Is It Permissible to Get One’s Teeth Whitened?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: As salam alaykum,

Is it permissible to get one’s teeth whitened?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that this message finds you well, insha’Allah.

Yes, it is permissible to get your teeth whitened.

Cleaning the teeth is sought in our religion, hence why we have many traditions (hadiths) about the virtue of the toothstick (siwak).

Whitening the teeth isn’t considered to be impermissible mutilation (muthla) as it is simply a restoration of the normal colour of your teeth, and not a changing of the Creation of Allah. [see: Is Body Piercing Allowed for Men?]

Imam Ahmad relates with his chain of narrators to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) that he said to his Companions, “Why is it that I see you with yellowness in your teeth? Use the toothstick.”

Further, Nawawi and others, such as `Abd al-Rahman al-`Imadi in his Hadiyya, mention the discolouration (specifically, yellowing) of teeth to be an occasion where it is recommended to use the toothstick. Considering that the sunna can be fulfilled by most forms of brushing, getting them professionally whitened would also be permitted.

Please also see: Is it Haram to Enter a Mosque After having Eaten Onions and not Cleaned One’s Mouth?

And Allah alone knows best.
wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani