Everyone brushes their teeth (well… we hope they do). This means that everyone needs toothpaste. Typically, we buy large tubes of it once every few months. When travelling, particularly by air, we usually opt for the small, travel-sized tubes that won’t get nabbed by airport security.
The big problem with all of this? The plastic!
When discussing single-use plastic, toothpaste tubes, just like shampoo and conditioner bottles, are often forgotten about. In reality, it is estimated that up to 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown away every single year.
That, my friends, is a whole lot of plastic.
The toothpaste tube solution
Thankfully, there is a super easy solution to this problem that is not only good for the planet but incredibly convenient for travellers!
Enter: Toothpaste Tablets
Toothpaste tablets are just what they sound like: Little tablets of toothpaste! To use them, you pop one into your mouth and chew on it a couple of times. When your saliva mixes with the crushed up tablet, it forms a paste which you can then brush your teeth with.
Toothpaste tablets are the perfect travel companion because they are not liquid, so you don’t have to worry about going out and buying travel-sized toothpaste for your trip. This is especially great if you are travelling for an extended period of time because bringing a container of tablets is equivalent to bringing a whole large-sized tube, so you won’t have to think about buying new paste for quite a long time.
What to look for
There are hundreds of brands of toothpaste tablets for you to try, so you may want to try a couple before you settle on one you like best. In my opinion, the best brands:
- Are made of sustainable and healthy ingredients
- Preferably come in a reusable jar or container. At the very least, packaging should be biodegradable.
- Available in your local health shop or grocery store so you can avoid shipping costs and the extra packaging that often accompanies that.
Other toothpaste Options
For a lot of people, toothpaste tablets are kind of weird. Trust me when I tell you, I totally get it. Having only recently started to switch over, tablets are definitely something that requires getting used to and finding one that you don’t mind is much more challenging than regular paste.
If you aren’t quite ready to make the switch to tabs or you just haven’t been able to find one that you like, there are other sustainable choices. There are plenty of toothpaste powders that come in glass jars and are also plane-friendly, otherwise, there are brands out their that sell toothpaste in a jar that is already in paste-form.
Lastly, don’t forget that if sustainability and reducing how much you rely on single-use plastic is the goal, you have to ditch your plastic toothbrush. Look for ones made of sustainable materials, such as bamboo.
Cheers to sustainable smiles in all of your next travel pictures!
The Ethical Traveler 