The siwak, also called miswak, is a stick cut from the root of the arak tree, Salvadora persica, a shrub found in the dry regions of the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia. It has been used to clean teeth for centuries, long before the invention of the nylon brush. Ours comes from Pakistan and contains just one thing: the root.

What's inside a siwak

Nothing but wood. The root provides both the fibres, which act as a brush, and a slightly sharp, bitter sap. There is no plastic, no additive, no added flavouring. Once worn out, the stick goes on the compost.

Why it's making a comeback in bathrooms

  • Plastic-free: no plastic handle and no tube, just a plant-based stick that composts
  • Nomadic: it can be used without water while brushing and without toothpaste, at the office, on the train, on a plane, on a hike
  • Simple: a single ingredient on the label, Salvadora persica
  • Feeling of freshness: the sap has a naturally tangy taste

How to use it in four steps

  1. Remove the bark over one centimetre, with your teeth or a knife
  2. Chew the end until the fibres separate and form a small brush
  3. Brush each tooth gently, without pressing, including the inner surfaces
  4. Rinse the stick with clean water, leave it to dry in the air, and cut off the worn end every two or three days to reveal fresh fibres

The first few times, the taste comes as a surprise: it is plant-like, a little sharp, close to radish or mustard. You soon get used to it.

How long a stick lasts

A siwak is used up from the end, one centimetre at a time. How long it lasts depends on use and on how often you cut it: allow a few weeks for daily use. A case protects it in a bag or a wash bag.

How to store it

In a dry place, in the open air, never sealed away damp in a plastic bag. A stick that has dried out too much regains its suppleness by soaking the end in water for a few minutes. A stick that has turned green or smells mouldy should be thrown away.

Siwak and a conventional brush

Many people keep both: the brush and toothpaste at home, the siwak in a pocket for the day.

Our siwaks

Terre d'Ecologis offers two formats: the siwak toothbrush with case for your bag, and the refill without case for home. Both come from Pakistan and contain nothing but the root of Salvadora persica.