Does dental treatment break the fast? Fillings, extractions, injections and brushing in Ramadan

This table summarises statements Diyanet has shared publicly. For your own situation you can contact Diyanet's ALO 190 line or official website.

• Water and suction: teeth are cooled with water during fillings and root canal treatment. Suction removes it; if you're worried, tell your dentist and breaks can be taken.
• After an extraction: you may taste blood for a while; you bite on gauze and can spit rather than swallow. Since painkillers may be needed in the first days, bigger extractions can be planned close to iftar or after the holiday.
• Hunger and dizziness: long procedures can be tiring after many hours without food. Extensive treatment may be more comfortable near iftar or after Ramadan.
• Emergencies: swelling, an abscess or severe pain shouldn't wait until Ramadan ends. See dental abscess and facial swelling.

Taking medicine breaks the fast. If antibiotics are prescribed, skipping doses or stopping early can make treatment fail. Tell your dentist you're fasting; where possible they may choose a twice-daily medicine that fits suhoor and iftar. Diyanet's guidance also notes that people who are ill and need medicine are permitted not to fast.

When antibiotics are needed is covered in do antibiotics and painkillers cure toothache?.

Saliva flow drops while fasting, more builds up on the tongue and bad breath becomes more noticeable. To reduce it:

• Brush with fluoride toothpaste after suhoor and after iftar.
• Clean your tongue with a brush or tongue scraper; see tongue cleaning.
• Drink plenty of water between iftar and suhoor, and cut down sugary and acidic drinks.
• Use floss or interdental brushes before bed.

Causes of persistent bad breath are covered in bad breath.

Blood sugar can fluctuate in people with diabetes who fast; it's important that it is under control before long or surgical dental procedures. Planning with chronic conditions is covered in dental treatment with chronic conditions.

Dent32 Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı Polikliniği (Dent32 Dental Polyclinic) is at Barış Mah., Ginza Lavinya, E-5 Yanyolu No:30 D:179, 34520 Beylikdüzü, Istanbul and is open seven days a week. To book, call or WhatsApp +90 555 011 33 68, or use our contact page. At the examination we share the findings, the options and the approximate cost in writing; you are under no obligation to start treatment afterwards.

For clinic details, our dentists and the full list of treatments, visit Dent32, dental clinic in Beylikdüzü.