How to use a miswak

Peel about 1 cm of bark from one end, chew that end until the fibres turn into a soft brush, and brush your teeth with it. Afterwards, rinse the stick, let it dry, and trim the used bristles every day or two.

Before the first use

Open the vacuum pack just before you start. If the tip feels hard, soak it in clean water for a few minutes first. Fresh sticks usually don't need it.

Step by step

1. Peel the tip. Peel or cut away about 1 cm of bark from one end. A clean knife works, or you can bite the bark off and spit it out.
2. Chew it soft. Chew that end gently for a minute or so, until the fibres separate into a soft brush.
3. Brush. Hold the stick like a pencil. Brush along your teeth, front and back, using the bristle end.
4. Rinse. Rinse the stick in clean water when you are done.
5. Let it dry. Stand it upright in a cup or holder so it can air dry.

Trimming

Every day or two, or when the bristles go flat, cut off the used end, about 1 cm, with a clean knife or scissors. Then chew a fresh tip the same way as before.

Storing

• Keep unopened sticks sealed, somewhere cool and dry and out of direct sun.
• Once a stick is open, let it air dry between uses in a cup or holder.
• Don't close a wet stick into an airtight box or bag.
• Each person should have their own stick.

When to replace it

A stick lasts about a week of daily use. Replace it when it gets too short to hold comfortably. That's why most people buy miswak in packs rather than one at a time.