Brushing teeth before Mass

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Mattjolley

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If you brush your teeth in the hour before receiving Holy Communion, should you NOT receive the Sacrament?
 
I don’t see how that affects the digestion of the Holy Eucharist. I would say that is fine, because most people appreciate such thoughtfulness on dental hygiene 😉
 
Mattjolley said:
If you brush your teeth in the hour before receiving Holy Communion, should you NOT receive the Sacrament?
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The Eucharistic fast is defined in Canon 919 §1 of the code of canon law:
A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine.
Brushing your teeth wouldn’t involve taking “food or drink,” except water (uh, unless you do it weird ;)), so I think you’re in good shape. Same goes for chapstick.
 
Well comewhere on AAA they dealt with this topic… and said that it was ok to chew even gum, that it didn’t break the Eucharistic fast! :eek: I lost that bet. 🤷 Brushing teeth doesn’t either, but if I got to Mass already and realized say during the homily that I hadn’t brushed my teeth, and just happened to have the supplies with me 😉 I’d not worry about it because the aftertaste might be distracting.
 
MarkThompson said:
The Eucharistic fast is defined in Canon 919 §1 of the code of canon law:
A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine.
Brushing your teeth wouldn’t involve taking “food or drink,” except water (uh, unless you do it weird ;)), so I think you’re in good shape. Same goes for chapstick.
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unless you swallow 😃
 
Even the extra food that was on your teeth does not violate the fast because you have already eaten it.
 
I know I always brush before heading to Mass. If I’m going to receive Christ, why not do so with a clean mouth?
 
Water and medicine are OK.

And guess what, toothpaste falls under the classification of “medicine”. It’s considered an over-the-counter drug and regulated as such by the FDA in the US and Health Canada in Canada (and in Canada every brand is issued a Drug Identification Number).

I know because I was once QA manager in a factory making OTC pharmaceuticals.
 
Rather than the letter of the law, does anyone know the spirit of the law and why we fast? A small ingestion of toothpaste is not breaking the spirit of why we fast before receiving our Lord. I have to chuckle at some of the scrupulosity we Catholics exhibit… teachccd
 
Mattjolley said:
If you brush your teeth in the hour before receiving Holy Communion, should you NOT receive the Sacrament?
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Just to reinforce what others have already answered: no, brushing your teeth does NOT break the Eucharistic fast. Hygiene comes under the general heading of “medicine.”
 
teachccd said:
Rather than the letter of the law, does anyone know the spirit of the law and why we fast? A small ingestion of toothpaste is not breaking the spirit of why we fast before receiving our Lord. I have to chuckle at some of the scrupulosity we Catholics exhibit… teachccd
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The “spirit” of fasting has nothing to do with Canon Law.

Fasting is a disciplining of the flesh and a spiritual necessity. The Faithful practice it as a means of humbling one’s pride, atoning for sin, and defending against the carnal excesses that separate us from God. Through hunger, we learn to master our unruly carnal appetites. When done properly, fasting, like physical conditioning, will produce discomfort. The benefit is the strengthening of oneself against the temptations of Satan and the Modern world.

Fasting, therefore, should be thought of as a gift - offered by our Holy Church - not a coercive demand which must be followed under penalty of damnation.

How do you teach it?
 
I think the point teachccd is making is that the Eucharistic fast is to remind us Who,What we are about to receive, and to prepare ourselves in that time.

It’s not meant to be a hardship in itself, but a memory-aid, so that we don’t end up in the Communion line not having given any thought.

So worrying over toothpaste is missing the point. The Eucharistic ‘fast’ is to help us, not to be yet another hurdle.
 
mick321 said:
The “spirit” of fasting has nothing to do with Canon Law.

Fasting is a disciplining of the flesh and a spiritual necessity. The Faithful practice it as a means of humbling one’s pride, atoning for sin, and defending against the carnal excesses that separate us from God. Through hunger, we learn to master our unruly carnal appetites. When done properly, fasting, like physical conditioning, will produce discomfort. The benefit is the strengthening of oneself against the temptations of Satan and the Modern world.

Fasting, therefore, should be thought of as a gift - offered by our Holy Church - not a coercive demand which must be followed under penalty of damnation.

How do you teach it?
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Exactly as you do… That’s why a small bit of toothpaste would not void this regulation…
 
paperwight said:
I think the point teachccd is making is that the Eucharistic fast is to remind us Who,What we are about to receive, and to prepare ourselves in that time.

It’s not meant to be a hardship in itself, but a memory-aid, so that we don’t end up in the Communion line not having given any thought.

So worrying over toothpaste is missing the point. The Eucharistic ‘fast’ is to help us, not to be yet another hurdle.
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thank you…
 
teachccd said:
Exactly as you do… That’s why a small bit of toothpaste would not void this regulation…
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Especially since toothpaste is, technically, a “medication” in the eyes of the FDA, and the rules specifically allow medication and water.
 
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