chrisb1
Sorry focused.on.health,
I didn't want to come across as being in any way harsh, but the reality is that any taste sensation will induce the first stage of digestion in the mouth, by stimulating the salivary glands.
If I had a choice between brushing my teeth with toothpaste with resultant stimulation of hunger/appetite, and just brushing my teeth and scraping my tongue with water and no appetite/hunger, I would choose the latter as the easiest alternative, that is for sure.
This is what
Shelton has to say on the matter.................
"Throughout most of the fast, the fasting individual is annoyed by a very bad taste in the mouth. This may be alleviated somewhat by a daily scrubbing of the tongue with a toothbrush. This should not be done, however, until after the tongue has been examined by the doctor who is conducting the fast. Mouth washes, lemon juice, etc., are not to be recommended. Gargling the throat is certainly of no value. As the fast progresses and the tongue clears up, the taste becomes less and less offensive, until, when the fast should be broken, the taste in the mouth is very pleasant."
AND.......
"Due to the bad taste in the mouth while one is fasting, the water is likely to appear to taste badly. At other times patients complain of the water being too sweet. They frequently request permission to add salt or lemon juice or other substances to the water to flavor it. The evils of salt using were discussed in the chapter devoted to "Objections to the Fast." The use of lemon juice means that the patient is taking food, and although he takes but minute quantities of the juice, it is enough to interfere with the fasting process and is often enough to cause a return of hunger and thus makes the fast much more difficult, or compels its premature breaking. It is never wise to add anything to the water. For the bad taste in the mouth one needs only cleanliness. The teeth, tongue and mouth must be cleansed. The tongue should not be brushed before it has been examined each day."
http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.ch29.htm
Kind Regards
Chrisb1.