How to brush your teeth while camping: Expert tips to keep your pearly whites WHITE in the wild in 2023

Camping is a great way to get out in nature and enjoy the outdoors, but it can be tricky to keep up with your dental hygiene while you’re away from home.

Follow the tips in this article for brushing your teeth while camping and you’ll be able to keep your smile looking its best.

How to brush your teeth while camping

If you are camping, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene. Here are some tips on how to brush your teeth while camping:

Pack a toothbrush and toothpaste. This is the most basic necessity for brushing your teeth while camping.
Pack a water bottle. You will need water to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth.
Pack a towel. You will need a towel to dry your mouth after brushing your teeth.
When brushing your teeth, use bottled water or water from a pot that has been boiled to kill any bacteria. Do not use stream water or water from a lake or river, as this water may contain bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
Pack up your toothbrush and toothpaste after brushing your teeth. Do not leave these items lying around, as they can attract insects and bears.
Try to brush your teeth away from where you are camping. For instance, if you are going on a hike, try to brush your teeth during your hike rather than when you are back at camp. This is again to prevent attracting insects and bears to your tent.

What kind of toothpaste do you use for camping?

While you can use just about any toothpaste, there are a few different types of toothpaste that make it easier while camping:

Toothpaste tablets – We like the Hello Activated Charcoal Toothpaste Tablets. They are supplied in plastic-free, reusable, and recyclable tins and are vegan, fluoride-free, and SLS-free. The great thing about using tablets is you can take the exact amount needed for your camping trip, removing unnecessary bulk from your bag. Toothpaste tablets also don’t require much, if any water, simply chew the tablet into a paste and begin scrubbing with your toothbrush.
Natural toothpaste – Our favorite natural toothpaste is by Tom’s of Maine. It’s all-natural and fluoride-free.

Can you keep toothpaste in your tent?

You should try to avoid storing toothpaste inside your tent where possible.

Similar to storing food inside your tent, the smell of toothpaste can attract insects and bears.

Store your toothpaste and toothbrush in an airtight container somewhere away from your tent where possible.

How do you pack toothpaste for camping?

The best way to pack toothpaste for camping is to buy specific toothpaste such as toothpaste tablets and simply pack the amount you need into a small, airtight container.

Another option is toothpaste dots. If you don’t want to bring a tube of toothpaste on your camping trip, you can also buy or make your own toothpaste dots.

These are small circular pellets that turn into toothpaste when wet. Simply pack a few toothpaste dots into a small container and add water when you’re ready to brush your teeth.

How to make toothpaste dots:

Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste.
Roll the mixture into small balls (about the size of a pea) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 200 degrees for 2 hours, or until the balls are completely dry.
Store in an airtight container.

Or, simply squirt small dots of ordinary toothpaste onto tin foil, allow to dry out and harden, and then dust with baking soda. Again, store in an airtight container.

Where do you spit toothpaste when camping?

When brushing your teeth while camping, you will need to spit the toothpaste somewhere. Here are a few options for where to spit:

Into a toilet. If there is a toilet at your campsite, you can spit the toothpaste into it.
Into a sink. If there is a sink at your campsite, you can spit the toothpaste into it.
Into a garbage can. If there is a garbage can at your campsite, you can spit the toothpaste into it.
In the woods. If there is no garbage can or sink at your campsite, you can spit the toothpaste in the woods. Be sure to spit far away from any water sources.
Mix the toothpaste with dirt, sand, sawdust or kitty litter and dispose of it in a garbage can once you get home. This is a good option if there is no toilet, sink or garbage can at your campsite. Be sure to mix the toothpaste with an absorbent material to prevent it from leaking.

2 alternatives to using toothpaste while camping (which also happen to be vegan):

Baking soda. Mix baking soda with water to form a paste and brush your teeth with it. Baking soda is a natural whitener and helps remove plaque and bacteria.
Salt. Mix salt with water to form a paste and brush your teeth with it. Salt is a natural disinfectant that scrubs away plaque and bacteria.

By following these tips, you can maintain good oral hygiene while camping.

Happy camping!