A few Tips to Avoid Bad Breath During Ramadan and other Fasting Times

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a very sacred time for Muslims, and to honor Allah, it is a time for fasting. During the entire month, Muslims will eat no food and drink no water during the day time, and then in the evening, they will have a small meal while they are conversing with friends and family called Sehri. Although this is a very sacred time for most Muslims, a common complaint during fasting is bad breath or halitosis.

Fasting and bad breath during Ramadan may come hand in hand, and a lot of this has to do with the dryness of the mouth during the fast. This is not unexpected. With no food and water, your salivary glands are not producing enough saliva to keep your breath fresh. Naturally, this results in bad breath.

There are many ways to deal with fasting and bad breath during Ramadan without crossing any line.
First of all, the main thing you need to do is to continue to brush your teeth normally. Just be absolutely sure that you don't swallow anything. Even if you're not eating during the day, you should still brush your teeth when you wake up like you always would. You then want to brush them after eating at Sehri. Some Muslims recommend using a Miswak or 'tooth stick' to keep the mouth fresh and clean during Ramadan.

There are other things that you can do as well. Often, having a dry mouth can cause bad breath. During Sehri, if you drink 2 to 3 glasses of water, it should help with this. Drinking plenty of water will help keep your mouth from drying out, and causing bad breath. It may also help keep you hydrated during the next day. You should also remember to floss between your teeth as part of your normal dental hygiene routine. Mouthwash is acceptable for Ramadan as well, since you're not actually swallowing anything. However, you should stay away from alcohol based mouthwashes since they can dry the mouth out more and make the problem worse.

To summarize, remember to brush your teeth normally during Ramadan, floss, use mouthwash or a Miswak, and remember to drink plenty of water. Following these tips will help you avoid bad breath during Ramadan or other fasting times.