# Snapshot **Miswāk** or “chew stick” is made by harvesting the roots of the **al\`Arāk tree** (_Salvadora persica_). It has been shown to have many dental hygiene properties by preventing ginigivitis, plaque and caries.[^1] The \'Arāk tree can grow from a shrub to a tree with a twisted trunk up to 6 metres tall. #economic Miswāk is typically sold to the consumer for 2-10 SAR per piece. A tree can help generate a sustainable income of 5000 SAR/month. The global tooth brush market in estimated in 2023 to have been ~10 billion USD. ![[Pasted image Arak tree twisted trunk.png]] ![[Pasted image Root of `Arāk tree.png]] ![[Pasted image Arak berries.png]] ![[Pasted image Miswak.png]] [^1]: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7296476/