Adapted from the weekly Shabbos afternoon halacha class. Email your questions to [email protected]
Question:
May one brush their teeth on Shabbos or Yom Tov?
Answer:
The use of toothpaste and toothbrush to clean one’s teeth in the conventional manner touches on multiple prohibitions, rabbinic concerns, and halachic nuances related to Shabbos observance (which we shall presently address). As such, it should be noted at the outset that some Halachic authorities advise that one should avoid brushing one’s teeth on Shabbos, but to use mouthwash.
Min Hakal el HaKaved - We will begin our analysis with the most lenient of issues, and progress toward the most stringent concerns. With each added layer, the concern of the preceding layers still remains.
1. Mouthwash
Using mouthwash is generally the easiest to permit. The main concern is the prohibition of “molid rei’ach”—creating a new scent on Shabbos. However, halacha distinguishes between intending to create a pleasant smell and the act of removing a bad one. If your intent is simply to freshen your mouth by removing the bad smell and the creation of a pleasant fragrance is just a natural consequence, then the use of mouthwash is permitted. But, one must be honest: if one is using the mouthwash because they enjoy the minty smell it produces, it may become problematic.
2. Dry Brushing (Toothbrush Without Water or Toothpaste)
Next on the ‘lenient to stringent’ scale is brushing with a toothbrush but without any water or toothpaste. By isolating the brushing from the use of toothpaste, the remaining concern here is the possibility of bleeding, which constitutes a violation of the prohibition against causing a wound on Shabbos. If you’re someone who frequently bleeds when brushing, then even dry brushing would not be allowed. However, if you’re confident that brushing won’t cause bleeding, then the brushing is free of this concern.
3. Brushing with Water
Adding water introduces a new halachic issue: s’chita—the prohibition of squeezing liquid from an absorbent material. If the toothbrush is made of nylon bristles, which do not absorb water but simply hold it between strands (like water in a bottle), some halachic authorities permit its use on Shabbos. If the brush resembles natural bristles or hair-like fibers that absorb water, it may be a problem.
4. Brushing with Toothpaste
Introducing toothpaste brings us to the next layer: memarech—the prohibition against smoothing out a surface. This prohibition is a derivative of the labor of smoothing out the surfaces of hides to produce parchment or leather. By extension, this applies to smearing creams or pastes over a surface area. Many halachic authorities prohibit toothpaste for this reason. However, others permit it on the basis that you do not intend to create a smooth layer but simply to clean—and you promptly rinse it away.
Halachic Q&A with Rabbi Levi Y. New
