5 Fantastic Options for the Best Travel Toothbrush

We’ve all been there when we just can’t fit another thing in our suitcase. You’re pushing, pulling, and stretching your suitcase zipper until it looks about ready to burst. Finally, you get it shut, and turn around in triumph...only to notice your forgotten toothbrush sitting on the counter. Not only is your toiletries bag already packed away in the stuffed suitcase, but it’s too small to hold the length of your toothbrush. The dilemma is familiar, and this is where a travel toothbrush would come in handy. You could simply slide it in through a slit in the zipper, and you’d be ready to go! Let’s discuss our options to find the best travel toothbrush.

They may seem insignificant, but travel toothbrushes make all the difference when it comes to fitting one more thing in your suitcase. Specifically, it’s nice to not worry about bringing your daily toothbrush, especially if it’s on the more expensive range of toothbrushes. Still, a good one will come in handy when your vacation extends longer than a weekend and you want to keep up good oral hygiene. While the cheap ones you’ve had for decades may do the trick for a night or two, your teeth will thank you if you upgrade.

That being said, when choosing a travel type, look for one with a cover or cap to protect the bristles. This should be a given, but it’s surprising to see the number of “travel toothbrushes” on the market without bristle covers. They are not only unhygienic, but it would create a hassle for traveling with an exposed, damp toothbrush. No one wants to pull wet clothes or makeup out of their bag, so caps are a necessity.

Further, look for a cap or cover that allows for ventilation. Again, one of the most important aspects of traveling is to keep cool and dry, or you’re just inviting bacteria to kick up their feet and stay awhile. Bacteria will find your damp toothbrush, and can definitely cause sickness or infections if left to populate. Therefore, it’s very important to not only thoroughly dry it after each use, but for your stored toothbrush to allow airflow for necessary sanitation. Many covers, holders, and caps come with air slits, but some do not, so keep this in consideration.

This may seem more particular, but if your travels are often or extended, the right bristles will help your teeth stay healthy. Look for one with orthodontic-angled bristles. The term “orthodontic-angled” refers to when the bristles make a V-shape, with the outer edges longer than the center. This particular shape has been designed to clean our teeth in the most efficient manner.

These bristles are specifically designed for the grooves of our teeth, scrubbing crevices that non-orthodontic bristles cannot reach. While toothbrushes lacking this shape will still do the job for a basic cleaning, if you are using your travel toothbrush often, orthodontic-angled bristles will give you the best chance at a good report when your dentist appointment comes around.

Another thought to consider is the firmness of the bristles. As you shop for your travel toothbrush, look for a brush that has similar bristles to which you are accustomed. For instance, if your daily toothbrush has soft bristles, your gums can become irritated if you choose firm bristles. Similarly, if your daily preference is firm-bristled, you may not feel as if your teeth are clean enough with soft bristles. The details, though small, make a difference.

Similarly, look for convenience. This is especially important if you are looking into electric toothbrushes. Oftentimes, these electric travel toothbrushes require AAA batteries, and while that is helpful if outlets aren’t available, not everyone has AAA batteries on hand and they can become expensive. They certainly are by far less common than AA batteries, and therefore may cause a bind if they die without backups. However, we want to note that AAA batteries certainly can work well for electric toothbrushes; simply remember to carry backup batteries.

Electric types requiring an outlet charge may be more convenient than batteries if you’d rather not worry about backups, however, they could also be less convenient if you are, for instance, backpacking. Certainly, the most important key here is to take into consideration your type of trip and plan accordingly.

Finally, the weight of the brush is important. With the other items you are undoubtedly packing, as well as travel restrictions on bag weight, every pound matters. It is doubtful that weight will be an issue when it comes to manual toothbrushes. As a rule, these are naturally lightweight. However, if you prefer electric, this is absolutely something to keep in mind. Electric toothbrushes, even travel sizes, can be quite cumbersome.

Additionally, electric toothbrushes often require extra accessories, such as a charging port, cables, and separate brush heads--all of which add up in weight for your toiletries bag. While electric types will always be a fantastic choice, we advise that you check the weight of the handle and total pack. The best travel electric toothbrush will still be lightweight, and thus the decision merits discretion.

Perhaps you are wondering why you should purchase a toothbrush specifically for traveling in the first place. After all, your daily toothbrush at home may not be anything fancy and if it works at home, it would work just as well on your trip out of town. While that may very well be the case, a great number of the population uses electric toothbrushes or fancier manual brushes that we may not want to risk getting lost in our luggage or travels. Toothbrushes are the most common item left behind in hotel rooms, and we’re going to hazard a guess that you don’t want to walk out of your room without your hundred-dollar Bluetooth sonic toothbrush.

Even more specifically than just the fear of losing your nice toothbrush, many standard ones simply don’t fit in toiletries bags. They are often too long or bulky to fit within your small zippered bag with the rest of your bathroom or shower travel essentials. When you are left keeping your toothbrush separate from your other toiletries, the odds are that you’ll leave it behind when you’re in a rush. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t find themselves in a rush at a time or two when traveling? Brushing your teeth is not something you’ll want to miss. The easy solution is to slip a travel-sized toothbrush in your bag with everything else. No more wondering if you grabbed everything before your morning rush!

Though all of our reviewed toothbrushes would work well for traveling, one, in particular, does stand out to us slightly above the rest. A good travel toothbrush needs ventilation for preventing bacteria growth, needs a compact design for fitting in packed bags, needs to be lightweight, and finally, needs to still have high-quality bristles while staying affordable.

For all of those reasons and more, we are confident that the Mouthwatchers Antimicrobial Folding Travel Toothbrush is an ideal choice. Though it is not electric, it offers superb ventilation, which is an essential aspect while traveling. It is extremely compact due to the toothbrush head folding into the handle, it keeps bacteria at bay even further with its antimicrobial technology,  and offers high-quality, orthodontic-angled bristles. An electric toothbrush is always a great choice, but for our particular traveling criteria, it seems to us that this manual folding travel toothbrush comes in as the clear winner.