The Three Limitations of Miswak

Why people stop using a miswak

  • Problem one

    Nobody teaches people how to use it

    Unlike the toothbrush that is taught to kids at and early age, the miswak stick is a learning curve. A 2022 review asked for proper instructions, so we wrote how to use one. 1

  • Problem two

    Mold grows when a miswak is stored in damp environments

    A bathroom is warm and humid, and a 2024 study found bacteria on 84% of sticks within a month, this is again why education is needed why sticks turn black. 2

  • Option three

    The taste is sharp

    Toothpaste has trained most people to expect a minty fresh feeling after your brush, but a fresh miswak tastes a bit different and to some people “earthy” instead. The difference is a challenge for many.

Research for “improved” Miswak Products on the Market

Two enhanced miswaks already exist. A miswak-infused toothbrush was tested in 2023, and a fluoride-soaked stick was tested in 2017, and both lowered plaque in their trials but there is missing context in the 2023 miswak-infused study.4 5

The 2023 trial tested the three options side by side and gave the ordinary toothbrush group fluoride toothpaste, gave the chewing stick group just the stick and , and never specified whether the infused brush was used with toothpaste or not - leaving out a key detail. Counting plaque tells you an end result but not specifying whats included to get there makes the research hard to confirm or verify. More is in what the 2023 trial left outA.

  • Our Ongoing Research at Oxford University

    MSc Nanotechnology for Medicine and Healthcare

    We are proud to announce that we are currently conducting ongoing research at Oxford University through participation in the MSc Nanotechnology for Medicine and Healthcare program. This ongoing research focuses on advancing the Miswak stick for contemporary oral care by combating black mold and the lack a minty fresh after-feel. While still in progress, the research is being conducted under the supervision of Professor Peter Dobson OBE as the principal supervisor.

    Our work aims to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and modern science by investigating how we can optimize the Miswak's natural antibacterial compounds and delivery mechanisms. This is the start of our commitment to improve the products we offer.

  • Dissertation Title

    "Advancing the Miswak Stick for contemporary oral care: comparative analysis with modern toothbrush, understanding its limitations, effectiveness and identifying improvements."

What we are not claiming

This is laboratory work. It is not in the stick you can buy today, which is the plain miswak with nothing added. While initial trials for improvements are ongoing no results or research has been published and many of our methods for improvements will be kept trade secret.

Questions

Questions People Ask

What three problems did you find with the miswak?

People are never taught the technique, a stick grows mold when it is
stored damp, and the taste is sharp rather than minty. Our research goes
after the mold and the taste.

Is this research in the miswak I can buy today?

No. What we sell today is the plain miswak, with nothing added to it and nothing taken out of it.

Has any of it been tested in people?

No. There has been no clinical trial, so we make no clinical claim about the laboratory work.

What are you trying to fix?

The mold that grows on a damp stick, and the sharp taste that puts new users off, both without changing the miswak itself.

Sources and references

Nothing here is medical advice or a clinical claim.

References

  1. Ramli, H., Mohd-Dom, T. N., Mohd-Said, S. et al. (2022). The effectiveness of miswak practices in reducing plaque and gingivitis among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 298:115598. Read the paper
  2. Altintepe Dogan, S. S., Ugur, S. G., Dogan, O. et al. (2024). Evaluation of bacterial contamination of miswak toothbrushes in different storage environments: an experimental study. Annals of Medical Research, 31(3):190 to 198. Read the paper
  3. Sofrata, A., Santangelo, E. M., Azeem, M. et al. (2011). Benzyl isothiocyanate, a major component from the roots of Salvadora persica is highly active against Gram-negative bacteria. PLOS ONE, 6(8):e23045. Read the paper
  4. Azizan, N. F. et al. (2023). Effectiveness of Salvadora persica toothbrush and Salvadora persica chewing stick in plaque and gingivitis control: a randomized control trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 23:456. Read the paper
  5. Baeshen, H. et al. (2017). Comparison of fluoridated miswak and toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste on plaque removal and fluoride release. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice, 18(4):300 to 306. Read the paper