Evvy said:

not sure why my other pic didnt show but:

http://www.bellaonline.co...t63989.asp

	African Culture Site

African Chew Sticks

Chew sticks have been used for centuries all over Africa as a means to clean teeth. Chew sticks are natural toothbrushes made from frayed sticks. Sticks and twigs are cut from various trees and bushes such as licorice bush, gum tree, and the Salvadora Persica tree which locals call "The Toothbrush Tree". In fact, the World Health Organization promotes the use of the trigs of the Salvadora Persica tree as a natural toothbrush.


Chew Sticks Available at AfricaImports.comThrough Africa, you may come across people casually chewing on a stick much like some people may have a toothpick in their mouth. The twigs are generally cut to a thickness of a pencil. Chew sticks are chewed until the end of the stick frays. The frayed end works like dental floss cleaning inbetween teeth keeping teeth and gums healthy. Once the end of a chew stick is frayed it can be rubbed on teeth, much like using a toothbrush, scrubbing food and plaque off teeth.

Chew sticks are much less expensive than traditional western toothbrushes making them much more accessible to the average African. In Senegal, they are known as "sothiou" meaning "to clean" in Wolof and in Eastern African as "mswaki" meaing "toothbrush" in Swahili.

Research suggests chew sticks contain a number of medically beneficial properties including abrasives, antiseptics, astringent, detergents, enzyme inhibitors, and fluoride. There are local claims chew sticks whiten teeth, freshen breath and even are good for head and stomach problems. Several studies have shown chew sticks are just as effective as tootbrushes and toothpaste for cleaning teeth and gums.

Another more modern use for chew sticks is smoking cessation. Using a chew stick may reduce the need for a cigarette and may also slow the potential for weight gain while one is trying to stop smoking.

Chew sticks are readily available in many flavors as well as unflavored at AfricaImports.com.

i need to get me some of these cause my teeth are fucked up

XxAxX said:

^ don't be silly. they aren't teeth, they are chiclets

reminded me of dennis the menace

MajesticOne89 said:

PurpleJedi said:

I believe him.

My teeth are yellowish, but I have no cavities.

After I got my braces taken off at the age of 12, I didn't go to the dentist for over a DECADE. Finally when I was like 23 or 24 I went (bracing for the worst) and shockingly they found NO cavities!

The force is strong with you!!!!

Of course, I probably just jinxed myself.

kimrachell said:

why do people wantt to lock this thread ?

god forbid africans teeth can be appreciated

formallypickles said:

kimrachell said:

why do people wantt to lock this thread ?

god forbid africans teeth can be appreciated

Before it gets locked: Are you male or female? I'm just curious now.

Efan said:

formallypickles said:

why do people wantt to lock this thread ?

god forbid africans teeth can be appreciated

Before it gets locked: Are you male or female? I'm just curious now.

female

i dont know why people think im a dude..

[Edited 4/20/11 10:56am]

Spinlight said:

Pickles, if you weren't black IRL, this thread would be shitcanned so fast.

I hope u appreciate it, baby

nope still being shitcanned

i guess noone can talk about africans, its an off limits topic

formallypickles said:

i notice most africans have nice teeth

they'll be black as hell but will have nice big pearly white teeth.

why do the english have fuck up teeth? to much tea and unseasoned fish and chips maybe?

[img:$uid]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0s78Kbx01KG9_Z_C9359L0XMD3senSQfQa_Lceui5KgqK7a7T[/img:$uid]

A visual example to go with your generalization about the genetic(?) disposition of 2 cultures

(Girl - this is the 2nd time today that you have made me laugh out loud with your post! Strong work!)

formallypickles said:

Spinlight said:

Pickles, if you weren't black IRL, this thread would be shitcanned so fast.

I hope u appreciate it, baby

nope still being shitcanned

i guess noone can talk about africans, its an off limits topic

lol. Can't tell nobody nothin' 'round here.

Not only africans have nice teeth. I noticed alot of people from different countries have it.... I guess if you take care your teeth it will look nice

All I want for christmas is my two front teeth

so I can wish you merry chri(ss) ma(ss)

I remember my dad teasing me before I got braces put on my teeth. Evidently I have a very small jaw, and when my permanent teeth sprouted, they came in very, very crooked. My smile was jacked. Daddy would say, "Damn, girl! You look as bad as those English!" He told me while he was in England during WWII, the English had some of the worst teeth he had ever seen. Now, no offense to our British orgers, just an anecdote.

True story that happend just today...

I have a colleague who has been living/working in the US.

She goes back to England next month.

She came to work today with a big blister on her lip.

She said it was from teeth whitening.

She said she wanted to get pretty white teeth like the Americans

before she goes back home!

She said the british yellow teeth come from the levels of

floride that is in our water vs. theirs.

formallypickles said:

people are Offended by the "black as hell"

but you can also be white as hell also

some africans are blacker than a motherfucker...so what!! still beautiful people

Exactly! There's nothing wrong with being black as hell. The skin is much healthier and we all know that darker skin ages much slower. A 60 year old black person looks like a 45 year old white person. Not always of course. I have to put that disclaimer because someone will reply and say "not every 60 year old black person looks like a 45 year old white person."

I used to think that African people had really white teeth because of the contrast between their skin and teeth, but I put on black lipstick one day and my teeth still didn't look as white.

eye work with alot of africans & there teeth r fucked up!! they sit on there fat arses eating kfc & drinking fizzy pop so not all africans have perfect teeth. im a cracker,snowflake & wished my teeth were whiter than they r. my girlfriend is indian & has perfect teeth(bitch) one day eye might knock them all out!! that will teach her a lesson 4 always showing them off!

one thing i do hate is when Americans try to do an English accent

omg tragic on all levels

my friend was doing an terrible English accent( which she thinks she pretty good at )and some idiot actually though she English

formallypickles said:

one thing i do hate is when Americans try to do an English accent

omg tragic on all levels

my friend was doing an terrible English accent( which she thinks she pretty good at )and some idiot actually though she English

mad mad mad why do they do that?

MajesticOne89 said:

PurpleJedi said:

I believe him.

My teeth are yellowish, but I have no cavities.

After I got my braces taken off at the age of 12, I didn't go to the dentist for over a DECADE. Finally when I was like 23 or 24 I went (bracing for the worst) and shockingly they found NO cavities!

The force is strong with you!!!!

Majesticone, your avatar is amazing...

Africa, first of all, is a multi-racial country, second, that's not a fair generalization.

davetherave6767 said:

eye work with alot of africans & there teeth r fucked up!! they sit on there fat arses eating kfc & drinking fizzy pop so not all africans have perfect teeth. im a cracker,snowflake & wished my teeth were whiter than they r. my girlfriend is indian & has perfect teeth(bitch) one day eye might knock them all out!! that will teach her a lesson 4 always showing them off!

Dave!!!