[Avodah] Rinsing Your Mouth & Brushing Teeth On A Taanis

[Poppers, Michael]

In Avodah V28n137, RDrYL noted:
> From http://revach.net/article.php?id=4252
> Piskei Tshuvos: Rinsing Your Mouth & Brushing Teeth On A Taanis
> With regard to rinsing your mouth on a Taanis Tzibur, the Michaber 
(567:3) says you should not do so.  The Mishna Brura says that if 
this causes you Tzaar, you may rinse your mouth but you should be 
sure to keep your head bent over so you don't swallow.  On Tisha 
B'Av, the Mishna Brura says you may only do so if your are in great 
Tzaar.  On Yom Kippur you must totally refrain from this.
> Similarly, says the Piskei Tshuvos based on the Minchas Yitzchok 
(4:109), L'Chatchila you should not brush your teeth on a Taanis 
Tzibur, even without water, unless you are in Tzaar.  If you are in 
Tzaar, you may do so even with water.  And again he cautions if you 
do so, make sure to bend your head down when rinsing so that you 
don't swallow any water.
> ----------
> There is no mention above of the Tzaar caused to others by the bad 
breath of someone who has not rinsed his or her mouth with mouthwash 
or brushed his/her teeth.  I can only wonder why this is not a 
consideration in the above discussion.  YL <
Two thoughts:
-- If you're causing someone else tza'ar, the remedy of removing yourself (or the person experiencing tza'ar removing himself) from the scene is available.  Removing your mouth (or teeth) from your face is not a generally-available remedy/option. 
-- Water is a mashqeh.  Mouthwash may not be -- if so, perhaps one could use mouthwash on a ta'anis in circumstances where using water would be considered problematic. 

All the best from 
-- Michael Poppers via BB pager