Shabbos Toothbrushing Guidelines

Conclusion and Practical Guidelines

For those who wish to be as lenient as the halacha would allow, while taking precautions to avoid all the above issues, here are the practical guidelines:

• Intent: You must be brushing for cleanliness, not for fragrance.
• Type of Brush: Use a toothbrush made with nylon or rubber bristles that do not absorb water.
• Separate for Shabbos: Designate a special toothbrush for Shabbos use to differentiate weekday habits from Shabbos.
• Toothpaste Application: If you do use toothpaste, apply it directly to your teeth, not the brush thus making another distinction from the ordinary weekday routine.
• Aftercare: Some suggest not to wash the toothbrush after use, as that could be considered preparing for after Shabbos.

See footnote 1 above.
See for example Shu”t Shevet HaLevi ibid, Yalkut Yosef ibid.
Yalkut Yosef ibid.