Toothbrush Tree (Salvadora persica)
Scientific Name: Salvadora persica — Toothbrush Tree, Miswak Tree.
Native Home: Arabian Peninsula, northeastern Africa and parts of South Asia.
Height: 3–7 metres.
Lifespan: Several decades under favourable conditions.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Small branches and roots are used for traditional oral-cleaning sticks.
Harvesting: Twigs and roots are collected for miswak products; fruits are harvested when ripe.
Age to Harvest: Usable twigs can be collected from young, established plants, often within 2–4 years.
Products: Miswak sticks, oral-care products, edible fruits, seed oil and traditional preparations.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Twigs and roots have been used for centuries as natural toothbrushes.
Global Spread: Native to arid regions of Africa and Asia, with commercial miswak products sold throughout the Middle East and South Asia.
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