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What to do if You’ve Forgotten Your Toothpaste

You’ve learned about what you can do when you forget your toothbrush, but what about if you forget your toothpaste? Of course, you can always buy a new tube, but what about if you’re camping or the stores have all closed for the day? Here are some creative and helpful tips to help you out if you’ve forgotten your toothpaste at home.

Ask The Front Desk: Like with toothbrushes, toothpaste isn’t readily available to everyone who checks in at a hotel, but if you ask the right person, they can maybe direct you to where you can find some, or give you a complimentary tube if they have some on hand.

Use Mouthwash: Mouthwash can be great on its own for killing bacteria and freshing the mouth, but it can also be used as a substitute toothpaste. Not daily, of course, but in the case of forgotten toothpaste, it’ll do the trick. Dip your toothbrush into the mouthwash and brush as normal. Be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly afterwards.

Use Baking Soda: This method is particularly handy for getting food particles and plaque out from between the teeth. This is because baking soda is an abrasive material, making it a perfect substitute toothpaste. To do so, mix with a few drops of water until you have a gritty paste before applying to the teeth and scrubbing. It might not taste as great as your minty toothpaste back home, but it will get the job done and leave your mouth feeling clean.

Just Use a Wet Toothbrush: If all else fails, using a wet toothbrush is better than not brushing at all. The moist bristles, combined with proper brushing techniques will remove food and plaque from the teeth. Your mouth won’t feel as fresh by skipping on the toothpaste, but it’s nothing that a piece of chewing gum can’t remedy.

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What to do When You Forget Your Toothbrush

There’s nothing worse than arriving at your vacation destination, only to realize that you’ve forgotten an essential travel item–your toothbrush. Not to worry though, there are a few ways that you can remedy this without having to go out and buy a brand new toothbrush.

1. Ask The Front Desk: If you’re staying at a hotel, they often give out complimentary toiletries such as shampoo, body wash, and lotion. While toothbrushes aren’t commonly placed in hotel rooms, you can always head to the concierge and see if they keep some elsewhere, such as behind the desk or a supply closet.

2. Use a Damp Cloth: Washcloths are always readily available, with fresh ones provided daily by the housekeepers. Make the washcloth damp and add a small amount of toothpaste before rubbing it on your teeth as normal. Do all the things that you’d normally do if this were an actual toothbrush, such as getting along the gumline and behind the teeth as well. The rubbing will remove any plaque that has built up during the day.

3. Use Your Finger: Should you find yourself in a situation where there are no complimentary toothbrushes or washcloths, such as on a camping trip, your finger is a great alternative. Wash your hands beforehand before applying toothbrush to the tip of your index finger, or whatever finger you feel most comfortable with, and rub on your teeth. While not as effective as a washcloth or an actual toothbrush, the rubbing will at least be able to remove some bacteria from your mouth.

4. Use Leaves or Small Branches: For the true outdoorsy type of people, the natural resources of the world can also be used as an alternative for a toothbrush. Just make sure to couple check whether the bark or leaves that you’re planning on using do not come from a  poisonous plant or you’ll have a bigger problem on your hands than a forgotten toothbrush. Like with the other methods, apply toothpaste to the object of your choice and brush away.

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