All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
It is recommended to brush one`s teeth for this Sunnah of using Miswak is encouraged by the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). However, using the Arak twig isn`t a pure act of worship. Rather, whatever cleanses the mouth and teeth gets the same Sunnah reward of using Miswak.
However, if using the brush, toothpaste, and the mouthwash leads to better oral and dental hygiene, then this is better. However, contemporary research has established that the Arak twig, in particular, has tremendous health benefits as well as beneficial impact on the oral and dental hygiene.
Al-Shirbini (May Allah have mercy on him) says: "Siwaak means cleaning the mouth and teeth with a Siwaak, which is the name given to the tool used. The Siwaak is a stick or twig used for this purpose…….." {Moghni Al-Mohtaaj}. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.