The SWAK

The SWAK toothbrush combines modern, western toothbrush technology with the ancient techniques of Miswak dental care. This unique product uses bristles made from the soft twigs of salvadora persica; indigenous to the plains of Africa, the Middle East and India, this special flora is known locally as “the toothbrush tree”.

The SWAK toothbrush compares incredibly favourably with conventional toothbrushes; here are some of the benefits:

  • The SWAK gives you improved cleaninghead3_
  • Tooth and gum damage, so commonly diagnosed by today’s dentists, is prevented
  • The superior quality of the miswak brush head means that you get a powerful clean with a gentle touch
  • The special slightly-frayed heads can easily be screwed into the reusable handle
  • The bio-based handle of the SWAK toothbrush is made in Germany from Polylactic Acid (PLA) which is produced from GMO-free sugar

Historical background

For many millennia indigenous people have brushed their teeth in an effort to maintain them. In Arabian culture the use of a toothbrush is actually a part of religious practice; the Prophet Mohammed teaches in his scripture the use of miswak twigs. Also in India we have found evidence of the use primitive toothbrushes for religious and medical purposes in ancient writings like those of the Ayurvedic doctor Susruta from the 6th century BC. In Europe willow twigs were used for dental hygiene before the implementation of the toothbrush in the 18th century; fast forward to 1926 and the Berlin dentist Dr. Bruno Möhring patented a toothbrush similar to the SWAK.
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Active ingredients of the miswak wood

The miswak wood contains natural agents which support the health of teeth and oral mucosa:

Fluoride hardens the enamel
Silicate for gentle cleaning
Vitamin C preservative
Tannins astringent
Saponins cleansing agent
Flavonoids antibacterial agent
Potassium, Calcium remineralization

Experts don’t advocate the use of natural bristles for hygienic reasons; however this is only true of animal bristles which are made of hair and have a marrow canal in which bacteria can grow. Natural bristles made from wood are just as hygienic as those made of plastic.



During the dental cleaning process the wood gives off its aromatic sap which has an astringent and antibacterial affect on the oral mucosa and a mineralising effect on tooth enamel. In fact the characteristics of the stranded miswak twig are perfectly suited for dental health by enabling gentle cleaning of the enamel. Additionally to the physical removal of plaque, the natural substances of the miswak twig are highly beneficial to your overall oral hygiene.

The miswak wood is disinfected and preserved by soaking in brine of crystal salt; it’s perfectly safe to use.

Clinical study on the microbiological effect of miswak wood




The function of the SWAK toothbrush