I would like an answer to the following question: is it permissible to use a finger-sized piece of sterilized cotton to wipe the tongue and teeth with, that is used to remove smells and germs and comes in various flavours such as mint, whilst fasting?.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with using what you mention, so long
as none of it reaches the throat; rather you should spit out whatever of it
is left in the mouth, or rinse out the mouth.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) was asked:
In some pharmacies there is a kind of fragrance for the mouth, which is a
type of spray. Is it permissible to use it during the day in Ramadan to
remove odour from the mouth?
He replied: Instead of using the spray for the mouth when
fasting, it is sufficient to use the siwaak which was encouraged by the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). If the spray is used and
none of it reaches the throat, there is nothing wrong with it. But the smell
that comes from the mouth of the fasting person as a result of fasting
should not be disliked, because it is the effect of obedience and is beloved
by Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. In the hadeeth it says: “The
smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah
than the fragrance of musk.”
End quote from al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Shaykh Saalih
al-Fawzaan, 3/121.
