Category: Dry fasting

Dry fasting, which involves abstaining from both food and all liquids, can lead to severely reduced saliva production, increasing the risk of oral health issues like bad breath and tooth decay. This makes proper oral hygiene critical, but the question remains: can you brush your teeth during dry fasting without invalidating the fast?

Approximately 20-30% of your daily water intake comes from the foods you eat, making fasting without food or water a significant physiological stress. So, what happens to your body when you fast for 24 hours without water? It triggers a cascade of metabolic and hormonal changes, primarily centered on conserving fluid and shifting energy sources.

An average person produces 1 to 2 liters of saliva per day, much of which is swallowed unconsciously. The question of whether swallowing this natural, involuntary bodily fluid breaks a dry fast is a common point of confusion for many who practice this restrictive form of fasting. This article explores the consensus across both health science and religious interpretations to provide a clear answer.