3. A person who has a slight toothache, but is not in great pain, should not rinse his mouth on shabbos with vinegar or another liquid to alleviate the discomfort, and then spit it out (1). Instead, he should rinse his mouth and swallow it (2). Alternatively, he may dip bread in vinegar and eat it in a normal manner.

Similarly, a person who feels discomfort in his throat should not gargle with a liquid, and then spit it out. Rather, he should swallow it, and if as a result he is cured, then so be it.

FOOTNOTES:

(1) If one rinses one's mouth and then spits out, it is obvious that one is doing it for medicinal purposes. It is even forbidden to leave it in one's mouth for a prolonged period, and then swallow it ( See HY 91:2 and Mishna Berura 328:101).

(2) It is prohibited to swallow any liquid which people in the local area don't usually swallow (Mishne Berura 328:105).

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