Introduction
The holiest month in the Islamic calendar has arrived. Ramaḍān is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.
The Holy Qur’ān says with regards to fasting in Sūrah Al-Baqarah:

“You who believe, fasting
is prescribed for you, as it
was prescribed for those
before you, so that you
may be mindful of
Allāh.”[1]

Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) is
addressing the believers and
commanding them to observe the fast. Fasting means to submit to Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā)’s command with a sincere intention and to abstain from food, drink and carnal and sensual temptations. The benefit of such an abstention is that it purifies the self from immoral acts and builds a character which distinguishes right from wrong and virtue from vice.
However, hunger and thirst are not the only obstacles during this month, a common complaint especially amongst fasting Muslims required to work with
others is bad breath medically known as halitosis, a term used to describe an unpleasant odour exhaled through the mouth. Bad breath can lead to a decrease in self-confidence and insecurity in social and intimate relations,[2] and is the third most common reason for patients to visit a
dentist.
So what can we do to reduce or
eliminate bad breath whilst fasting? To be able to understand how to reduce bad breath, it would be prudent to have
some understanding of the origins of it.
How is bad breath produced?
Bad breath is most often a result of certain bacteria that live in the oral cavity and which break down food remnants into foul-smelling gases or volatile sulphur compounds (VCSs). In most
cases (85-90%) the origins of bad
breath are from the mouth.[4] In 5-10% of cases bad breath originates from the
nose and sinuses and in 3-5% of cases from the tonsils. Bad breath is thought to originate mainly from the dorsum of the tongue.
Large quantities of naturally-occurring bacteria are often on the tongue is also quite dry and poorly cleansed, and
bacterial populations can thrive on remnants of food deposits, dead epithelial cells and postnasal drip (PND).
The convoluted microbial structure of the tongue dorsum provides an ideal habitat for anaerobic bacteria. Over 600
types of bacteria can be found in the average mouth, of which several dozen produce high levels of foul odours when incubated in the laboratory.

Other parts of the mouth may also
contribute to the overall odour, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. These include inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in-between the teeth, abscesses and unclean dentures.

Causes of Bad breath
Poor Oral Hygiene
The number one cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. If we do not maintain good oral health by brushing twice a day / flossing /using a mouth wash, we are less likely to wash away and reduce
the number of these natural bacteria thus resulting in bad breath. Not removing and disturbing the bacteria in the mouth (plaque) will also lead to
dental diseases such as Periodontal disease (gum disease) which, along with bad breath, will cause other dental problems. Maintaining good oral health
is discussed in further detail later in this article.

Dry Mouth
The intensity of bad breath however can differ depending on diet and dryness of the mouth etc. As a result of the mouth being drier whilst fasting (where drinking any form of liquid is
impermissible), there is more of a potent smell.
During fasting bad breath seems to be worse. Why would this be? Saliva is the natural mouthwash we were born with.
It contains antibacterial agents, and competes with bacteria for scarce resources such as iron. Saliva helps wash bacteria and food from the mouth, and the saliva layer helps the oral odours
from escaping. Bad breath is worst
when there is little or no saliva flow, for example during a long fast. This is because whilst we are fasting we abstain from all food and drink during day light hours thus lowering our salivary stimulary flow causing us to
have a dry mouth. If the mouth is dry, dead cells and bacteria can build up on the tongue, gums and the insides of our cheeks. These cells then start to rot and give off an unpleasant smell thus intensifying our breath. As soon as one begins to eat and drink the Parotid salivary gland is stimulated and starts to salivate causing the dead cells and bacteria to be washed away reducing the unpleasant smell.
A dry mouth is also the reason why we have bad breath first thing in the morning compared to later in the day.

