Does toothpaste made from miswak replace it?

Question:
Some doctors have made a toothpaste that they say is from the same substance, the arak tree. Does it replace the miswak or not?

Answer:
No, toothpaste is costly; toothpaste requires expense, whereas the miswak does not require expense. However, if the toothpaste is needed at times for the purpose of rinsing the mouth at a time other than the time of prayer, there is nothing wrong with that. As for the time of prayer, the recommended practice (sunnah) is to use only the miswak.