This is a photo of an Uber driver I had the other day who was using miswak. Miswak is a twig from a tree that is popularly used for cleaning the teeth here in Saudi Arabia. It comes from the Salvadora persica tree. It's been in use for over 7000 years for dental care. It contains natural antibacterial agents which actually benefit helping to eliminate plaque! The twig also strengthens the gums, purifies the mouth and bad breath, and helps in the prevention of tooth decay. Miswak is Islamically prescribed so its use is more common in Muslim countries. It's fairly common to see people chewing on miswak in public. It is very inexpensive and lasts for a long time.
I've heard of the notion before, just not the word.
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