How to Use The Miswak

TRIM THE MISWAK
Trim 1/2 inch the bark off of one end of the twig. Simply hold the miswak gently and knife in the other hand. Now, start trimming the bark carefully. Many traditional miswak practitioners trim the bark 1 inch minimum and 2 inches maximum.


CHEW THE MISWAK
Chew the bark off of one end of the twig. Start by chewing off of the bark at either end of the twig. Stop when you've exposed an inch or so of the wood underneath. Spit out and discard the bark.


SOAK THE MISWAK
Soak the tip in water. To perform miswak in the traditional style, simply dip the bristly end of the twig in water (like you would before adding toothpaste to a toothbrush). Alternatively, many traditional miswak practitioners use rosewater in place of ordinary water for its pleasant scent.


HOLD THE MISWAK
Hold the miswak twig with one thumb underneath. Traditionally, miswak sticks are held by putting the thumb of the right hand just below and behind the bristly tip, putting the little finger under the back of the stick, and wrapping the remaining three fingers over the top.


BRUSH THE MISWAK
Brush your teeth with the bristled end. Now, start brushing! Press the bristly tip of the stick into your teeth and move it gently up and down to scrub their front surfaces. Move slowly around your mouth, don't press extra-hard. Your goal is to gently scrub the teeth, not scrape or gouge them.


CUT THE MISWAK
Cut off old bristles every few days. Keep your miswak stick fresh by using a knife (or your bare hands) to cut or break off the old bristles when they become worn. your bristles' average lifespan will vary. In general, you'll want to cut your stick's bristles away every time they get the appearance of an old, ratty broom. Usually, this will mean cutting them every few days.