While modern toothpaste brands promise whiter, stronger teeth, dental experts often advise limiting their use due to the presence of chemicals and abrasives. In contrast, traditional oral care methods ...

Chewing sticks, called miswak, made from plants were also used in Arab, Babylonian, Greek and Roman societies to improve oral health. In fact, miswak is still used in some countries today.

So can you brush your teeth? Or do you need to order a miswak? "Like most things in Islam, there’s a valid difference of opinion," says Shehzaad. “I’ve been told to brush your teeth in the ...