Fasting means a willing reduction of some or all foods, drinks or both for a specific period of time. It is an integral part of many religious traditions.
Fasting is believed to be beneficial for your overall health. The relationship between oral health and fasting is a positive one.
When the frequency of snacking is reduced, it reduces the chances of decay. These days, it seems like people change their diet as often as they (should) change their toothbrush.
Different diets have different effects on your oral health. Different foods will have either a positive or a negative effect on your teeth, so will be different diets. Your diet can increase bad breath(we’re not just talking about garlic), increase the risk of tooth decay and even make your mouth more susceptible to infection. On the other hand/mouth, some diets contain foods that are specifically beneficial for the health of your teeth.
Some tips for maintaining your oral hygiene during fasting:
1. Brush and Floss regularly & twice a day:
Some people believe that brushing teeth using toothpaste during fast is not allowed. This leads to to-
-Tooth Decay
-Bad breath
-Plaque buildup
Thus, it is important to brush your teeth. Fast is only broken when toothpaste directly goes into your body system so take care you don’t swallow the toothpaste.
2. Use a tongue scraper:
Use a tongue cleaner or brush to scrape your tongue gently. This removes the layer of debris or mucus from the tongue which would otherwise lead to a bad odor.
3. Drink at-least 8-10 glasses of water:
It is necessary to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water to keep the body hydrated. During fasting, when you are not taking food it is important to drink water or its supplements to be energized and get rid of other problems.
But, avoid the consumption of sugar, cold drinks, preservative drinks, etc.
4. Take a healthy diet:
Take healthy and nutritional food like vegetables, fruits, dairy foods such as Milk, Buttermilk, Cheese, Paneer, etc.
-Avoid junk & Oily food
-Avoid sugar and sweets
-Due to the reduced quantity of saliva production during fasts, tartar and plaque build-up which lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
5. Don’t postpone your dental treatment during fasting:
- For better Oral hygiene, visit your dentist regularly.