Concern: Will brushing my teeth with toothpaste break or invalidate my fasting during Ramadan?
Assalamualaikum,
The question regarding brushing your teeth during Ramadan is one that many have every single year.
The ruling is that no it will not invalidate your fast, with one condition.
It is sort of like Wudu which you snuff water up your nose and rinse your mouth with water as well.
The one condition is as long as you do not intentionally swallow the water or toothpaste. If it is done deliberately to derive some satisfaction then your fast is broken.
If it is done by accident and the person had no intention of swallowing then they should still continue with their fast.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink.” Sahih Bukhari 6669
It is completely fine to brush your teeth during Ramadan. It is good dental hygiene. By not brushing your teeth we can offend others and give off a bad reputation. In fact in Sahih Muslim 562 and Sahih al-Bukhari 5451, a person who ate garlic was not told not to come to masjid because of their bad breath.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who eats of this plant (garlic) should not approach our mosque and should not harm us with the odour of garlic.
What is recommended is to brush your teeth before suhoor, use non-dampened (not wet) miswak (siwak) during the day, and then to brush teeth after iftar time.
CONCLUSION:
It is okay to brush your teeth during Ramadan with toothpaste as long as you don’t intentionally swallow. Make sure to rinse mouth thoroughly as to not ingest any particle of the paste.
Allah knows best.
Read Article on 10 things which will invalidate the fast.
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