A dry mouth is also the reason why we
have bad breath first thing in the
morning compared to later in the day.
Our salivary flow drastically decreases
whilst we are sleeping causing dry
mouth and thus leading to bad breath
for the reasons explained above. This is
worse in people who tend to sleep with
their mouth open. It is therefore
imperative to ensure we clean our
mouths properly before going to bed to
limit the number of bacteria in the
mouth.
The examples of dry mouth above are all
temporary e.g. whilst fasting or sleeping,
however if you suffer from dry mouth
persistently it is important you consult
your GP or Dentist as there is usually an
underlying problem. The medical term
for persistent dry mouth is known as
Xerostomia and has a number of causes
ranging from side effects from
medication, diabetes and post cancer
treatments.
How do we beat it?
Maintaining good oral hygiene
The things that we can do to reduce bad
breath both during Ramaḍān and
throughout the year should now be
obvious and the reasoning should be
easier to understand. We have
established that the main cause of bad
breath is poor oral hygiene. Therefore
the main treatment for bad breath is to
ensure we maintain good oral hygiene
cleansing the mouth of bacteria and
food remnants. Below are the current
recommended evidence based
guidelines in maintaining good oral
hygiene as set out by the department of
health toolkit “Delivering better oral
health 2014”[8]
– Brushing using a fluoride (1350ppm)
toothpaste should occur twice daily as
a minimum – clean teeth last thing at
night before bed and at least one other
time each day
– Brushing should last for two minutes
ensuring you brush all tooth surfaces
including gum margins
– Patients who are not correctly
brushing their teeth with a manual
toothbrush should try to switch to an
electric tooth brush where studies have
shown electric toothbrushes can
significantly improve their cleaning.
(Discuss your brushing technique with
your dentist before moving to an
electric toothbrush).
Alongside brushing your teeth, studies
have also shown using floss, interdental
TePe brushes, tongue cleaners and anti-
bacterial mouthwashes can disturb the
plaque in your mouth and remove food
remnants thus reducing bad breath.
During fasting, Muslims can brush their
teeth with toothpaste as long as they do
not intentionally ingest the toothpaste. It
is also possible to use mouthwash as
long as the mouthwash is not ingested.
Brushing twice a day with the correct
use of a mouthwash during Ramaḍān
and throughout the year should
significantly reduce bad breath from
occurring.
Recommended mouth wash specifically
for bad breath?
Studies have shown a mouthwash called
CB12 has significantly reduced bad
breath in patients.
The active ingredients in CB12 are zinc
acetate and chlorhexidine (anti-
bacterial). Zinc acetate is used to
neutralise and prevent production of the
VCSs (foul odour gases) from exhaled air.
Small amounts of chlorhexidine are used
to break down the sulphur gas
molecules by interacting on their bond
strength.[9]
Tongue Cleaning
Gently cleaning the tongue twice daily is
another effective way to keep bad
breath in control; that can be achieved
using a tongue scraper or a separate
tongue toothbrush to wipe off the
bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Ask
your dentist to recommend a scraper for
your tongue.[10] Brushing a small
amount of saltwater onto the tongue
surface will further inhibit bacterial
action. Eating a healthy breakfast with
rough foods helps clean the very back of
the tongue too.[11]
Overcoming dry mouth during fasting –
To minimise the effects of having a dry
mouth during fasting which, as
discussed earlier, can intensify bad
breath, a person fasting must ensure
they ;
– Drink plenty of water out of the hours
of fasting, drinking small sips but in
regular frequency.
– They can rinse out their mouth with
water (as long as no water is
swallowed intentionally), most Muslims
will perform this act three times each
time they perform wudu (ablution)
before offering obligatory prayers.
– Use Miswāk to stimulate salivary flow.
– Speak to their GP /Pharmacist to
check if any of their medication is
causing dry mouth.
Source www.islam21c.com/seasonal-reminders/ramadan/beating-bad-breath-this-ramadan/

maclatunji , lalasticlala , People experience this....Frontpage if possible

^^

salam, u seem to have left-out the most important part of the article i.e. the solutions to the problem i suggest u post the solutions in your second post.

edited

What about miswāk?
What would also be recommended to the fasting person is the specific use miswāk throughout the day. The miswāk
(also known as siwāk or sewāk) is a teeth cleaning twig cut from a branch of the Salvadora persica tree, also known as the arak tree (or peelu tree). It is well- known amongst most Muslims—but is
using a miswāk effective at cleaning one’s mouth?

