The much derided chewing stick has finally found a proponent
WHILE our markets are
ad with tooth- brushes
pas of all sizes and
a. dae suggemon to
up a stick might
I aboard. More so,
Vast studies have
alked chewing
for having ill- effects
ma ord and dental health
ML Fiat instance, a
P im Glmna tinked
111eque formation
me bleeding to the
ior of chewing sticks. Similarly,
or smaly in Saudi Arabia reported
aberrations like tooth wear,
ir amAbdal pockets, gum recession
Imimm and inflammation due to
immil me of chewmg sticks.
As reported by World Health Forum,
Vol 16 No 2. 1995, a Saudi Arabian
ih mmia working at the King Saud
Nk of Dentistry, recently
all ando reports as baseless, by
oft &e usefulness of chewing
Jim wommusining oral and dental
Hygene.
The leader leader Khalid Almas has
confirmed abot chewing sticks contain
lcmeatiments proven effective
bygmene. Besides, the fibrous
n9dwe natural toothbriishes
eb gillikiently, thus removing
plaque in Surface.
Derived from spongy roots or stems
Of some fibrous plants, chewing sticks
Are already "mintimms for toothbrushes in
id mew of developing countries
a in dwir emy availability and
A sear, chewing sticks require
limmmuces or expertise in pro
dian making them affordable
smeal 1611L Some common
of diese sticks are lime trees
and orange trees
4 in West Africa, roots of
vmmea) among the Black
as of African laburnum
eek) in Sierra Leone, and
uJime btdica) in the Indian
subcontinent.
The fact that the act
of chewing soft, fresh
sticks releases sap that
bears immense medicinal value, has now been
established. Researchers have confirmed
that silica present in
many chewing sticks acts
as an abrasive to clean
teeth, alkaloids present
in them kill bacteria preventing cavity formation, and some essential oils present in
the sticks bear anti-infammatory action
on the gums. Moreover, these oils show
analgesic and anaesthetic properties,
helping in relieving toothaches. Tannins
and resins present in many sticks have
an astringent effect on the mucous
membrane, and also give protection
against caries by forming a layer over
the tooth enamel.
Besides, a high fluoride content
fights cavity formation by reaching sites
susceptible to cavities. By chewing sticks
pits, the fissures and interproximal areas
in teeth receive fresh flouride bearing
sap, thereby protecting the enarriel from
bacterial attack.
Other advantages pointed out by
researchers include exercise to the jaws
by chewing sticks, copious oral secretion useful for oral hygiene and general
health, combating undesirable habits
like smoking and thumb sucking, and
helping in children's teething process.
Besides, scrapping the bristles of chewing sticks on tongue helps control bad
breath and removes white coating on
tongue.
"The use of chewing sticks conforms
with the notion of primary health care
and has long established associations
with certain cultural and religious
beliefs," says Almas. Regular usage of
chewing sticks is part of a devout
Muslim's daily religious routine;
besides, many people simply use it as an
integral part of a long-held tradition. In
fact, some companies in Egypt,
Pakistan, India, Switzerland and the UK
have even used chewing sticks for manufacturing toothpastes.
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