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From: sundar@cwruecmp.UUCP (Sundar R. Iyengar)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.africa
Subject: Chewing sticks and tooth powders
Message-ID: <1259@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-May-85 16:50:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.1259
Posted: Mon May  6 16:50:34 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 01:33:43 EDT
References: <315@link.UUCP> <295@osiris.UUCP>
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Organization: CWRU Dept. Computer Eng., Cleveland, OH
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My village folks in South India use sticks from Neem trees (I  am
not  sure  if  this is an English name for the tree) for chewing.
We also use charred remains of rice  husk  for  normal  brushing.
Combined  with salt and lemon this powder can be quite effective.
It is very abrasive and if used for long during one brushing ses-
sion  could cut the finger tips (yes, we use the index finger and
the thumb for rubbing the powder on the teeth.  This rubbing  ac-
tion  also  massages the gums.).  Once a year there is a festival
during which every one is  supposed  to  chew  raw  sugar  canes.
Stripping  the  skin  of  sugar cane needs strong teeth.  And the
chewing action througly cleans the teeth.

sundar r iyengar
case western reserve university