Oral health during Ramadan

8 Apr 2023

Fasting in Ramadan is not only good for your spiritual renewal and purification but also has numerous health benefits. Fasting cleanses your body of toxins, helps in weight loss, improves blood sugar control and decreases inflammation. It enhances heart health by improving blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

However, there is one thing that takes a back seat during fasting and that is your oral health. Since saliva lubricates the mouth and helps protect against harmful bacteria, the lack of it due to reduced water intake during Ramadan results in bacteria build-up in the mouth causing tooth decay and gum diseases.

A healthy mouth is a great asset and you need it for almost everything during Ramadan. Be it, ibadah and dhikr of Allah, enjoying iftar and suhoor meals with your family, spreading kindness and positivity with your words or smiling at strangers on the way to the mosque. Healthy teeth and gums will ensure that you can do everything peacefully.

Simple measures can help in maintaining good oral health during Ramadan.

-Floss and brush your teeth with a flouride toothpaste after every iftar and suhoor meal. Your mouth should be clean after these major meals. It is recommended to wait for 30 minutes to brush your teeth after a meal to allow the tooth enamel to remineralise. But this may not be possible after suhoor, so always use a soft-bristle brush to avoid any abrasion of your teeth. Also use a mouthwash (non-alcoholic) to rinse your mouth. Although brushing your teeth with a toothpaste during the fasting hours won’t break your fast as long as you don’t swallow any water or toothpaste, many people avoid it due to the fear of swallowing, so brushing after iftar and suhoor will suffice.

-Hydrating is the key to good oral health. Keep yourself hydrated and drink more water during non-fasting hours. Eat fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, peaches and strawberries that are high in water content. Drink fresh juices and dairy products and avoid consuming more tea, coffee and soda as these have a diuretic effect and can cause dehydration.

-Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, food rich in protein and fibre, dairy products and nuts. Probiotic food like yogurt and cheese will not only keep your gastrointestinal tract healthy and improve your gut flora, but also help prevent acid reflux and bad breath. Consume dates at iftar and suhoor. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) enjoyed eating dates. Not only are these a quick source of energy but these also help control your appetite throughout the day. Being rich in vitamins, antioxidants and many minerals, dates are also rich in fluorine which can actually help in strengthening teeth. Phytochemicals in dates appear to inhibit the growth of certain types of bacteria and help prevent these from sticking on your teeth, thus preventing tooth decay.

-Avoid all types of sticky foods. Any food that contains starch and sugar, especially sticky foods, can result in tooth decay and dissolve the enamel.

-Use miswak. A sunnah with great benefits. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used miswak before every prayer. It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. It helps strengthen teeth and prevents tooth decay. Miswak prevents plaque build-up and leads to naturally whiter teeth. It contains tannic acid that protects against gum diseases and essential oils that help in fighting bad breath.

-Try to quit smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking is not only bad for your overall health but also for soft tissues of your mouth and can cause heavy staining of your teeth. This is the best time to quit smoking. If you can refrain from smoking in the fasting hours, you can surely quit it completely.

-See your dentist if you are in pain. Even though dental treatments will not break your fast as long as you don’t swallow any water, most people try to avoid getting dental treatment during fasting. However, sometimes an emergency treatment cannot be avoided and it is best to see your dentist instead of bearing the pain.