#260: Brushing Teeth with Relevance to Other Melachot

1. In addition to the question of sechitah, poskim raise other potential halachic concerns with brushing teeth on Shabbat, some of which we will discuss in more detail at a future point. These include memarei’ach (smoothing the toothpaste on the teeth), causing the gums to bleed, molid (changing the form of the toothpaste from solid to liquid), and uvda d’chol (weekday activity).

1. Most poskim rule that one should avoid brushing teeth on Shabbat for the above reasons, though they disagree as to whether all of the issues mentioned are indeed relevant (see, e.g., Igrot Moshe, O.C. 1:112; Minchat Yitzchak 3:48; Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchatah). Some poskim are more lenient and allow brushing teeth normally (R. Ovadia Yosef; R. Yosef Dov Soloveitchik; R. Hershel Schachter; Seridei Eish).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.