DENTAL

DENTAL CARE IN ISLAM

Good dental care plays a great role in overall physical health, not to mention its role in increasing one's self-confidence through a pleasant smile and a fresh-smelling breath. Dental caries (cavities) start when bacteria in the mouth react with the carbohydrates (sugars and starches) from food to produce acids. These acids erode or 'eat away' tooth enamel (the hard Outer covering of the teeth), causing tooth decay.

The damage caused by oral bacteria continues for. twenty to forty minutes after eating. The risk factors are basically the frequency of eating starchy and sugary food and how long this food stays in your mouth. The faster the food dissolves and leaves the mouth, the less chance there is of cavity production. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) taught us that the mouth is the pathway of the Quran therefore, we should keep it clean. He always commenced his ablution with the use of a tooth cleansing-stick (Miswak).

He said: Had it not been difficult for my followers, I would have ordered them to use the Miswak before each prayer. He also said: The use of the Miswak purifies the mouth and pleases Allah. Miswak is the Arabic name for Salvadorepersica, a plant native to the Arabian Peninsula. The best type of Miswak is said to come from the 'Arak' tree. It acts as an effective tool in the removal of soft oral deposits, thus preventing plaque formation.

Scientific research has proved that the effectiveness of Miswak in oral hygiene is due to many reasons

It contains antibacterial agents that clean the mouth and kill germs. These are natural disinfectants that also prevent gum disease. The chloride and silica content of Miswak help to cleanse and whiten the teeth.

Miswak contains also vitamin C and sitosterols, which help to strengthen the gum and oral blood vessels; in addition to the role of vitamin C in reducing inflammation.

The alkaline nature of Miswak helps neutralize the effect of damaging acids formed by oral bacteria due to its content of trimethyl amine. In addition to these advantages, Miswak has an agreeable scent that gives the breath a naturally fresh smell; the sulphur in it helps to disinfect the mouth and its fluoride content is essential in hardening tooth enamel and preventing decay.

The constituents in Miswak also increase saliva production, which is a natural cleansing system for the mouth. Miswak is also an ideal natural toothbrush, with a gentle abrasive action that is suitable for cleaning between the teeth, removing plaque and food debris without damaging the gums or the enamel.

Note that Miswak should be regularly renewed by cutting off the used tip of the twig to expose new fibres, as it loses the effective antibacterial action over time. You can feel its effectiveness as long as it still has a slightly sharp, mustard-like flavour and mild aromatic fragrance.

The use of Miswak is most effective when the deposits on the teeth are still soft. If the plaque hardens, the efficiency of Miswak will be reduced (as will be the efficiency of any toothpaste), and that is why it is crucial to use it regularly as we were taught by our beloved Prophet (S.A.W). Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) also used to rinse his mouth with water after drinking milk, saying: «It has fat.

Now we know that the fats in milk are the main cause of dental caries in young children; recent scientific recommendations advise parents not to bottle-feed or give milk to children in bed, as they would go to sleep without rinsing their mouths thoroughly afterwards. (This is not the case with breast milk, which does not cause cavities.) Of course, milk is not bad for teeth.

Some nutrients - such as calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D - present in milk and dairy products make teeth stronger and tend to prevent tooth decay. These nutrients also help to build a strong jawbone which keeps the teeth in place.

Saliva produced in the mouth helps protect the teeth by rapid clearing of food debris. To insure proper saliva production, drink enough fluids. Water is the best choice, as it does not contain the carbohydrates that cause the problem in the first place.

The French usually end their meals with a piece of cheese; this helps increase the flow of saliva and neutralize the acids produced- and of course it is a good source of calcium and phosphorus. So do not forget your piece of cheese.