*a stick of wood beaten into fibres at one end and used as a toothbrush
The basic principle of the Islamic religion is based upon both spiritual and material cleaning. The spiritual aspect of cleaning/purification has been denoted in various verses of the Koran, in fact, it is directly co-related with the physical cleaning process.In Islam, cleanliness is the basis for certain fundamental principles which have been stated as a pillar. One of the basic principles which Hz. Mohammad has emphasized a lot and about which he has told a lot of things is related to dental care.
Let’s have a look at the hadiths:
Ebu Hureyye narrates: “Hz. Mohammad says: I would have ordered my people to use misvaq before each salaat, if it had not been a burden for them’’
Hz. Huzeyfe narrates: “Hz. Mohammad, when he woke up to perform the salaat at night rubbed his teeth with misvaq.”
Hz. Ayţe narrates: “Every evening the water which would be used for ablution and the misvaq of Hz. Mohammad were prepared and made ready beside his bed. He would wake up in the middle of the night, perform an ablution and use the misvaq for cleaning his mouth.”
Another narrative is as follows: “ Hz. Mohammad would definitely use misvaq either before going to bed or after waking up during the day or night.”
Hz. Ayţe narrates once again: “Hz. Mohammad has declared: Misvaq is a cleansing instrument for the mouth and it is also one of the means for having the approval of the Lord.’’
Hz. Ali says: “Certainly, your mouths are the ways to (explain) the Koran, clean them with misvaq.”
Ebu Umame narrates: “Hz. Muhammad has declared: Use misvaq to clean your teeth, because it is a means of cleaning your mouth and a cause for the approval of Allah. Every time when Gabriel came, he had recommended misvaq to me, such that I was afraid of his making it obligatory for me and my people. If I had not worried about misvaq being a difficulty to my people, I would have made it obligatory for them. I, personally use misvaq so properly and seriously that I get the fear of damaging my front teeth and my gums.”
The misvaq that is mentioned in the hadiths above,is obtained from the fibrous branches of the tree bearing the same name and is used in tooth cleaning. In the process of rubbing the fibrous branches onto the teeth and the gums, the substances in its composition that have special antiseptic and cleansing features come out into the open. Today, the duty of misvaq is replaced by a toothbrush and a toothpaste.
In the researches, it has been determined that with the use of misvaq, the hygiene of the mouth is achieved and there has been a considerable drop in the amount of the decayed teeth.
In general, the society does not give importance to the diseases of the teeth. The tooth decay, the periodontal(the disease of the gums) and orthodontic diseases are undervalued, but on the other hand, they are threatening the health of the teeth and mouth seriously. People believe that suffering from the toothache and loosing the tooth in the end is a natural procedure of life. Most of the people still think that the only treatment of the decayed tooth is to take it out. Therefore, the loss of teeth is seen quite often.
On the other hand, the teeth play an important role in our daily lives. All the actions which we do in order to express ourselves make our to play the most important role. All the time while we are speaking, laughing, singing our teeth can be seen. They complete the aesthetic of our face, give a form to the sounds that we make so that we can complete our expression... The digestion of the food we eat starts in the mouth. The improper chewing process, due to the missing or problematic tooth, causes digestive diseases. The unpleasant bad breath is also a result of the lack of dental care and digestive disorders. The source of the infections in our body is also related with the bad oral hygiene.
The main factor for the decayed tooth and the dental diseases is a layer caused by the bacteria. To take this layer which we call as “Bacteria Plaque”, out of the mouth is one of the first recommendations of the doctors in Preventive Medicine.
After the removal of the plaque, the giseased gum recovers and has its original condition. The gums regain their health if an efficient brushing is applied with a toothbrush.
The simple, but the most efficient way of maintaining dental care and oral hygiene is to brush the teeth properly and periodically. We should gain this habit starting from the early childhood years.
Nowadays, there are many different alternatives of toothbrushes and pastes available. A good toothbrush must be of medium hardness and size, it also must be able to reach and clean all the faces of the teeth as well as the area between them. Moreover, a good toothpaste must contain fluoride which provides all the protection against decay and must have the quality of preventing the plaque formation and tooth stones.
Consequently, we must protect our oral health as much as we can, knowing the fact that the health of the body starts in the mouth, and taking into consideration the importance given to this subject by Hz. Mohammad’s.
I wish you healthy teeth and smiles full of love....
Dt. Fusun Aydogan