Can I brush my teeth while fasting?

Detailed answer

Yes. Brushing your teeth does not break the fast, at any time of the day, provided nothing is swallowed. Keeping the mouth clean is part of the Sunnah, and Ramadan is no exception. The only thing to take care of is that no toothpaste or water goes down your throat.

What the Quran and Sunnah say

The Prophet, peace be upon him, strongly encouraged cleaning the teeth. He said: "Were it not that it would be hard on my community, I would have commanded them to use the siwak before every prayer" (Bukhari and Muslim). He made no exception for fasting days, and scholars use this to show that cleaning the teeth is allowed while fasting. The siwak is the natural tooth stick; see using a miswak while fasting.

Some scholars consider brushing after midday to be disliked for a fasting person, because of the hadith praising the smell of a fasting person's mouth. Others see no problem at any time; if you are unsure, ask a trusted local scholar.

In practice

• The best times for a thorough brush are after suhoor and after iftar.
• During the day, use only a little toothpaste, or brush with water or a dry brush.
• Lean forward, rinse gently and spit well. Do not gargle deeply.
• A taste left in your mouth afterwards does not matter, as long as you do not swallow the paste itself.

What if …

… a little toothpaste or water slipped down by accident? Many scholars hold that an unintended trace does not break the fast, but swallowing on purpose does. More detail is in does toothpaste break the fast.

… I want to freshen my breath more? Mouthwash has its own considerations; see mouthwash and fasting.

Tips

Bad breath while fasting often comes from a dry mouth. Drinking enough water between iftar and suhoor, avoiding very salty food at suhoor and cleaning your tongue at night all help. And remember that a fasting person's breath is nothing to be ashamed of: the Prophet said it is better with Allah than the scent of musk (Bukhari and Muslim).