The month of Ramadan is one of the greatest months for Muslims, as it represents the most important opportunity to gain as many good deeds as possible, atone for sins, and strengthen your relationship with Allah SWT. It may also be your gateway to Paradise and attaining the pleasure of Allah, because during this month, devils (Shayateen) are chained, and their whispers weaken which makes your resistance to doing good deeds less, and your constant striving to gain the pleasure of Allah increases.
Due to the importance of this blessed month, and the keenness of many Muslims not to miss any moment of it, many questions come to their minds, including: Can you brush your teeth while fasting in Islam? In this article, we will answer this important question in detail, mentioning a set of necessary precautions that will make you feel more reassured and psychologically comfortable.
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The Ruling on Using a Toothbrush While Fasting
Is it permissible to brush your teeth while fasting in Ramadan? This is an important and common question, because the cleanliness of the mouth and teeth greatly affects a person’s self-confidence and their psychological and physical state. Also, bad breath does not only harm the person themselves, but it also harms those around them, causing them discomfort. Therefore, the Prophetic Sunnah urged Muslims to clean their teeth with a Miswak which is a teeth-cleaning twig before every prayer.
It is permissible to use a toothbrush while fasting, but the Muslim must be careful not to swallow toothpaste intentionally. Knowing that if they swallow a part of it unintentionally, their fast is not invalidated, and there is no sin on them. It was narrated that the Prophet PBUH said to Laqit ibn Sabra (may Allah be pleased with him):
«بالغ في الاستنشاق إلا أن تكون صائماً»
“Sniff water deeply into the nose, except when you are fasting.”
Therefore, if you doubt or fear swallowing your saliva that contains something of the toothpaste, it is more likely that you should use it during the night period to make sure that you do not invalidate the fast.
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The Effect of Cleaning Teeth on the Validity of the Fast
Cleaning teeth does not negatively affect the validity of the fast, but the Muslim should be easy on themselves and perform teeth cleaning and tooth extraction at the doctor’s after Iftar, so that nothing of the medicine enters their stomach, and so that blood does not go down into their stomach.
This is because this invalidates the fast, noting that the anesthetic injection does not invalidate the fast because it is not food or drink. Also, washing and cleaning teeth does not affect the validity of the fast as long as the Muslim does not swallow the medicine, and this shows the ease of the true Islamic religion, the abundance of Allah’s mercy on His servants, and His great forgiveness and generosity.
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The Difference Between Using a Miswak and a Toothbrush for a Fasting Person
The Miswak is considered a confirmed Sunnah, so the Muslim is rewarded for it and obtains a great reward. The Prophet PBUH said:
«لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك عند كل صلاة»
“Were it not that I would overburden my Ummah (nation), I would have ordered them to use the Miswak before every prayer.”
Also, it does not leave any strong smell in the mouth after using it, so this may be safer and does not affect the validity of the fast, unlike a toothbrush.
Toothbrushes often require the use of toothpaste, which contains strong smells and foam that the Muslim may swallow, which makes them doubt whether their fast is invalidated or not. You can choose the method that suits you and is easy for you to use, because the fast is not invalidated whether with a toothbrush or a Miswak. You can also gain great reward by being keen to have a good intention before using the toothbrush.
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The Best Times to Clean Teeth During the Month of Ramadan
You can brush your teeth immediately after Iftar, or after Suhoor and before Fajr prayer in the blessed month of Ramadan, especially when eating delicious sweets, because these foods are responsible for the occurrence of many teeth problems and bad breath. Also, washing your teeth at night will make you feel refreshed throughout the day, and will increase your self-confidence.
This will also make you take good care of your teeth, and you will not miss the opportunity to take care of them for fear and worry of invalidating the fast. This is because some scholars permit the use of a toothbrush, but do not permit the use of toothpaste. Therefore, it is more cautious to choose a suitable timing.
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What Precautions Should Be Followed When Cleaning Teeth While Fasting?
After we have learned whether you can brush your teeth while fasting in Ramadan, and we knew that it is permissible with certain conditions, which is not to swallow anything of the toothpaste, there is a set of necessary tips and guidelines that you must follow, so that you clean your teeth while fasting without the slightest problem, and these tips are as follows:
- It is preferable to choose a type of toothpaste that does not have a strong smell.
- Use a small amount of toothpaste so that you do not swallow it by mistake.
- You can suffice with the toothbrush only and not use toothpaste.
- You should also not exaggerate in gargling so that you do not swallow some of the water.
- Use an alternative to the toothbrush and toothpaste, such as the Miswak
- Make sure that you do not injure the gums so that blood does not go down into your stomach.
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Alternative Ways to Maintain Oral Health While Fasting
It is preferable to make sure to eat fruits and vegetables rich in nutrients and useful fiber, drink sufficient amounts of moisturizing fluids, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, and reduce sugars, saturated fats, and processed meats, while washing your teeth well after Iftar, to maintain the health and safety of your teeth.
Cleaning teeth is one of the most important things, because it helps us to get rid of accumulated tartar, protects teeth from falling out, and gives the individual an aesthetic touch, in addition to feeling active and energetic. There are many places in which the true Islamic religion has encouraged us to pay attention to our personal hygiene, especially the hygiene of teeth, so that Muslims are not harmed in prayer. Therefore, a Muslim must wash their teeth after Iftar or at Suhoor, and they can also wash them while fasting, while avoiding swallowing saliva which clearly explains the question: Can you brush your teeth while fasting in Islam?
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