Do Omanis use it? I know in Saudi they do esp. during Ramadhan and wonder if it is sold in the states.

my dad always uses it but i aint omani lol

We use the miswak flavor toothpaste and it is suppose to have miswak extracts in it :p. Anyhow, people in Oman don't use it as the Saudis do.

I wonder what it tastes like? To me it looks like a stick. Does it come from a tree? And how much do they costs i.e. are they sold in bags etc. I would like to try something like that for novelty's sake. :D

Yeah it comes from a tree, it had a herbal like taste and was has been used around the Middle East a long time now! Also, its known to have a lot of beneficial effects when used to clean the mouth.

I know an Egyptian colleague who has these really well marketed and branded miswak sticks :p! In KSA though, you will find them sold in bulks for really cheap.

That is cool. i read somewhere that the Arabs had allot of hygenic stuff that was brought back to Europe and I wonder if the concept of keeping one's mouth cleaned using a system like this was an inspiration.

Saudi's do... a lot.... and it isn't pretty.. it disgusts me... even in Mosques!
They should know it has to be used at HOME or AWAY from people!

Is it because they spit the stuff out? I know here we use toothpicks, sometimes has a minty taste to it.

Squinty why does it disgust you? I don't see how its different from using a toothpick, but I agree, some people start using it in public as a symbol of being religious :p, which makes no sense!

I get disgusted now because whenever I went to the Mosque in Makka (Where the Ka3ba is) they would take it out before each prayer and start using it... spitting... and they are INSIDE the Mosque!
They stink as well... There teeths are dirty anyway what is the use of using it at THAT time...

You mean spit on the Mosque floor or outside. I think either way is gross.

I thought might be a Gulf thing but is cool to see differences in the region.

Spit of of the mosque.. but use the Miswak EVERYWHERE!
no matter where they are.. they would use it.

Spitting is even worse then using the Miswak....

Well they aren't suppose to go around spitting miswak out, thats weird :p

Could be a cultural thing or just someone with bad manners.

^
I think you have to go there and dress up as a man to know what it feels like and know the truth....

Now THAT would be interesting but my eyes would give my gender away.

using a toothpick, the long nail on your pinky finger, a miswak, a pen, or your girlfriend's middle finger to clean your teeth in public is rude. yuck i was in a restaurant once and the waiter brought toothpicks to the table next two us. god they all started picking the bits of meat. i had to look away, although it was amusing to see such gross ignorance.

Some info I found about it on the Wiki:

(Miswak is Salvadora persica, which belongs to the Magnoliophyta Division of the Plant Kingdom) killed 20 times more bacteria than mints without. After half an hour, the magnolia mint had killed more than 60% of the bacteria, compared to just 3.6% among those who had consumed a normal mint. “Magnolia bark extract demonstrated a significant anti-bacterial activity against organisms responsible for oral malodour and can be incorporated into mints and chewing gum for improved breath freshening benefits.”Advocates of magnolia have long praised its properties, claiming it can alleviate the symptoms of conditions ranging from rheumatism to asthma.

Yeah marianna, thats what I was referring too. Miswak is excellent when it comes to tooth hygiene.

I like the part about killing bacteria and want some more than ever after reading it.

Wow, miswak is a magnolia?

Magnolia is one of our most famous trees, very ancient. The leaves are huge and waxy and so are the giant white flowers:

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/m/wmagr4-lf15481.jpg
leaf

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/m/wmagr4-frb5178.jpg
fruit

http://www.landscapedesignexchange.com/images/plant_images/Magnolia_grandiflora__Southern_Magnolia.jpg
flower

They are huge trees and they give a thick, dark shade and they smell very sweet. I never knew that miswak was from the magnolia family!

