, and its

> aromatic oils increase salivation. Because of its built-in

> antiseptics, the miswak needs no cleaning, and because its bristles

> are parallel to the handle rather than perpendicular, it can reach

> more easily between the teeth, where a conventional toothbrush often

> misses.

>

> The large supermarkets and modern pharmacies in Saudi Arabia's

> cities do not sell the miswak. To buy one, you need to seek out the

> street vendors in the souks or in the front of mosques. After

> purchase, the miswak should be soaked in water for a few hours. This

> softens the natural fibres, which helps them to separate when the top

> quarter-inch of bark is pared away with a sharp knife. Chewing the

> bristles for another minute or so will help to separate them further.

> The teeth can then be cleaned by drawing the miswak from the edge of

> the gums up or down to the cutting edge of the teeth. The miswak has a

> taste, which has been described as " pleasantly bitter " .

>

> The dazzlingly white smile of the Saudis bear witness to the fact

> that nature can really excel in the field of dental care.

>