Can I brush my teeth while fasting?

Clean teeth are part of the sunnah

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ loved oral hygiene. He said: "If I had not found it hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with siwak for every prayer" (Sahih al-Bukhari 887).

Fasting doesn't cancel that. Most scholars allow the miswak throughout the fasting day.

What about toothpaste?

Toothpaste doesn't break your fast if you don't swallow it. Some scholars consider it disliked during the fast, because the strong flavor easily reaches the throat. That's why many Muslims save toothpaste for the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and after iftar.

If a tiny bit slips down by accident, most scholars say your fast is still valid, because it wasn't intentional. More on that in Does swallowing my spit break my fast?

After midday?

The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools consider using a miswak after midday disliked for someone fasting. Other scholars say it's fine all day. If you follow the first view, simply clean your teeth in the morning.

A simple Ramadan routine

• Before Fajr: brush normally with toothpaste.
• During the day: miswak, or a dry toothbrush, if you need a fresh mouth.
• Rinsing: rinse gently and spit it all out. Don't gargle deeply.
• Mouthwash: best saved for after iftar.
• After iftar: brush again with toothpaste.

A tongue scraper is fine anytime. It removes the cause of bad breath without adding anything to your mouth.

What about the dentist? Many scholars say a check-up, cleaning or filling doesn't break your fast, as long as you don't swallow water or materials, and a local anesthetic injection is fine too. If it's not urgent, booking the appointment after iftar or outside Ramadan saves you the worry.