Ancient and Natural Ways of Brushing Teeth

Today there is a definite and quite understandable trend which leans back to nature. Natural dental care is one step in that direction.

Natural Chewing Sticks Better than the Toothbrush?
The First Bristle Tooth Brush in History
Natural Teeth Whitening

Natural Chewing Sticks Better than the Toothbrush?

For thousands of years, long before there was the first toothbrush, people have used chewing sticks, made from twigs of certain trees, to clean their teeth.

The Miswak (also called "siwak" or "miswaak") is a chewing stick made from a twig of a Salvadora persica (arak or peelu tree). The usage is incredibly simple. Peel of a small portion of bark from the end of the twig. Then chew on the peeled portion of the twig until it looks like a brush (see picture).

The tree itself has antiseptic properties and it is comparable to other oral disinfectants and anti-plaque agents used today. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the usage of Miswak. So why are we all still using toothbrushes and tooth paste? I'll leave the guessing to you..

Important things to keep in mind when using the Miswak:

The ideal diameter is 3-5mm.
When fresh it tastes (and should taste) a bit like pepper.
Daily washing and cutting is recommended.
Keep it in a clean sanitized area, as you would with a regular toothbrush.
If it becomes too dry, soak the end in rose water.
If possible, plant a Miswak tree at your home, so you have an unlimited and fresh supply.

Natural toothbrushes can also be made from the twigs or the Neem tree.

The First Bristle Tooth Brush in History

The first tooth brush, roughly as we know it today, was invented late in the 15th century. It was made from hairs of the Siberian wild boar attached to a bamboo stick and the inventor was Chinese.

Believe it or not, but this toothbrush, or variations thereof, was used until well into the 20th century, or 1938 to be more exact, when nylon was invented. The most famous variation of the Chinese invention was William Addis's toothbrush invented in 1780 in England. It was made from bone and horse hair and was mass-produced.

Natural Teeth Whitening

There are many natural teeth whiteners, but be careful in following each and every advice you come across.

Some vegetables are natural abrasives and eating them scrubs your teeth in a natural and harmless way. They act like toothbrushes. These vegetables include carrots, celery and cucumbers.

Baking soda is a classic amongst natural teeth whitening methods, and is indeed harmless. It is very effective in removing stains and killing plaque-causing bacteria, and it also reduces acids which harm your tooth enamel.

There are many more methods for whitening, but some can cause too much damage to your teeth, which you will likely regret sooner or later. The most famous yet questionable home remedy is lemon. Lemons are good for many things, but whitening your teeth is not one of them!