Mouthwash – Tasting a Non Kosher Item
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The opinion of the Taz and many other poskim is that one is not allowed to taste a non-kosher food (this refers to one who just tastes it with one’s tongue). Some say if it is an issur d’rabanan then one can taste it without swallowing. The reason why tasting the non-kosher is not allowed, is because we are concerned that one may come to eat it. Mouthwash contains a large amount of glycerin (treif) which is the ingredient that gives the taste, and is sometimes swallowed and therefore, the above lenient opinion would not apply.
Some claim that mouthwash is considered “nifsal m’achila.” However, the non-kosher mouthwash contains glycerin which is what makes the refreshing sensation, and therefore would make it not nifsal.
The only mouthwash which is permitted to use without a hechsher is the brown (original flavor) Listerine®. Although Listerine does not contain glycerin, it has flavors and there is no way to know if the flavors are kosher. Even though many use Scope® mouthwash, it is filled with glycerin and is not permitted. The argument made by some that since one does not swallow mouthwash, placing it in the mouth should be permitted is questionable.
Even according to those who allow mouthwash without a hechsher it is preferable to make sure to only purchase mouthwash with a reliable hechsher, especially today where there are some good companies which make kosher mouthwash.
Toothpaste
The basic formula for toothpaste is chalk (calcium carbonate) which is used as an abrasive to scrape the residue off the teeth and glycerin (food item). Since the glycerin is only thirty percent of the toothpaste, Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l said that since the other ingredients are not food ingredients the glycerin is botel b’rov, and it is not considered a food even according to the machmirim. Some say since toothpaste is inedible one does not need kosher certification.
Recently, in many types of toothpastes, calcium carbonate has been replaced with hydrated silica (a sand product) which is listed as number two, three or four in the ingredient panel. This means that the ingredients listed before are the main ingredients. Those ingredients are water, glycerin and sorbitol which are regular food ingredients. Therefore, most of the make up of the toothpaste is a food ingredient, and the inedible hydrated silica is about twenty percent of the toothpaste. Accordingly, Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l’s reasoning mentioned above would not apply.
Based on the above, it is preferable to check the toothpaste to make sure there is no glycerin in it; choose the ones which have glycerin towards the end of the ingredient panel; or one can rely on the opinion that toothpaste does not need a hechsher. Nonetheless, it is preferable to buy toothpaste with a hechsher.
Dental Floss
One does not need a kosher certification on flavored dental floss since it is not enjoyable and the taste which is left is very weak. In addition one’s mouth is usually washed out after flossing.
The above article is reprinted with permission exclusive to VIN News from Halachically Speaking, a monthly publication compiled by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits, a former chaver kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and a musmach of Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. Rabbi Lebovits currently works as the Rabbinical Administrator for the KOF-K Kosher Supervision. To subscribe to Halachically Speaking via email for free sign up at www.thehalacha.com
Oh dear!
When are the “heich maasrin ess hateven v’ess hamelach” chevra going to have a feature about going to secular courts to resolve disputes.
It is not Taz. It is Rebbi Dovid Halevi. The sefer is called Turei Zohov. The term Taz was created solely as an abbreviation to head it in each page of the Shulchan Aruch. It was never intended to be so described.
Does anyone know if marvis toothpaste is kosher?
The Star-K Passover guide lists many mouthwashes and toothpastes as acceptable for use during Pesach, including all flavors of Listerine.
From the OU:
Does toothpaste or mouthwash need kosher certification?
Toothpaste and mouthwash may contain non-Kosher glycerine and non-Kosher flavors. Some Rabbis permit the use of non-kosher mouthwash that is expelled (spit out) and not swallowed. Some do not permit it. You should consult your local learned Orthodox Rabbi about what you should do.
http://oukosher.org/index.php/learn/article/mouthwash/
I just bought a huge bottle listerine (not brown), an i supposed to chuck’t out? can’t return used it already? et me know. thank you.
Since toothpaste and mouthwash are designed specifically no to be swallowed, and in fact are harmful if swallowed, they do dot fall under the definition of “food”, and therefore do not represent a kashrus issue. It is hypocritical in this day and age, when the state of frum yidden is so downtrodden and when our community is rocked by so much scandal, that someone would have an issue with the kashrus status of toothpaste.
i think the subject of medications and hygeine items has gotten blown way out of proportion.
posting it here is not theright venue either.
do u all actually think no non jews read this site?
plenty do and they are having a field day .
Toothpaste and mouthwash are not harmful if swallowed in small quantities. The issue that’s also relevant is pikuach nefesh. Any bleeding in the gums is a sign of infection unless one is on medication that causes bleeding, like blood thinners.
No part of the body is separate from any other. Consequently bleeding gums, plaque and tartar buildup are all signs of infection and the germs do spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Untreated gum disease, no matter how minor, causes much higher risk for stroke heart attack, low birthweight babies, diabetes, and certain types on cancer including colon and prostate.
So if it’s a choice of treif toothpaste and mouthwash — or having none at all– these are serious considerations.
Hey, one can always use the ADWE chazerie. Problem solved.
I am not a talmid chacham by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems to me that certain people are osrim rak lemaan ha’isur, or – if one prefers – maschmirim leshem chimur bilvad.
The $64,000 question is WHY.
I have a letter from Colgate that all the Glycerin used in their products aren’t animal based, but are made from synthetic or vegetable products.
The “fresh burst” Listerine (greenish blue) sold in Israel has an “OK” symbol, Badatz and a few others.
I called Sensodyne to ask about their toothpaste. The glycerin is not animal based but vegetable based. Maybe the same applies to many other brands.
How about lipstick? That gets onto the food. For sure treife. Why is that permissible?
So are you saying that all Blumenkranz books are wrong, cuz he (or sons) clearly give lists of mouthwash that is acceptable plus toothpastes, saying that only brown listerine is kosher is quite a far fetch
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Glycerin has always been one of those tricky ingredients for vegetarians because it’s included in so many consumer products and can be either plant or animal derived. One of those items where you’ll frequently find glycerin is toothpaste. So, I wrote to Crest to ask them whether their glycerin comes from. The basic answer (it can come from either, whatever’s more available) didn’t surprised me, but some of the other information in their response did:
Hi Ryan,
Crest Cavity Protection versions (Regular Paste, Cool Mint Gel, Icy Mint Striped and Kid’s Sparkle) don’t have glycerin, so they don’t contain animal by-products. Other versions of Crest contain glycerin which may be derived from vegetable or animal sources.
To assure yourself, we suggest checking the ingredient statement on Crest before you buy it. If glycerin isn’t listed, the Crest version contains no animal by-products. If glycerin is listed, it may be derived synthetically from either vegetable or animal sources, depending on which type is available at the time we buy it. If it’s made from animal sources, it may come from either beef or pork. There’s no way we can determine which form is in any particulr
Comment #20 is quite right. The glycerin in toothpast is not animal based. And even it was was, its not ro’ie l’achilas kelev. Harav J.B. Soleveitchik once said in a shiur that toothpaste is mutter because its not edible. A guy in the shiur asked him the next day, I put toothpaste in front of a dog and he ate it. The Rav said, who do you believe, me or the dog? Generally poskim who are very meikal are called kalim. Therefore poskim who are very machmir are called chamorim.