TAKE CARE OF ORAL AND DENTAL HEALTH DURING RAMADAN

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HOW TO TAKE CARE OF ORAL AND DENTAL HEALTH ON RAMADAN?

The easiest way to prevent bad breath is by brushing your teeth frequently. Do not forget to use mouthwash and brush your tongue especially against odor during Ramadan.

Serious diseases such as respiratory tract infections, dental and gum diseases, stomach problems, kidney and liver failure can cause bad breath, and bad breath is one of the problems that arise due to hunger and thirst during Ramadan. During this period, it is possible to prevent bad breath, the cause of which is obvious. The easiest way to prevent bad breath is to brush your teeth frequently. When brushing teeth, the surface of the tongue and gum areas should also be thoroughly cleaned.

Dental floss should also be used for oral care, the inner and outer surfaces inside the mouth and the top of the tongue should be cleaned by brushing for at least two minutes. The biggest reason for the formation of bad breath is dental diseases. The smell appears with the presence of rotten or broken teeth in the mouth. If these problems are treated, there may also be a significant decrease or complete disappearance of bad breath.

When teeth are not brushed during Ramadan, the time from sahur to iftar allows enough time for bacteria to easily reproduce in the mouth. This condition leads to bad breath and tooth decay in the mouth. Bacteria that form on teeth that are not brushed after iftar and sahur cause acidification and tooth decay in the mouth. In order to protect yourself from tooth decay and bad breath, your teeth should definitely be brushed after iftar and sahur.

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PAY ATTENTION TO THE FORMATION OF CARIES

In order to protect yourself from tooth decay that causes bad breath, it is necessary to avoid acidic foods and drinks during these months. In Sahur, carbohydrate foods should be consumed less, calcium-containing foods such as cheese and milk and fruit-vegetable weighted nutrition should be considered. Because of fasting, there are no eating and drinking functions during the day, the secretion produced by the salivary glands and the washing capacity of saliva decrease.

For this reason, sufficient ground is prepared for the reproduction of bacteria and the formation of caries. Since drinks such as sweets and coffee, tea are consumed more in these months; bacteria increase, so the formation of caries is also accelerated. While all this is happening, it is only a matter of time before bad breath also appears. That is why it is important to take care of the consumption of sweets during Ramadan and then brush your teeth. 

Turkey Medicals – we have answered the most curious questions about the month of Ramadan for you.

Can dental treatment be done during Ramadan?

Yes, dental treatment can be done while fasting. Operations that can be performed without anesthesia do not disrupt fasting. During the procedure, there will be no problems unless the person swallows the water they use to clean their mouth. There is no problem with making a dental filling, as well as measuring the prosthesis and rehearsing the prosthesis. In addition, it is preferred that surgical interventions be performed after iftar.

Can I brush my teeth while fasting?

Since bacteria start to rot in the tooth within 30 minutes after eating, teeth should be brushed in the sahur. But if it is forgotten, it can also be brushed off during the day. It has also been repeatedly confirmed by the clergy that it is actually okay to brush your teeth while fasting. Because brushing your teeth is not a condition that feeds the body, you don’t mind brushing your teeth while you are fasting, provided that you don’t swallow toothpaste. Toothpaste and mouth water can also be used easily when fasting.
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Since there is no eating and drinking activity while fasting during Ramadan, saliva secretion in the mouth is at a low level. Bacteria that form on teeth that are not brushed after iftar and sahur meals can easily reproduce in the mouth. Bacteria lead to acidification in the mouth, which causes tooth decay.

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NASAL DISCHARGE CAN MAKE A SMELL

How to prevent bad breath while fasting?

Bad breath does not only occur from tooth decay. The biggest cause is gingivitis. In addition, prostheses can also cause bad breath. On the other hand, odors related to the bronchi and stomach can also occur. In particular, the foods we have eaten before and the fact that the stomach is empty increases the likelihood of odor. Nasal flesh secretions can also make a smell. The odor may increase even more when oral care is not done well enough, especially in sahur. Mouth sprays can also be used easily while fasting. Mouthwashes that eliminate the odor can be repeated several times during the day, provided that they are not swallowed. In addition, measures to increase salivation suppress this odor. If people have dental care before Ramadan, they will not face such a problem.

Does the month of Ramadan trigger the formation of caries?

Yes, especially after meals eaten at iftar and sahur, the balance in the mouth is completely disturbed, the acid ratio increases. Due to this, a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria is formed. Because Sahurda is put to bed immediately after eating, the intraoral temperature increases, more bacteria can grow. If attention is not paid during this period, caries increases.

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BE SURE TO GARGLE

How should oral care be done during Ramadan?

After iftar and sahur, teeth should be brushed more carefully. We especially recommend that the sublingual and gum areas be cleaned thoroughly for a month and that an oral antiseptic be used. The simplest is to gargle with salt water. Products such as antibacterial mouthwash or mouth spray can also be used, which are more effective.

Can a fasting person get dental treatment?

In order for the fast to be broken, eating, drinking and sexual intercourse, or a verb denoting these meanings, must be processed. For this reason, fasting is not broken just because of dental treatment. In order for the treatment to be painless, injections are also not intended for nutrition, so they do not disrupt the fast. However, due to other procedures performed during treatment -for example, when rinsing the mouth with water- if water, blood, or one of the substances used in the treatment escapes into the throat, fasting is disrupted and must be canceled.

Does brushing your teeth break the fast?

Rinsing the mouth with water without leaking water into the throat does not break the fast, as well as brushing your teeth does not break the fast. However, fasting is disrupted if toothpaste, pieces of miswak or water get into the throat. It is advisable to brush your teeth before dawn and after iftar, taking into account the possibility of disruption of the fast.

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CHEWING GUM CAN BREAK THE FAST

Does chewing gum break the fast?

Since there are additives in the chewing gums produced today that dissolve in the mouth, it is impossible to avoid their ingestion, no matter how carefully. For this reason, chewing such chewing gum disrupts the fast. However, chewing gums that have been chewed before with non-additive gums such as ‘kenger gum’ that have no additives left in them and have no deficiencies when chewed does not break the fast. However, it is prudent to chew such chewing gum while fasting.

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President of Organ Transplant Center at MedicalPark Hospital Antalya

Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.

Physician's Resume:

Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.

Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.

In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.

Awards:

Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.

Certificates:

Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .

Professional Members:

American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.

Disclaimer:

Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Medically Reviewed by Professor Doctor Alper Demirbaş
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