[سيف الكلمة]

توصيات منظمة الصحة العالمية باستخدام السواك ( من موقع طب أسنان في أحد جامعات أستراليا )

Miswak or chewing sticks, which involve the practice of chewing the end of a stick
obtained from various plants, is commonly used in some areas of India (Boghani, 1971).
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended and encouraged
the use of these sticks as an effective tool for oral hygiene. There are studies investigating
the chemical contents of the extracts of miswak. Tannins and resins have an astringent
effect on mucous membranes. Alkaloids and sulfur tend to aid its antibacterial effect.
Chloride contents help to remove plaque and tartar stains. Vitamin C contributed to the
healing and the repair of the tissues. In India, chewing sticks are obtained from the
plant Salvadora-persica. In clinical trials in India, chewing sticks are found to be effective
in removing plaque from the facial surfaces of teeth while they are ineffective on lingual
and palatal surfaces of teeth (Boghani, 1991). Few clinical trails have shown that
plaque removing efficacy of manual tooth brushing is superior to miswak. Thus, the
use of chewing sticks and herbs is quite prevalent amongst rural populations in India,
as a tool for cleaning the teeth.
The maintenance of interproximal gingival health is an integral part of preventive
periodontics. As such, attention is being drawn to inter-dental area. In India, it has
been observed that the proxa brush is better as an interproximal cleaning aid than
dental floss, tooth picks or other interproximal cleansing aids