Our Science
Miswak (Salvadora persica) is one of the few natural oral-care tools that has been studied in modern, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials — not just passed down as tradition. The World Health Organization has recognized chewing sticks like miswak as a traditional oral hygiene tool and encouraged further study of their use.
What the published research found
- Plaque control: In a randomized controlled trial, miswak users held plaque steady over two weeks while the toothbrush group's plaque score significantly worsened. Abdellatif et al., Healthcare (Basel), 2024 — PMID 39517363
- Gum inflammation: The traditional miswak chewing stick outperformed both a standard toothbrush and a bristle toothbrush at reducing gum inflammation on front teeth. Azizan et al., BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2023 — PMID 38098022
- Bleeding gums: Adding a miswak stick to regular toothbrushing cut bleeding gum sites more than twice as much as brushing alone in a randomized crossover trial. Rifaey et al., International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2021 — PMID 33258168
- Plaque scores over a month: In a month-long randomized clinical trial, chewing-stick users ended with significantly lower plaque scores than toothbrush users. Malik et al., North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 2014 — PMID 25077082
- Antibacterial compounds: A peer-reviewed pharmacological review catalogues the plant compounds in Salvadora persica studied for antibacterial, anti-plaque, and anti-inflammatory activity. Adam et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021 — PMID 33513418
- Periodontal health: A periodontist's clinical review of miswak use and oral health outcomes. Dahiya et al., Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2012 — PMID 21829688
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Miswak is an oral hygiene aid intended to be used alongside, not instead of, regular toothbrushing and routine dental checkups. Individual results from the cited studies may not be representative of every user's experience.