Question:
I apologize if this is a gross question. If one happens to gather saliva in the mouth on a fast day and swallows it, does it break the fast? I don’t think it was to quench thirst–more just because my mouth was dry and it was an automatic response–but perhaps it was a way to quench thirst. Is this a problem?
Answer:
Thank you for your question.
Don’t be concerned with this. Swallowing saliva is not done to, and doesn’t quench one’s thirst. Additionally since the saliva didn’t leave the person’s body it is still considered part of the person and isn’t considered drinking. This according to most poskim applies to all fasts, including Yom Kippur, Tisha B’av and all other fasts.
Sources:
M:B 567-13, Aruch Hashulchan 567-4, Daas Torah 567-3.
Additional reading:
- Are you allowed to shop/buy sale items on 17th of Tammuz fast?
- Swimming on 17 of tammuz
- Eating before dawn of fast if one forgot to say that he will wake up early
- If I by mistake broke my fast do I have to fast for the rest of the day
- Eating on Shabbos before a fast day
- Flying on a fast day
- Fast day