The Wrigley Company carried out a study on miswāk which was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The study found that mints
laced with miswāk extract were 20 times more effective in killing bacteria than ordinary mints. After half an hour, the mints laced with miswāk extract killed about 60% of the bacteria whereas the
ordinary mints managed only 3.6%.

In the August issue of Journal of
Periodontology (2008) appeared a study conducted by Swedish researchers on miswāk. The study apparently found that suspended miswāk pieces in a Petri dish
(containing medium for growing
bacteria) were able to kill bacteria that cause periodontal disease without being in physical contact with the bacteria. The researchers suggested that miswāk might be providing antibiotics as gases,
trying to explain this phenomenon.

Another study which compared tooth- brushing and using miswāk can be found on Pubmed (U.S National Library for Medicine Service). The study concluded that miswāk was more effective than using a toothbrush in reducing plaque and gingivitis provided
it was used correctly. Similarly a study conducted by a group of dentists at King Saud University concluded that using miswāk was at least as good as using a
toothbrush, if not better.

The effectiveness of miswāk has been attributed to its strong antibacterial properties. Another feature of miswāk thought to contribute to its effectiveness, mentioned by the King Saud University study, is that its bristles
are parallel to the handle rather than perpendicular which means effective cleaning between the teeth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) interestingly
enough recommended the use of the miswāk in 1986. So we would have to agree that using miswāk is both rewardable and effective.

There are many ḥadīths on the benefits and rewards of using miswāk and is a beloved Sunnah of the Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam).

Summary
In conclusion, if you want to beat bad breath during Ramaḍān, then brush a minimum of twice a day for 2 minutes especially after those big iftārs and before you go to bed, clean your tongue
and drink plenty of fluids whenever you can. Rinse the mouth frequently during
the fast without swallowing any water keeping your mouth wet and stimulating saliva.
I would like to end on some ḥadīths and sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam).
Through various ḥadīths it is a well- known fact the Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) would frequently, throughout the day, brush his
teeth using miswāk. He would brush his teeth before reciting the Qur’ān or teaching the virtues of Islām, before entering a gathering or embarking on any journey and he would brush his teeth before sleeping or when experiencing the pangs of hunger and thirst. The Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) placed a big
emphasis on maintain good oral hygiene and therefore it should be as important to us.

“Had I not thought it
difficult for my nation I
would have commanded
them to brush their teeth
before every salāt”

“Tooth brushing is
purification for the
mouth and pleasing for
the Lord Allāh.”

Finally it is important to remember we fast to seek the pleasure and mercy of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). Whilst we
may think our breath smells bad during fasting it is always important to remember this ḥadīth:

The Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said,
“By Allāh in whose Hand
is the soul of Muḥammad,
the breath of a fasting
person is sweeter to Allāh
than the fragrance of
musk .”

source: www.islam21.com

Waleikun Salam.Female nt Male Sir.

Corrected!

vedaxcool:
^^

Bros salam, u seem to have leftout the most important part of the article i.e. the soloutions to the probelm i sugges u post the solutions in your second post.

ArRahmanCakes:
Waleikun Salam.Female nt Male Sir.

Corrected!

noted, will also correct myself.

