Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) relates in this Hadīth that he came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was cleaning his mouth with a ripe tooth-stick – a ripe tooth-stick cleans better and does not crumble inside one's mouth and hurt. He was placing the tooth-stick on his tongue and was cleaning his mouth thoroughly, as if he was going to vomit.