Teeth-cleaning twig
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "redirect hatnote".
A teeth-cleaning twig (in Hindi: datwoon[1]) is an oral hygiene tool made from a twig from a tree. It can help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
History
Chew sticks are twigs or roots of certain plants that are chewed until one end is frayed. This end can be used to brush against the teeth,[2] while the other end can be used as a toothpick.[3] The earliest chew sticks have been dated to Babylonia in 3500 BCE[3] and an Egyptian tomb from 3000 BCE;[2] they are mentioned in Chinese records dating from 1600 BCE[3] In the Ayurvedas around 4th century BCE and in Tipitaka, in the Buddhist Canon around the 5th century BCE in India.[4][5]
The Indian way of using tooth wood for brushing is presented by the Chinese monk Yijing (635–713 CE) when he describes the rules for monks in his book:[6]
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
Every day in the morning, a monk must chew a piece of tooth wood to brush his teeth and scrape his tongue, and this must be done in the proper way. Only after one has washed one's hands and mouth may one make salutations. Otherwise both the saluter and the saluted are at fault. In Sanskrit, the tooth wood is known as the Script error: No such module "lang".—Script error: No such module "lang". meaning tooth, and Script error: No such module "lang"., a piece of wood. It is twelve finger-widths in length. The shortest is not less than eight finger-widths long, resembling the little finger in size. Chew one end of the wood well for a long while and then brush the teeth with it.
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
A wide variety of plants can be used as Script error: No such module "lang"..[7]
In Africa, chew sticks are made from the tree Salvadora persica, also known as the "toothbrush tree". In Islam, this tree is traditionally used to create a chew stick called miswak, as frequently advocated for in the hadith (written traditions relating to the life of Muhammad).[8]
In South India, neem is used as a teeth cleaning twig. Neem, in full bloom, can aid in healing by keeping the area clean and disinfected.
Traditional Sikhs still use datun today as it is written in their scriptures:
Twigs used
_flowers_at_Hodal_W_IMG_1163.jpg){kind=link}
_in_Hyderabad_W_IMG_6976.jpg){kind=link}
Teeth-cleaning twigs can be obtained from a variety of tree species. Although many trees are used in the production of teeth-cleaning twigs, some trees are better suited to clean and protect the teeth, due to the chemical composition of the plant parts. The tree species are:[9][10][11][12][13][14]
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
- Salvadora persica
- Sassafras
- Gumtree[15]
- Lime tree (Citrusaurantafolia)[16]
- Garcinia mannii in West Africa[17]
- Orange tree (Citrus × sinensis)[16]
- African laburnum (Cassia sieberiana)[16]
- Tea tree
- Neem in the Indian subcontinent
- Vachellia nilotica, also called babool or kikar in the Indian subcontinent
- Dalbergia sissoo, also called sheesham in the Indian subcontinent
- Liquorice
- Gouania lupuloides
- Cinnamon
- Dogwood
- Olive
- Walnut
- Acacia catechu
- Acacia nilotica
- and other trees with bitter roots.
Europe and North America
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>- Apple tree
- Pear tree
- Bamboo
- Fig tree
- Common hazel
- Willow
- Orange tree
- Lime tree
- Silver birch
- Olive
- Walnut tree
- Liquorice root
- Nyssa sylvatica
Australia
India
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>- Apamarga
- Arjun
- Bael
- Bargad
- Ber
- Dhak
- Gular
- Jamun
- Kamer
- Karanj
- Madar ak
- Mango
- Mulhatti
- Neem
- Peepal
- Safed babul or Acacia
- Tejovati
- Vijayasar
Carrying
Many companies produce special cases for carrying, storing and protecting chew sticks, known popularly as "miswak holders".
Attributes
When compared to toothbrushes, teeth-cleaning twigs have several differentiations such as:
- More ecological in its life-cycle.
- Dependence from external supplier, if lack of access to the respective trees.
- Some twigs need moistening with water if they become dry, to ensure the end is soft. The end may be cut afresh to ensure hygiene, and should not be stored near a sink. The twig is replaced every few weeks to maintain proper hygiene.
- Lower cost (0–16% of the cost of a toothbrush).
- Not standardized hardness. Careful selection of the right hardness is required before use.
- Use without toothpaste. Thus indefinite fluoride consumption.
- Cleaning teeth all day long, instead of twice a day for a few minutes. [15]
See also
- Ayurveda
- Babool (brand) of tooth paste in India, made from babool tree
- Miswak
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Dantakaṭṭha sutta (AN 5.208) Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Li, R., 2000. Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia: A Record of the Inner Law Sent Home from the South Seas (p. 198). Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Cheek (2004)