Miswaak Vs Toothpaste : You decide!!!

Saturday 14 April 2012

This article, although is influenced by Islamic stand on Miswaak and harmful effect of toothpaste, the readers are encouraged to do more research on this topic. It is not directed against any company or any religion but it is my point of view influenced by the immense benefit of miswaak and scientific results pertaining to the effects of toothpaste comprising of many deadly chemicals known to mankind. 

For many many centuries, Miswaak (A twig) was the most popular means of cleaning teeth and undoubtedly the best chemical to prevent all sort of germs to all human civilizations ever inhabited on earth but for the last century, a man made chemical has taken the market of Miswaak by storm through effective marketing highly influenced with the modern tag even though all of such chemicals whether toothpaste or powder are influenced by the chemical composition of miswaak. 

Here I go first with Islamic references related to the benefit of Miswaak and then the harmful effects of toothpaste as per research conducted by popular institutions and academics.

Sahih Bukhari 2:13:13
Narrated Anas:  “Allah's Apostle said, "I have told you repeatedly to (use) the Siwak.

Miswaak is now days used as a marketing component by pharmaceutical companies in the toothpaste for e.g. Colgate, Babool, pepsodent etc.

In 1986, W.H.O. recommended Miswaak for daily use for its immense hygiene benefits.
In 2003, a clinical research proved that Miswaak was better than the toothbrush and people who used it experimentally were satisfied.
Abu Ayyub (R) narrates that Allah’s Apostle said: 4 characteristics pertain to the practices of the Prophets (Messengers): Modesty, use of perfume, use of Siwak, and marriage. (Tirmidhi)

There are 70 benefits of Miswaak as suggested by Islamic Literature and many of these have been scientifically proven and the rest haven’t been studied yet.

The Wrigley Company made a study on Miswaak which was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The study found that mints laced with Miswaak extract were 20 times more effective in killing bacteria than ordinary mints. A small testimony to this fact is that after half an hour, the mints laced with Miswaak extract killed about 60% of the bacteria whereas the ordinary mints managed only 3.6%. In the August issue of Journal of Periodontology (2008), Swedish researchers found that suspended Miswaak pieces in a petridish were able to kill bacteria that cause periodontal disease without being in physical contact with the bacteria.

The study conducted at PUBMED (U.S National Library for Medicine Service) found that Miswaak was more effective than tooth brushing in reducing plaque and gingivitis provided it was used correctly.

Benefits of Miswaak
(1) Eliminates bad odour and improves the sense of taste
(2) Sharpens the Memory
(3) Sharpens the Intelligence
(4) Eliminates Slime
(5) A Cure for Illness
(6) Creates fragrance in the mouth.
(7) Strengthens the gums.
(8) Prevents tooth decay.
(9) Prevents further increase of decay which has already set in the teeth.
(10) Cure headaches.
(11) Eliminate toothaches.
(12) Creates lustre (Noor) on the face of the one who continually uses it.
(13) Causes teeth to glow.
(14) Removes the yellowishness of the teeth.
(15) Strengthens the eye-sight.
(16) Beneficial for the health of the entire body.
(17) Assists in the process of Digestion.
(18) It is a cure for a certain mouth disease known as Qilaa'- This is stated in Hujjatul Baaleghah.
(19) Clears the voice. This is stated in Tibbe Nabawi.
(20) Facilitates appetite (Tibbe Nabawi).
(21) Increases the eloquence of one's speech.
(22) Miswaak (i.e. its constant use) will be a factor to ease the pangs of Death. The continuous use of the Miswaak makes it easy for the Rooh (Soul) to depart from the body when its appointed time arrives. (SHARHUS SUDOOR)
(23) Miswaak increases the Thawaab (reward) of Salaat (prayer) from seventy times to four hundred times. (HADITH)
(24) Miswaak is a factor which will earn higher ranks in Jannat for the one who uses it
(25) The Angels sing the praises for the one who use it.
(26) Use of the Miswaak displeases Shaitaan.
(27) Use of the Miswaak graces one with the companionship of the Angels.
(28) And, the greatest benefit of using the Miswaak is the attainment of Allah's Pleasure....... 

Beside above, it also helps smokers to quit smoking. We see they are immense benefits of using Miswaak and yet we have left the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (p) for modern technology which in fact is not as advantageous as Miswaak but indeed very harmful for our health.

Toothpaste in popular world is used to strengthen teeth by preventing cavities and gum disease (gingivitis) and whitening teeth for aesthetics and health..

Have you heard of this advertisement on your toothpaste, if not than please check it quickly.

"Keep out of the reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control centre immediately."