This is my mother's fav flower and I did not know either that the miswak comes from this. So do we pick a twig off and then use it. What is so wonderful are the bacteria killing properties. Now I know some bacteria is good for a variety of positive health reasons but I think being able to brush your teeth say with Crest (My favorite brand) :) and coupled this with the miswak would give someone a very clean mouth! :D

It's used more like a brush than a toothpick. We only use it when family bring it as (9o'3'a: gifts back from travels). I heard it grows in Oman somewhere in Al Ghubra. It's called: Shajar Al Araak (Al Araak Tree)

This reminds me of a poem Ali bin Abi-Talib said when he saw his wife Fatima, may God be pleased with them both, using the Miswak. :p So sweet.

Can't remember it exactly but it was something like:
Ayaa Oud Al Araak, amaa khifta an araak? Law Konta Ahlan Lel Qetaali Qaataltoka, Ma Faaz Minha Ya Siwaaka Sewaak.(O' Araak twig, did you not fear that I would see you? If you were something worthy to fight with, I would fight you. No one won of her, after me, but you.)

Sorry for the very bad translation of something that was supposed to sound like a love poem. Haha, I ruined it.

No no, the tree Siwak comes from is not Magnolia. I WISH we had these types of flowers growing in Al Ghubra.

This is the tree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica

Al Gubra...sounds familiar. Is there a village called Al Kabura about an hour or two from Muscat?

Yes, the Magnolia flower is breathtaking and the poem you presented beautiful.

I found a picture:

http://www.miswak.de/pix/Salvadora_persica_1.jpg

I know Miswak is Sunnah but I dont like the way people use it in public.

It's used more like a brush than a toothpick. We only use it when family bring it as (9o'3'a: gifts back from travels). I heard it grows in Oman somewhere in Al Ghubra. It's called: Shajar Al Araak (Al Araak Tree)

This reminds me of a poem Ali bin Abi-Talib said when he saw his wife Fatima, may God be pleased with them both, using the Miswak. :p So sweet.

Can't remember it exactly but it was something like:
Ayaa Oud Al Araak, amaa khifta an araak? Law Konta Ahlan Lel Qetaali Qaataltoka, Ma Faaz Minha Ya Siwaaka Sewaak.(O' Araak twig, did you not fear that I would see you? If you were something worthy to fight with, I would fight you. No one won of her, after me, but you.)

Sorry for the very bad translation of something that was supposed to sound like a love poem. Haha, I ruined it.

Good! I get the idea.

How about this:

O twig of the Arak tree
Weren't you afraid I might see you?
I would fight you, but you are not something that a man can fight!
No one at all, since I first loved her,
Gained the love of my Love's heart.

Except You.

lol. When I was in KSA I used to use it all the time, literally. It's like an addiction! I'm not sure if they sell it here though.. Me and my bro got a bunch that will be enough for us for a a whole year! :D

^ interesting, my dad has a whole lot of them. but i never got to learn how to use them, it's like a twig brush. and known for being much better than a normal toothbrush and paste.

I tried it once or twice but I didnt like it that much. Maybe the sticks I used weren't that good brand. I got it from a friend.

Good! I get the idea.

How about this:

O twig of the Arak tree
Weren't you afraid I might see you?
I would fight you, but you are not something that a man can fight!
No one at all, since I first loved her,
Gained the love of my Love's heart.

Except You.

Jeff that is an Arabic poem that I only heard it from my father and he always like to recite it..I can only remember the last line



fa mali nim 7abeebin siwak , I have no beloved but you

and known for being much better than a normal toothbrush and paste.

Yeah.. It has this spicy/burning taste :D

I know cinimmon (spelling) does that. Although I do like the taste of that spice. For me if it is better I will not like it. I still would try this once just for something different. Thanks for sharing!

Jeff,

THANK YOU! That is much much better, you got the exact idea.

I use it mostly in Ramadhan... I get it from KSA.
i Enjoy the taste it keeps in my mouth and my teeth feel clean :)

I hate it. None of my family member uses it. When we went to KSA, we bought it to try it but didn't like it.