It looks like I was on the right track in the last couple posts. I found a toothpaste called Peelu that claims to use plant fibers to clean teeth. The product is based on "chewing sticks" that some cultures use for oral health. Peelu contains an extract called miswak in their product.
At first glance, I was very skeptical of this product. Then I looked to see if there was any research on chewing sticks or miswak. It turns out there is.
This study concludes that "miswak appeared to be more effective than toothbrushing for removing plaque". This study shows that "in contrast to toothbrush use, miswak use significantly reduced the amount of A. actinomycetemcomitans in the subgingival plaque." A third study concludes that "chewing sticks are as effective as toothbrushes in removing plaque and maintaining gingival health."
So why haven't I or most anyone else ever heard of this? There's probably not much profit in just using plant fibers for oral health. And so, the toothpaste companies will continue to push their patented creations whether they're more effective than natural methods or not.
I am intrigued by this research, and will try to track down some Peelu.
