Dental instruments or any non-edible object that enter the mouth does not invalidate the fast. So you can carefreely visit your dentist for dental checkups during Ramadan.
Perhaps one reason for the closure or less crowdedness of dental clinics and offices during Ramadan is that some people who fast assume that dental treatments may break their fast. In general, actions performed by a dentist, such as injecting anesthetic ampoules, pulling or filling teeth, are not part of the ten cases that invalidate fasting. However, it is not forbidden for fasting people who are able to avoid swallowing to see a dentist during fasting. Here I explain a set of fasting rules for dental patients.
There is nothing wrong with tooth brushing
Many people who fast complain about their bad breath that may bother those around them during the day, especially if they have not had the opportunity to brush their teeth before the morning call to prayer. According to Islamic jurists, tooth brushing with toothpaste does not invalidate the fast, provided that you do not swallow the water or toothpaste. Even if you brush your teeth without toothpaste, you should be careful not to take the toothbrush out of your mouth repeatedly or swallow the water in your mouth; every time you take the toothbrush out and then inside the mouth, swallowing the external moist and water that enters your mouth can invalidate your fast.
Dental instruments do not invalidate the fast
To perform any dental procedures, it is necessary to use equipment and tools. Dental instruments or any non-edible object that enter the mouth does not invalidate the fast. So you can carefreely visit your dentist for dental checkups during Ramadan.
Do not worry about anesthesia
Perhaps the most important concern of patients receiving dental treatments during Ramadan is their fear of anesthesia, which is one of the requirements of many dental treatments. However, some people may assume that the analgesic injected into the mouth may be considered an external object and invalidate their fast. According to Islamic jurists, people who fast should avoid injecting ampoules that provide nutrients to the body. However, they emphasize that injecting an ampule that numbs a body organ or relieves pain does not invalidate the fast.
Do not swallow dental blood or secretions
Dental treatments, especially tooth extraction, may cause oral bleeding or other secretions. Inadvertent swallowing of dental blood and secretions does not invalidate the fast. However, some Islamic jurists argue that tooth extraction or any other procedure that causes bleeding or the flow of water and other fluids inside the mouth are grouped under the fasting abominations.
Do not worry about spontaneous discharges
If some discharges come out of the abscess duct (fistula) that opens into the mouth and the patient naturally swallows them with saliva, it does not invalidate the fast. However, if the patient swallows these substances after they are intentionally removed by the patient or the dentist, it invalidates the fast, even if the discharges are dissolved in the saliva, according to the jurists.
There is nothing wrong with a temporary filling
After some dental procedures, such as root canal treatment or gum surgery, the dentist may use a temporary filling to seal a hole in a tooth in order to prevent food and bacteria from getting into the hole and causing further dental problems. Temporary fillings may gradually dissolve in the saliva and cause an astringent taste in the mouth. Undeliberate swallowing of dental fillings does not invalidate the fast.
Do not forget to floss your teeth when fasting
Intentional swallowing of the food debris stuck between teeth invalidates the fast. To avoid this, you should floss your teeth after the pre-dawn meal in Ramadan. No excuses are accepted for not flossing the teeth when fasting. Tooth brushing, flossing, and mouth-rinsing are the basic principles of oral hygiene that should never be overlooked. It is noteworthy that flossing is essentially a substitute for tooth brushing to remove interdental plaques and tartar, not removing the food particles from the interdental space.
When flossing your teeth, do not use each piece of the floss more than once because when you take the wet piece of the floss out of your mouth and then put it back in your mouth, the external moist will dissolve in your saliva. In this case, swallowing your saliva invalidates your fast. It is better to use tasteless and essence-free dental floss to avoid doubt about the validity of your fast.