How to brush your teeth while car camping

Are you wondering how to keep your mouth hygiene intact when car camping? Without running water, sinks or trashcans, it can be hard to leave no trace while brushing your teeth.

As someone who highly values my mouth hygiene, being away from all our modern commodities while car camping can be hard and confusing. How do I pack my stuff? What do I need to keep in mind? Car camping makes you feel closer to nature than ever, but some stuff doesn’t belong in nature, like toothpaste. But where do spit it out then? Or do I even need to bring toothpaste from the get-go?

Don’t you worry. In this article you will learn everything, from packing your gear to the proper techniques on how to effectively brush your teeth while car camping!

How to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste

Before we head out, it’s essential to know how to package your toothbrush and toothpaste. Bring your own toothbrush and don’t share it with someone else. Sharing toothbrushes will lead to cavity-causing bacterial exchange, especially when you’re camping and probably snacking lots.

Also, toothpaste is not a necessity when it comes to brushing teeth. Only using warm water and brushing is going to get rid of most bacteria and plaque. You’re not going to get the same minty and fresh feel, but when it comes to looking after your teeth, it’s good enough.

A neat little thing you can do if you still want to bring toothpaste is to do the drying trick. It saves both weight and volume in your hygiene bag. Simply squeeze out small portions of toothpaste onto a baking sheet or tinfoil, let it air-dry, and then pack it in a zip-bag or container.

When it’s time to brush: Chew one dried toothpaste “dot” and add some clean water, when all hard clumps are gone you can start brushing like normally!

Make sure your toothbrush is dry before packing it, as a moist toothbrush is the best place for bacteria to grow.

Don’t spit toothpaste in nature

Firstly, please do not spit your toothpaste out in nature. The smell is going to attract lots of animals, which eat and gets sick. Instead, do these things:

• Spit it out in a bag and throw it in a proper trashcan

• Spit it on the ground and burry it under lots of dirt

• Last resort: Spray out the toothpaste from your mouth, minimalizing the risk of animals eating it.

3 ways to brush your teeth while car camping:

1. Skip the toothpaste.

As mentioned before, toothpaste is not a necessity while brushing your teeth while car camping. Only using water while brushing will still get rid of most plaque and bacteria. Also, you don’t have to take care of toothpaste residue in the nature, which can harm animals.

Remember to brush with regularly, after every meal and before going to bed.

2. Swallow your toothpaste if you’re an adult.

If you don’t want to spit your toothpaste out in nature, I recommend swallowing your toothpaste. Keep in mind that this is for adults only. Sure, swallowing toothpaste isn’t recommended by toothpaste producers, however, it’s not harmful to do a when camping for a couple of days. But remember, only do it as an adult.

3. Rinse your teeth with water.

Bring a bottle of clean drinking water while car camping, and rinse your teeth regularly. Doing this is not as effective as brushing your teeth, but it will help you keep the bacteria out. Usually we’re eating or snacking lots while car camping. So after every snack, rinse your teeth thoroughly with clean water. It will also help keep that fresh feeling in your mouth.

Cut down on the snacks

I know it’s hard, especially when you’re out on the road or just relaxing by the campfire. But try to cut down on constant snacking while car camping. This is the primary reason to bad mouth hygiene and bacteria around your teeth.

If you really can’t help yourself, try chewing on gum, drinking water or something else that’s not so harmful to your teeth.