Protect Your Oral and Dental Health During Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is not only a period of spiritual significance but also a time when our eating habits change. During iftar and suhoor, the consumption of sweets, tea, coffee, and other foods that may affect dental health increases. Therefore, paying extra attention to oral and dental care during this period is crucial for maintaining a healthy mouth both during fasting hours and in the long term.

Oral Care After Iftar and Suhoor

To ensure oral hygiene throughout the day during Ramadan, it is essential to follow the right oral care routine after iftar and suhoor. Since the consumption of sweets increases after iftar, brushing your teeth, using dental floss, and incorporating mouthwash into your routine should not be neglected. Additionally, oral hygiene after suhoor is equally important. Brushing your teeth, cleaning your tongue, and using dental floss after suhoor help reduce bacteria in the mouth, preventing bad breath and minimizing the risk of cavities during the fasting period.

Key Tips for Maintaining Oral Health During Ramadan

• Do not skip suhoor and choose the right foods: Include antioxidant-rich foods such as almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon in your suhoor meals. Chewing cloves can also help prevent bad breath.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water between iftar and suhoor helps prevent dehydration and reduces the risks associated with dry mouth.
• Avoid diuretic beverages: Refrain from consuming coffee, tea, and chocolate during suhoor, as these can increase fluid loss and contribute to dry mouth.
• Limit salty and spicy foods: Reducing the intake of excessively salty and spicy foods at iftar and suhoor can help prevent dry mouth and excessive thirst.
• Eat fruits and vegetables whole: Consuming hard and fibrous fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots without slicing them helps naturally clean tooth surfaces.
• Reduce the intake of strong-smelling foods like garlic and onions: These foods can increase bad breath. Limiting their consumption during fasting hours may help prevent unpleasant odors.
• Reduce or quit smoking: Smoking contributes to gum disease and bad breath. Ramadan is a great opportunity to quit smoking.
• Clean dental prosthetics regularly: If you use dentures, make sure to soak them in a cleaning solution every night before bed.
• Incorporate cheese and apples into your diet: White cheese and apples help maintain oral pH balance and prevent cavities.

Do Not Neglect Oral Health During Eid

Continue the oral and dental care routine you followed throughout Ramadan, especially during Eid, when the consumption of sweets and desserts tends to increase. Visiting your dentist after Ramadan can help prevent cavities and gum diseases that may have developed during the fasting period.

I wish you a healthy and peaceful Ramadan and extend my best wishes for a joyous Eid.

Dt. Cem Harbalıoğlu
Oral and Dental Health Specialist