The Ultimate Guide to Using Nature’s Toothbrush

There are many plants known throughout the world which over the centuries have been used as nature’s toothbrushes. Each culture found the perfect plant, known as chew sticks, for oral health in their natural surroundings. In regions like the Arabian Peninsular, Africa and India, the sticks of certain plants have been used and well documented for their effectiveness in oral hygiene.

Plants used as chew sticks

There are over 100 plant species which can be used as chew sticks. The sticks are fibrous and the fibres work like a brush when mixed with saliva or water. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Miswak (Salvadora Persia)
  
• Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
  
• Neem (Azadirachta indica)
  
• Whiteroot (Gouania lupuloides)
  
• Jatropha curcas
  
• Egbo Oshunshun (Carpolobia lutea G. Don)

While we all want whiter teeth, we don’t want to destroy our natural teeth to achieve that goal. In the West, one is taught that toothpaste and regular check-ups should be the basic regime for oral health. However, it is becoming more challenging to find and afford regular oral care. Dental care is becoming increasingly prohibitive for people in many countries.

Have you seen the advertisement which asks people to take the tissue test? You put the tissue next to your teeth and see if you teeth are as white as the tissue paper. Someone in an ad department obviously thought this was a good idea.

Comparing the human tooth, which has a normal wear and tear expectations, to a piece of bleached paper is counter productive, and begs a reality check. The use of chew sticks for centuries did not require such advertising. The benefits were self evident.

Benefits of chew sticks

The many benefits of chew sticks have been exhaustively researched, and according to one such study in the North American Journal of Medical Science, it was found that the Miswak chew stick is equal to, or better than modern toothpaste and toothbrushes. Of course, it is recommended that you check with your health care professional before using herbal alternatives.

The various chew sticks contain key ingredients beneficial to oral health such as chloride, silica and fluoride.

The following benefits are claimed for plant chew sticks. They are said to:

• Prevent Plaque
  
• Strengthen the gum
  
• Anti-inflammatory
  
• Stimulates the bones during chewing
  
• Aids digestion
  
• Prevents tartar build up
  
• Eco-friendly
  
• Sustainable
  
• Prevents bad breath
  
• Anti-bacterial

Another important fact is their availability and affordability in countries where their preparation is a cottage industry which provides a viable income source.

How to use Chew Sticks

Take your preferred chew stick and strip away some of the bark from one end. Place the stripped end in your mouth and start chewing on it. At first, it is like chewing the end of a pencil (remember those). Chew slowly to allow the saliva to soften the stick.

The chewing movement stimulates the jaw bones. Use the molars on both sides of the mouth. In the case of the Gouania Lupuloides, the presence of saponins causes foam to form. It is best to rub gently around the teeth not the gums once the stick becomes fibrous. You can then massage the tongue once you have finished with your teeth and dispose of the stick.

With other chew sticks people may spit or swallow according to their custom.

Personal Experience

I definitely wanted to experience this natural wonder and chose the Gouania Lupuloides, or whiteroot from Jamaica, as the island is special when it comes to herbs and spices. The supplier I used is Island Herbs and Spices is in Ocho Rios. I do not have any paid link to this company but liked the product.

The Gouania Lupuloides is a climbing vine which grows in Jamaica. It starts to foam when chewed due to the saponins. I used it for a week. Previous to this I was using a plant based toothpaste. So far the chew stick appears to be as effective as the toothpaste.

The great Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti, had this to say about the chew stick, for which there are many types in Nigeria:

“Don’t worry about my mouth oh

I dey use chewing stick every morning

Because dirty mouth, cannot talk clean thing”

Fela Kuti – Don’t Worry About My Mouth O

As long as your teeth are strong and healthy you are blessed. Know what is normal and what is magical thinking when it comes to teeth. Miswak and other chew sticks are currently in use in many cultures outside of Europe, including Islamic and Rastafarian cultures.

With so many species of plants to choose from, most of which have been used for thousands of years before commercial toothpaste, you may find one that’s just right for you.