Re: One more pain added to my list of experiences...
No, I absolutely don't have a problem with the Prophet, and you ought to be able to back up that claim of yours with some quotations of mine. Which you will find difficult to do.
I have a problem with mullahs who claim that the Prophet and God want muslims to do things that were never asked of us in the first place. I have a problem with mullahs who put words in the mouth of God, and words in the mouth of the Prophet.
The real message, like sweetdreams says, is hygeine. You need to keep your teeth clean. A miswaak did that at the time of the prophet. A miswaak is nothing less or more than a toothbrush and mouthwash. Therefore, using a miswaak doesn't bring you closer to God. Rather, its good hygeine that brings you closer to God. Pick whatever tool to accomplish that you want, it makes no difference.
Can you really assume that if the Prophet lived today, he would not use a toothbrush and toothpaste, and mouthwash?