Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 987 [Read full issue]
Teeth Cleaning
"Cleanse your teeth with miswak. For, it is a purification for the teeth and a means of seeking God's pleasure. Gabriel recommended that I use the miswak every time he came. So much so that I began to fear that it would become obligatory for my umma. If I had not thought it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with miswak for every prayer. I use miswak so relentlessly that it seems as if my teeth (or my gum) will be scraped off." [Ibn Majah]
This hadith, reported by forty different people, clearly shows that miswak is a Sunna of God's Messenger (peace be upon him) and has many benefits. So this Prophetic practice should be followed by believers. Using miswak is important as a preventive measure and will continue to be so in the future. In another hadith he says, "Surely your mouths are ways for the Quran. Clean them with miswak" [Bukhari].
Although the word miswak is used in the Prophet's sayings, it is clear that the main point that is stressed is the cleansing of the teeth. This can be done in any way, rubbing with fingers, using a toothbrush, or dental floss. On the other hand, the importance of miswak lies in the fact that it contains fluorine, which is useful for teeth health. Studies about miswak have shown that some enzymes excreted by the essence of miswak are protective against germs, that it protects teeth enamel, feeds the gums, and that it is also useful for the stomach because of its sweet smell. Certainly, if cleansing the mouth is done with God's good pleasure in mind, the importance of religious rules for our daily life will be better understood. In any case, believers should brush their teeth with miswak or toothbrush whenever they perform ablution for the prayers.
Compiled From:
"Cleanliness In Islam (Islam in Practice)" - Remzi Kuscular