One
of the best ways to protect one’s teeth and Bad Breath
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 bad 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 to prevent bad breath.
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 and bad breath
to the mouth.
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. The Prophet (pbuh)
has said:
“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,
bad breath 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 and bad
breath. Recent studies have found that
siwak has natural minerals that kill microbes
and germs and remove plaque.
Chemical
Breakdown Of A Siwak to prevent Bad Breath...
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, prevent
bad breath 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.
Even
expert sites on bad breath on the internet
such as MendYourBreath
also recommend 3 parts of Baking Soda with one part
of Salt. (This is the site from where we procured
the report for our subscriber suffering from bad breath
- unfortunately we were allowed only to share it with
the said subscriber only.)
Siwak
has 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 and bad breath.
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 prevents against dry mouth
causing bad breath; and saliva is the mouth’s
organic defense and cleaning mechanism.
The Prophet
(pbuh) described the process of cleaning one's teeth
as
"purification of one's mouth, and an act that
is pleasing to the Lord".
Teeth
are also a blessing from Allah. It is said that, "If
the eyes are a window to the soul then the mouth
is the doorway to the body"
According to researchers it is this
regular cleaning of the teeth, along with a proper
diet and fresh breath, that makes the difference between
healthy and unhealthy teeth.
Keeping your teeth clean is as important Islamically
as it is medically.
It is as difficult to envision speaking to Allah
(through prayer) with bad
breath and dirty teeth as it is to envision
speaking to a friend when you are suffering
from bad breath and dirty teeth.
The Prophet himself (saws), used to
use the miswak before every prayer. Modern
science suggests
we would do well to follow his example.
Shukran
for Your Kindness in visiting our site on Bad Breath
and the use of Siwak in Islam,
Dr.
Rashid M. H.
~~~~~----------~~~~~
MendYourBreath.Com
How To Cure Your Bad Breath In Just 3 Minutes A Day
