Table of contents:
- Tips for maintaining oral health during fasting in the month of Ramadan
- Brush your teeth before bed and after dawn
- Use mouthwash and do it
- Increase fluid and fiber intake
- Limit foods and drinks high in sugar
Oral and dental health is a major concern when fasting in the month of Ramadan. Naturally, when fasting the mouth often experiences health problems such as an unpleasant odor. If you are worried that bad breath is a symptom of a health problem, here is an overview of how to maintain oral hygiene during fasting to stay awake.
Tips for maintaining oral health during fasting in the month of Ramadan
The reason some people feel afraid to do oral care during Ramadan is because they are afraid to break their fast.
In fact, when needing medical attention from a dentist due to oral health problems, some people may prefer to ignore it or wait until evening to see a doctor.
For this reason, to maintain oral health conditions, here are some steps you can take in the month of Ramadan without affecting fasting.
Brush your teeth before bed and after dawn
Brushing your teeth every time you sleep is a must in order to maintain healthy teeth and mouth. However, during the month of Ramadan, you need to add to this habit when you return to sleep after eating Suhoor.
During fasting, saliva production is reduced, increasing the compounds that cause bad breath. If you don't regularly clean your teeth the night before, food residue will build up and worsen bad breath.
Use mouthwash and do it
For additional protection in maintaining cleanliness and oral health, you can use mouthwash and do it flossing (cleaning between teeth with special floss) after brushing your teeth.
However, avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol as it can dry out your mouth. Gargle at night to avoid ingesting the solution, thereby invalidating the fast.
Increase fluid and fiber intake
Not only to avoid dehydration, ensuring that the body gets enough fluids can also affect the overall health of the body, including the mouth.
Take advantage of the time to break and dawn to get additional fluid and fiber intake, by drinking more water and eating fruits. You can also drink, for example, coconut water which contains electrolytes so that body fluids can return immediately when breaking the fast.
Limit foods and drinks high in sugar
You may often hear the suggestion to break the fast starting with sweet foods and drinks. However, you still need to pay attention to the intake.
A number of studies have emphasized the great influence of sugar on dental health. In addition, WHO also recommends limiting sugar intake to below 10 percent of total calories. Given the number of calories when fasting will decrease, then sugar intake must be limited.
In order to improve oral health, it is recommended that you always clean your teeth and use toothpaste which can help provide the protection needed during fasting. Herbal toothpaste can be an option.
According to a journal in 2014, herbal toothpaste is just as effective as toothpaste in general in inhibiting plaque formation and reducing the risk of gum disease. However, herbal toothpaste has advantages because of its natural composition, such as Eucalyptus.
Eucalyptus potential as antibacterial and antimicrobial. This herbal ingredient derived from plants from Australia actively fights bacteria that can cause cavities and periodontitis (gum infection).
For Muslims, fasting is an obligation. Do not let your fasting, health and hygiene of your teeth and mouth be disturbed or maybe vice versa, your fasting will be disturbed due to not doing dental care.
