Should you swap out your plastic toothbrush for a stick?

Chewing sticks have been used for oral hygiene for thousands of years, particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. I explore how they work and how they compare to toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Miswak chewing stick (Salvadora persica).

For millennia, people have used plants to improve dental health and maintain oral hygiene, and this practice still persists today in many communities around the world.

The modern toothbrush

The origin of the modern toothbrush can be traced back to Babylonians who used chewing sticks as early as 3500 BC. Toothpicks…