Is It Permitted to Use Braces?
Answered by Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam
Question : Is it Permitted to use Braces?
My wife’s teeth are not very straight. Is it permissible to use the braces for straightening out of the teeth? This is desired to add beauty only.
Answer : The use of braces due to need, such as setting right a defect or straightening crooked and unaligned teeth, is permitted. However, using braces purely for beautification purposes is to be avoided. For more details, please refer to the various similar answers available on this website.
Moreover, one should keep in mind that if an area of the body required to be washed in either a ritual bath (ghusl) or ritual ablution (wudu) is covered, and as a result, water fails to reach it, then one’s Ghusl or Wudu will be valid if it has been covered due to “reasonable need”. However, if water is prevented from reaching the area without a need, then one’s Ghusl or Wudu will not be valid. (See: Radd al-Muhtar, 1/104)
As such, even though water may not reach the covered portion of the teeth, one’s Ghusl is valid with braces when using them out of need, and as mentioned, wanting to straighten crooked teeth is considered reasonable need.
And Allah knows best
Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK
