'Stick' to clean teeth

WHILE our markets aread with tooth- brushespas of all sizes anda. dae suggemon toup a stick mightI aboard. More so,Vast studies havealked chewing for having ill- effects ma ord and dental healthML Fiat instance, aP im Glmna tinked111eque formationme bleeding to theior of chewing sticks. Similarly,or smaly in Saudi Arabia reportedaberrations like tooth wear,ir amAbdal pockets, gum recessionImimm and inflammation due toimmil me of chewmg sticks.

As reported by World Health Forum,Vol 16 No 2. 1995, a Saudi Arabianih mmia working at the King SaudNk of Dentistry, recentlyall ando reports as baseless, byoft &e usefulness of chewingJim wommusining oral and dentalHygene.

The leader leader Khalid Almas hasconfirmed abot chewing sticks containlcmeatiments proven effectivebygmene. Besides, the fibrousn9dwe natural toothbriisheseb gillikiently, thus removingplaque in Surface.

Derived from spongy roots or stemsOf some fibrous plants, chewing sticksAre already "mintimms for toothbrushes inid mew of developing countriesa in dwir emy availability andA sear, chewing sticks requirelimmmuces or expertise in prodian making them affordablesmeal 1611L Some commonof diese sticks are lime treesand orange trees4 in West Africa, roots ofvmmea) among the Blackas of African laburnumeek) in Sierra Leone, anduJime btdica) in the Indiansubcontinent.

The fact that the actof chewing soft, freshsticks releases sap thatbears immense medicinal value, has now beenestablished. Researchers have confirmedthat silica present inmany chewing sticks actsas an abrasive to cleanteeth, alkaloids presentin them kill bacteria preventing cavity formation, and some essential oils present inthe sticks bear anti-infammatory actionon the gums. Moreover, these oils showanalgesic and anaesthetic properties,helping in relieving toothaches. Tanninsand resins present in many sticks havean astringent effect on the mucousmembrane, and also give protectionagainst caries by forming a layer overthe tooth enamel.

Besides, a high fluoride contentfights cavity formation by reaching sitessusceptible to cavities. By chewing stickspits, the fissures and interproximal areasin teeth receive fresh flouride bearingsap, thereby protecting the enarriel frombacterial attack.

Other advantages pointed out byresearchers include exercise to the jawsby chewing sticks, copious oral secretion useful for oral hygiene and generalhealth, combating undesirable habitslike smoking and thumb sucking, andhelping in children's teething process.Besides, scrapping the bristles of chewing sticks on tongue helps control badbreath and removes white coating ontongue.

"The use of chewing sticks conformswith the notion of primary health careand has long established associationswith certain cultural and religiousbeliefs," says Almas. Regular usage ofchewing sticks is part of a devoutMuslim's daily religious routine;besides, many people simply use it as anintegral part of a long-held tradition. Infact, some companies in Egypt,Pakistan, India, Switzerland and the UKhave even used chewing sticks for manufacturing toothpastes.