ArRahmanCakes:
A dry mouth is also the reason why we
have bad breath first thing in the
morning compared to later in the day.
Our salivary flow drastically decreases
whilst we are sleeping causing dry
mouth and thus leading to bad breath
for the reasons explained above. This is
worse in people who tend to sleep with
their mouth open. It is therefore
imperative to ensure we clean our
mouths properly before going to bed to
limit the number of bacteria in the
mouth.
The examples of dry mouth above are all
temporary e.g. whilst fasting or sleeping,
however if you suffer from dry mouth
persistently it is important you consult
your GP or Dentist as there is usually an
underlying problem. The medical term
for persistent dry mouth is known as
Xerostomia and has a number of causes
ranging from side effects from
medication, diabetes and post cancer
treatments.
How do we beat it?
Maintaining good oral hygiene
The things that we can do to reduce bad
breath both during Ramaḍān and
throughout the year should now be
obvious and the reasoning should be
easier to understand. We have
established that the main cause of bad
breath is poor oral hygiene. Therefore
the main treatment for bad breath is to
ensure we maintain good oral hygiene
cleansing the mouth of bacteria and
food remnants. Below are the current
recommended evidence based
guidelines in maintaining good oral
hygiene as set out by the department of
health toolkit “Delivering better oral
health 2014”[8]
– Brushing using a fluoride (1350ppm)
toothpaste should occur twice daily as
a minimum – clean teeth last thing at
night before bed and at least one other
time each day
– Brushing should last for two minutes
ensuring you brush all tooth surfaces
including gum margins
– Patients who are not correctly
brushing their teeth with a manual
toothbrush should try to switch to an
electric tooth brush where studies have
shown electric toothbrushes can
significantly improve their cleaning.
(Discuss your brushing technique with
your dentist before moving to an
electric toothbrush).
Alongside brushing your teeth, studies
have also shown using floss, interdental
TePe brushes, tongue cleaners and anti-
bacterial mouthwashes can disturb the
plaque in your mouth and remove food
remnants thus reducing bad breath.
During fasting, Muslims can brush their
teeth with toothpaste as long as they do
not intentionally ingest the toothpaste. It
is also possible to use mouthwash as
long as the mouthwash is not ingested.
Brushing twice a day with the correct
use of a mouthwash during Ramaḍān
and throughout the year should
significantly reduce bad breath from
occurring.
Recommended mouth wash specifically
for bad breath?
Studies have shown a mouthwash called
CB12 has significantly reduced bad
breath in patients.
The active ingredients in CB12 are zinc
acetate and chlorhexidine (anti-
bacterial). Zinc acetate is used to
neutralise and prevent production of the
VCSs (foul odour gases) from exhaled air.
Small amounts of chlorhexidine are used
to break down the sulphur gas
molecules by interacting on their bond
strength.[9]
Tongue Cleaning
Gently cleaning the tongue twice daily is
another effective way to keep bad
breath in control; that can be achieved
using a tongue scraper or a separate
tongue toothbrush to wipe off the
bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Ask
your dentist to recommend a scraper for
your tongue.[10] Brushing a small
amount of saltwater onto the tongue
surface will further inhibit bacterial
action. Eating a healthy breakfast with
rough foods helps clean the very back of
the tongue too.[11]
Overcoming dry mouth during fasting –
To minimise the effects of having a dry
mouth during fasting which, as
discussed earlier, can intensify bad
breath, a person fasting must ensure
they ;
– Drink plenty of water out of the hours
of fasting, drinking small sips but in
regular frequency.
– They can rinse out their mouth with
water (as long as no water is
swallowed intentionally), most Muslims
will perform this act three times each
time they perform wudu (ablution)
before offering obligatory prayers.
– Use Miswāk to stimulate salivary flow.
– Speak to their GP /Pharmacist to
check if any of their medication is
causing dry mouth.
Source www.islam21c.com/seasonal-reminders/ramadan/beating-bad-breath-this-ramadan/

maclatunji , lalasticlala , People experience this....Frontpage if possible

Jazakallahu khayr... where can i get CB12 moutwash? d best toothpaste?

Try and Check the source if places to buy it is mentioned. Wayakum

hbb2:
Jazakallahu khayr... where can i get CB12 moutwash? d best toothpaste?

Sissie mukina2