Many name-brand toothpastes and mouthwashes contain potentially harmful ingredients, which are made up of very small molecules that may penetrate through the tissue of your mouth, enter the blood stream, and build up in the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and tissues. These harmful ingredients have been linked to cancer, blindness and even death.

Sodium Fluoride
It is a main ingredient of toothpaste as well as of rat poison. Where Fluoride in toothpaste is used to prevent cavities and in rat poison, it is used to kill rats, cockroach and other insects. Minimal ingestion of sodium fluoride causes salivation, nausea, vomiting, epigastria pain, and diarrhoea whereas large doses can cause paralysis, muscular weakness and clonic convulsions, followed by respiratory and cardiac failure.

Fluorides have been used throughout history to alter the behaviour and mood of human beings. It is a little known fact that fluoride compounds were added to the drinking water of prisoners to keep them quiet (hypnotic) and to hamper non-compliance with authority, both in Nazi prison camps during World War II and in the Soviet gulags in Siberia.

Surprisingly, fluoride has NEVER been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA. Additionally, a 1990 study stated that fluoride has been shown to NOT reduce cavities and scientists are now linking fluoride to dental deformity, arthritis, allergic reactions and about 10,000 unnecessary deaths each year from cancer.

Crude Oil
It is another important ingredient of toothpaste consists of FD&C colour dyes which may cause potentially severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness, lack of concentration, and cancer.

FD & C blue colour dyes are composed of coal tar oil which is black & sticky and they are classified as active carcinogens causing cancers and other health problems. When used on teeth, these dyes are quickly absorbed within seconds through the skin on the lips, or through the mucous membrane in the mouth. (Mucous membrane in mouth has 90% absorbing capability)

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
Perhaps the most dangerous ingredient in toothpaste is SLS. It is responsible for the formation of foam but it is very corrosive & harmful to skin tissue (American College of Toxicity).

SLS is commonly used in cleaning industry in products such as garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps. The journal of the American College of Toxicology reports that SLS can penetrate and be retained in the eye, brain, heart, and liver with potentially harmful long term effects.

Triclosan
Triclosan, a chemical used for its antibacterial properties, is an ingredient found in many detergents and toothpastes. While the toothpaste companies claim that it is safe, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered it as a dangerous pesticide not only for human but also for an environment.

Triclosan is a chlorophenol, which is suspected of causing cancer in humans. Externally, phenol can cause a variety of skin irritations but internally, even in small amounts, phenol can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, convulsions, coma, and death.

Long term exposure to repeated use of many pesticide products can damage the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs, suppress the immune system, and cause hormonal disruption, paralysis, sterility and brain haemorrhages.

Hydrated silica
It is primarily used as an abrasive in toothpaste, is made from a crystallized compound found in quartz, sand, and flint.

Dr Samuel Epstein, who is Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition and recipient of The Alternative Nobel Prize in 1998, states in his book - The amount of irritation caused by toothpaste is minimal but can include sore mouth and gums, wearing of tooth enamel, sore tongue, and sloughing of mucous membrane. The public is cautioned against excessive use of products containing 'dioforms,' which are abrasive substances that can cause the breakdown of tooth enamel.

Products containing the ingredients silica and cellulose, in particular, should be avoided when gum disease, tooth decay, sensitivity and receding gums are present. While these ingredients can remove tartar and make teeth whiter in appearance, they also may do harm to dental health by altering the acidic balance of the mouth, gums and tongue, said Dr Warren Scherer, New York University College of Dentistry, as reported by The Naples Daily News.

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We are constantly fed poison in many forms day and night and many major problems are resulting from it. These poisonous and harmful substances are also found in detergents, soaps, facial creams & many beauty cosmetics. We know the answer yet we turn a blind eye to the facts just to go hand in hand with so called modern society. It is a time to wake up and investigate all man made products.

We have seen a huge rise in cancer & diabetic patients, huge cases of mental disorder and other numerous problems in old age all in all recorded in last two decades and the number is constantly rising. We are first fed with certain chemicals in forms of toothpaste, soaps, detergents, facial & beauty creams, perfumes, fast foods, beverages etc. and then put on other chemicals for treatment in forms of medicines which can have good and side effects. In other words, we are surrounded by different forms of poisons and there seems no way out. In fact there is a way; ALLAH has prescribed natural prescription in many herbs, vegetables, fruits, honey etc. which is otherwise used by pharmaceutical companies as a promotional tool for their products.

Why we are so silent about natural treatment? Why we have left the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (s)? Why we are ignorant?

Start using Miswaak for if you want to live longer and live healthy.

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