EFFECTIVENESS OF MISWAK AS COMPARED WITH TOOTHBRUSH: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY: Miswak Compared with Toothbrush

Hassam Anjum Mir; Mubashir Sharif; Ali Asif; Maleeha Shamim; Maaz Qureshi; Aqsa Akhtar

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v71i5.7295

Authors

Hassam Anjum Mir Foundation University College of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan
Mubashir Sharif Combined Military Hospital Quetta/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Ali Asif Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Maleeha Shamim Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Maaz Qureshi Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Aqsa Akhtar Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v71i5.7295

Keywords:

Miswak, Oral hygiene, Plaque index, Toothbrush

Abstract

Objective: To determine if the traditional chewing stick Miswak was as effective in cleaning teeth as Toothbrush.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi, from Aug 2020 to Jan 2021.

Methodology: A total of 300 subjects were included which were divided in two groups on the basis of whether they used miswak or toothbrush as a cleaning aid. Group A was toothbrush users and group B was Miswak user. Plaque Index was used to determine the cleanliness of teeth. The scores were recorded and data analyzed using SPSS-23.

Results: The means and standard deviations of Plaque Index score for group A and B were 0.96 ± 0.58 and 0.98 ± 0.56 respectively. The comparison of Plaque Index score for both groups was insignificant with the p-value of 0.083.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that, no significant difference was found in the effectiveness of traditional miswak and tooth brush. It is recommended that if the technique of teeth cleaning is good then any of the abovementioned means of teeth cleaning can be used.