If you are one of those who seem to be bothered by the idea of having bacteria lodged on your toothbrush, you can try nature’s very own tooth brush: Miswak aka Chewing Stick.

Miswak (Chewing Sticks) are twigs obtained from mainly the Arak Tree (Salvadora Persica) although a few other trees can also be used. They have been used since times immemorial for maintaining dental health where a toothbrush was much alien to them as the Miswak is to us today. The practice continues today and is widespread among the Muslims which can be traced to their religious beliefs. The Miswak is a common sight in the Middle East and constitutes a large part of oral health maintenance if not all for many people. The Miswak is not confined only to the Muslims and has been embraced by many cultures as an effective tool for dental health maintenance.

Now, what does this has to do with toothbrush sanitization? A lot infact! This is because Miswak has natural anti-microbial properties which mean there are no bacterial colonies thriving on the twig. Although, common perception of people might lead them to think otherwise, there is no harm done when using this natural wonder twig for dental health maintenance.

Infact, if reports are to be believed, it is more effective than your toothbrush! I have outlined these studies conducted on Miswak on my website. The studies especially stress Miswak’s ability to fight against plaque and gum disease. One study carried out by Swedish researchers showed the Miswak’s ability to kill bacteria without even being in contact with them. This fuelled the proposal by the researchers that Miswak was able to give off antibiotics in gas form which enabled it to kill the bacteria with out any physical contact.

We use advanced methods for toothbrush sanitization but never look towards nature for help. The market is flooded with advanced gizmos for toothbrush sanitization. Every other week, there is a new sanitization project launched which claims to kill up to 99.999% bacteria. Keeping in mind that there is no concrete evidence to suggest the need for toothbrush sanitization, splurging on a toothbrush sanitizer might not be a good idea after all especially when we have nature offering us a better solution.

Looking at a Miswak it is a simple brown twig with one of its ends cut off to expose the bristles. These bristles are more effective than your toothbrush’s bristles when it comes to cleaning between teeth. This is because these bristles are parallel to the handle rather than perpendicular as in a conventional toothbrush. A Miswak is softened overnight in water the first time before use. Biting or chewing on the bristles releases a strong anti-microbial juice which not only eliminates bacteria in your mouth but also removes bad odor and creates a fragrance in the mouth.

Although Miswak is not readily available in the western world, they can easily be ordered via online services which deliver it to your doorstep. The price may seem diminutive for a thing which provides such immense benefits.

The medical term for headache is Cephalalgia. It is one of the most common problems and is characterized by pain in head or in the neck area. The problem of headache generally occurs due to internal problems of body. The main causes of headache are allergies from alcohol, liver, chocolate, milk and all other milk products. It can also be due to small disorders such as diarrhea or sneezing a lot.

Other causes for headache might be eyestrain, hangover, sugar level in the blood low, deficiency of nutrients in the body, tension and intoxicated body system.

Some homemade remedies for headache are described below in detail.

1. Make lemon juice from two to three slices of lemon and mix it with a cup of tea. Apply the lemon plaster thus made on the forehead with the help of the paste out of the lemon crust. You can also put fresh lemon rinds on the forehead.

2. Remove the inner portion of an apple. After skinning it add a little amount of salt and eat it every morning without drinking or eating anything else prior to that for one week.

3. Vinegar rubbed on henna flowers when applied on forehead is very effective. It will relieve the headache caused due to the intense heat of the sun.

4. Mix cinnamon with water and make a paste of the same. Apply the paste on the forehead and the temple. This will relieve headache due to overexposure to cold air.

5. In one liter of water place a handful of rosemary and boil it. Place a towel on your head and inhale the steam coming out of the boiled mixture by trapping it with the help of the towel.

Some more home remedies for headache:

? Make a paste of water and cinnamon by mixing 1 tablespoon of water with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Apply the paste on your forehead, lie down, and rest for 20-30 minutes. Then wash the paste off with warm cloth.

? Take a cloth and dip it in warm water, squeeze and apply on your forehead. Close your eyes and rest for a while.

? Stir 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of cold water and drink.

? Drink thick natural grapes juice daily to treat your headaches.

? Drink a lot of water every day; make sure you are not dehydrated.

? Apply a few drops of rosemary oil on your chest, lie down and breathe deep for a few minutes.

? Drink a cup of warm coffee when you have headaches. Take small sips and try to relax.

? Lie down in a dark room, put a towel on your forehead and put an ice pack on the towel. Lie down like this for about 20-30 minutes, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and try to relax.

? Slice a potato, take the slices and apply on your forehead and rest for 20 minutes.

? Peel 1 cucumber, take the peels tie them to the forehead with a cloth. Rest with the cucumbers peels on your head for 15-20 minutes and your headache will be gone in no time.

During headache you should take proper care of your diet. Failing to do so would result in the increase of headache. The best and the simplest ways to avoid headache are proper nutrition, physical exercise regularly and positive mental exercises.

Initially you need to undergo a short fasting during which you should take juice made of only citrus fruit diluted with water. Take it everyday at a time span of two hours from morning eight to evening eight. Later on eat only those foods that are digested easily. Eat fresh and dried fruits for breakfast and eat cereals, potatoes, wheat bread and rice for dinner. You must drink a lot of fresh water every day. You can also add a teaspoon of honey in water for better results.

Those with missing teeth today may be candidates for dental implants, which are superior to simple bridges or partials.

Bridges may still be effective, but you must have existing teeth on each side of the gap. These teeth act as anchor, or abutments, for the bridge. A pontic, or prosthetic tooth, is placed to fill the gap and the bridge is bonded to the abutting teeth. These teeth may also be reduced in size. A bridge may last for ten years or so, but decay or damage around the bridgework can occur.

Dental Implant Roots

There are no abutment teeth needed for dental implants. Dental implants replace the tooth as well as the missing root. In fact, the most common dental implant is placed directly into the jawbone. This is called an endosteal implant and is for dental patients who have decent bone density and volume. The subperiosteal implant is placed directly on the jawbone just beneath the gum tissue. This is ideal for dental patients who have atrophied bone or jaw structures or are missing all of their teeth.

The dental implant is capped with a crown that matches the natural color of your surrounding teeth. It is custom-made. Because it can take several months for the bone or gum tissue to heal around the implant, temporary crowns are placed until a porcelain crown can be fitted. Dental implants will last more than a decade if properly taken care of.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Natural looking Easy to clean and care for, leading to overall better oral health Better alignment in your jaw Placement is flexible since there is no need for abutment teeth Better cost effective method in the long run since dental implants do not need to be replaced as often as bridges or dentures

Missing teeth can gravely affect your periodontal health as well as the shape of your face if neglected for too long. It is important to discuss how missing teeth can be replaced with your dentist.