first-time miswak user and I'm pleased with these
Disclosure: I've never used these before, and so my review is from the perspective of a first encounter. I wanted to look into these as a backpacking option that would reduce the need for one or two things to pack.<br /><br />Overall, I'm pleased. They have a scent and flavor I wasn't prepared for, and will take some time getting used to, but it's not revolting. In fact, it has already grown on me a little in a couple uses. It's just unfamiliar to my palate. To my understanding, this is partly because of some bittering compounds in the bark.<br /><br />A little about miswak for newbies like me: Miswak comes from the Arak tree. It has antibacterial properties, and the bitter compounds stimulate saliva production. The chemical composition of the tree includes a number of natural cavity-fighting compounds. It is purported to strengthen enamel--I have no idea if that claim is accurate. Used properly, however, many peer-reviewed studies suggest this to be equally effective to toothbrushes and toothpaste (select studies suggest possibly more effective). The Arak also has mild analgesic properties.<br /><br />To use this stick you chew or cut about 1/2 inch of the end off, then chew the inner part until bristles form (it only takes a few seconds), and then brush in an up and down motion on your teeth. Every so often you cut off the bristle portion and slice off a bit more bark, rinse and repeat.<br /><br />In terms of flavor, I found it a little indescribable. I was trying to find someone else's description online, and someone on reddit said they taste like the crystalline form of the white powder drug. I have zero experience with that and can only take their word for it.<br /><br />The packaging for these seems to pretty universally involve vacuum packaging. These are no exception. In terms of price, these were much cheaper than the Middle Eastern grocer in my town, and cheaper than a lot of bourgeois rebrands of miswak as a conscientious lifestyle choice for eco-hippies.<br /><br />As for effectiveness, I've only used it a couple times so far, but it has been shockingly effective at removing the day's tartar from my teeth, and much quicker than my usual (standard nylon bristle) toothbrush. For the first couple uses I ended up with bits of the bark in my mouth that I had cut off improperly, but they're easy to get out and they're soft and not stabby.<br /><br />In spite of not being accustomed to the flavor, I like it enough that I may even carry one around regularly for on-the-go toothbrushing. If you like clean teeth and also enjoy chewing on toothpicks and straws and such, this may be a great option for you to try out.
Rating: 5 stars