Can I have dental treatment during Ramadan?
Yes, with planning. The OIC International Islamic Fiqh Academy, in Resolution 93, listed tooth removal and cleaning the teeth, provided nothing is swallowed, among things that do not invalidate the fast, and recommended postponing treatment until after iftar when delay causes no harm. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. At Creative Arts in Dubai we explain each procedure and help you choose appointment times around your fast; urgent problems should not wait.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Julia General Dentist · Dr. Marina Antoniuk Dentist
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What has a recognised fiqh body said about dental treatment while fasting?
Creative Arts does not give religious rulings. What we can do is point you to a widely cited collective position and explain the dentistry clearly, so you can ask a scholar an informed question.
The International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Resolution No. 93 (1/10), adopted at its tenth session in Jeddah, listed matters that do not invalidate the fast. They include tooth removal and cleaning the teeth with a toothpick, toothbrush or miswak, provided nothing is swallowed; mouthwash, gargling and mouth sprays on the same condition; and injections under the skin, into muscle or into a vein, excluding drips and nutritive fluids. The same resolution recommended that doctors advise patients to postpone such treatments until after breaking the fast, when the delay causes them no harm.
The resolution does not name every dental procedure, such as fillings or a dental anaesthetic injection specifically, and other scholars may phrase things differently. Our guide to whether a dental injection breaks the fast looks at those questions in more detail. For your own case, please ask a qualified scholar.
What should you finish before Ramadan starts?
The simplest way to avoid dental problems during the month is to deal with them in the weeks before it. A check-up three to six weeks before Ramadan leaves time to:
- fill cavities that are close to the nerve, before they start to ache;
- complete a root canal treatment that is in progress, and fit the final filling or crown, so a temporary filling does not fail mid-month;
- treat sore or bleeding gums with a professional clean, because a dry mouth while fasting makes gum problems and breath feel worse;
- sort out a wisdom tooth that has flared up before, so it is less likely to do so again during the month;
- replace a loose crown or a broken filling that traps food.
If you have braces or aligners, ask your orthodontist when your next adjustment falls and whether it can be timed to suit you.
How should you plan common dental treatments during Ramadan?
Practical planning only, not a religious ruling. Your dentist will adapt it to your health and the urgency of the problem.
| Treatment | During Ramadan? | Planning tips |
|---|---|---|
| Check-up and cleaning | Can usually be done; non-urgent visits can also wait | Suction removes water spray; you can sit up to spit at any time. Ask about later appointment times |
| Fillings | When needed; small, non-painful cavities can often wait until after Eid | Tell the team you are fasting so suction is kept close and breaks are offered |
| Root canal treatment | Do not delay if the tooth is painful or infected | The first stage often relieves pain; later stages can be planned around the fast |
| Extraction | When needed; planned extractions can be booked so numbness wears off near iftar | You can then eat soft food and take pain relief as directed. Avoid smoking or shisha afterwards |
| Teeth whitening | Usually better after Ramadan | Coffee, tea and karak at iftar and suhoor stain freshly whitened teeth more easily |
| Implants, wisdom tooth surgery, sedation | Usually planned outside Ramadan | Sedation needs its own fasting and medicine timing, and recovery is easier when you can eat and drink freely |
| Braces and aligner checks | Can usually continue | Clean your teeth before putting aligners back in after iftar and suhoor |
Creative Arts is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. Ask which appointment times are available around iftar when you book.
What should you do about toothache while fasting?
Toothache rarely settles on its own, and fasting makes it harder to manage because you cannot take pain relief by mouth during the day. While you arrange an appointment:
- Keep the area clean and remove any trapped food gently with floss.
- Use a cold compress on the cheek for a few minutes at a time.
- Rinse and spit if it soothes you; the Academy's resolution lists mouthwash and gargling, provided nothing is swallowed, among things that do not invalidate the fast.
- Take pain relief at iftar and suhoor as directed on the label or by your pharmacist or doctor, and avoid very hot, cold or sweet food on that side.
Book a dental visit as soon as you can. Throbbing pain, pain that wakes you, gum swelling or a bad taste often mean the nerve is inflamed or infected, and early treatment usually needs less work. Questions about breaking the fast because of illness are for a scholar; from a dental point of view, your health comes first. See toothache for the common causes.
When dental pain cannot wait
Contact the clinic the same day, during opening hours 10:00–20:00, for severe toothache, gum or facial swelling, a broken tooth with pain, or bleeding after an extraction that does not slow with firm pressure. Go to a hospital emergency department straight away for facial swelling with fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading towards the eye or neck, uncontrolled bleeding, or a head or face injury.
Planning a check-up, filling or extraction around Ramadan? Our general dentists in Dubai explain what each step involves and help you choose a time that suits your fast.
See general dentistryHow do you take dental medicines around the fast?
Medicines taken by mouth have to fit between iftar and suhoor, so planning matters:
- Antibiotics. If you are prescribed an antibiotic for a dental infection, ask the dentist or pharmacist how to space the doses within the non-fasting hours. Do not skip doses or stop the course early because of the fast.
- Pain relief after treatment. Book procedures that may leave you sore so that you can take pain relief, as directed, at iftar. Ask your pharmacist which product suits you.
- Diabetes and other conditions. If you have diabetes, heart disease or take regular medicines, follow your doctor's advice on fasting, and tell the dentist before treatment. Our guide to diabetes and gum disease explains why gums need extra care.
- Mouthwash. A medicated rinse prescribed after treatment can usually be used after iftar if you prefer not to use it during the day.
How can you look after your teeth during the month?
Ramadan changes when you eat, drink and sleep, and that affects teeth. Long hours without water make the mouth drier, iftar often includes dates, sweets and sugary drinks, and late nights can make brushing less thorough. Three habits help most:
- Brush with a fluoride toothpaste after suhoor and before sleep, and clean between the teeth once a day.
- Drink water steadily between iftar and suhoor rather than all at once, and limit sweet drinks to mealtimes.
- Keep sweets and dates to the main meal rather than grazing all evening, which gives teeth no rest from acid.
Our guide to oral hygiene while fasting covers fasting breath, tongue cleaning and the miswak. After Eid is a good time to book any cosmetic treatment you postponed, and a dental check-up if you have not had one for a while.