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Here are our top picks for maintaining your oral hygiene on the go. brush teeth holder
Whether you’re packing for a quick city break or an action-packed adventure cruise, there’s one essential you can’t leave home without: a good travel toothbrush. While there’s nothing to stop you from taking your regular toothbrush with you on vacation, the best options are lightweight and compact, with a durable travel case or brush cap to keep things hygienic in transit. We’ve selected the most travel-friendly picks from our ongoing electric toothbrush tests to round up this list of the very best. Each toothbrush was rated for ease of use, functionality, overall quality, value, and portability.
We also researched the best manual travel toothbrush options, including folding and disposable picks for those who prioritize portable convenience. There’s even an all-in-one kit since dental floss, mouthwash, and toothpaste are just as important as your travel toothbrush, because as dental hygienist Caroline Amerson, RDH, BSDH, MS, says, “the bacteria in your mouth work 24/7, 365 days a year even when you’re on vacation.” Read on to find our top picks for all your travel needs.
This toothbrush uses artificial intelligence to deliver a futuristic brushing experience enhanced by an integrated timer and pressure sensor.
The brush is slightly top-heavy and tips easily if knocked.
For tech-savvy perfectionists, it’s difficult to imagine a better toothbrush than the Oral-B Genius X Limited, an AI-enabled masterpiece that managed to seriously impress us, despite having previously only used manual toothbrushes and balking at this one’s considerable price tag. Even with its many bells and whistles, we found it intuitive to use right out of the box. The toothbrush uses Bluetooth to connect to an app on your smartphone, where you can view a diagram of your teeth that shows which areas have been correctly cleaned in real time.
We found the ability to see when we had achieved complete coverage very satisfying. The app also provides tips for effective brushing, saves your brushing history, and gives you the option to choose which modes are activated by toggling through the toothbrush’s easy-to-operate button. These range from the default (daily clean) to intense, sensitive, whitening, gum care, and tongue clean settings. Our favorite feature was the ring of LED lights that flashes red when you brush too hard (handy for those with receding gums).
We also appreciated the built-in timer, which not only alerts you when you’ve brushed for the recommended two minutes but also lets you know how long to spend on each quadrant of your mouth. The toothbrush itself is comfortable to hold, with a small, round head that reaches the furthest areas of the mouth and glides over teeth easily. We felt as though our teeth had been professionally cleaned each time. Finally, your investment is protected while traveling by a sturdy, slimline travel case.
The Details: Electric | Travel case
This toothbrush features activated charcoal-infused bristles for maximum whitening and bacteria reduction.
There’s just one bristle strength available (extra soft).
The Boka Classic Manual Toothbrush is our top pick for those who like to brush manually in their everyday lives or are hesitant to travel with an expensive electric toothbrush. It’s lightweight, with a sleek, simple build that feels comfortable in the hand and a compact head that reaches easily into tight spaces. We love that the bristles are extra soft, making them gentle on sensitive gums and teeth; yet long and tapered for an effective clean around the gumline.
Given their softness, the bristles are surprisingly durable. They’re also infused with activated charcoal for maximum cleanliness and odor reduction without resorting to abrasive charcoal pastes and powders. The bioplastic handle scores sustainability points while the included protective cap keeps things hygienic when traveling. Choose yours in white, pink, mint, or blue.
The Details: Manual | Brush cap | Extra soft bristles
This toothbrush offers many of the same key features as the more expensive ones on our list, for a fraction of the price.
The brush head is a bit small.
Approved by the American Dental Association (ADA), the AquaSonic Vibe Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush is made for travel with a slim, lightweight body and a custom, hard plastic travel case with space for two extra brush heads. We love that the battery lasts for four full weeks, so unless you’re going on an extended trip, you don’t even need to pack the charger. When it does run out of battery, ultra-fast wireless charging eliminates the hassle of having cables all over your bathroom counter.
The toothbrush produces 40,000 vibrations per minute and includes four modes: clean, whiten, massage, and soft for sensitive gums. We found it easy to switch between the settings with a push of a button. Smart vibration timers indicate the 30-second and two-minute marks. We brushed immediately after eating gummy sweets and dried mango and felt that the toothbrush did an admirable job of cleaning our teeth. It comes with eight replacement heads in cute colors ranging from satin rose gold to mint green metallic.
The Details: Electric | Travel case
This toothbrush offers AI-powered sensitive brushing, app connectivity, and a beautiful charging case that’s perfect for travel.
The expense is only worth it if you plan on using all of the extra features.
The Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 is the most advanced electric toothbrush in the Philips range, coming in at almost twice the price of our already spendy overall winner. However, if you’re particularly invested in your oral care, it may well be worth the splurge. It’s easy to set up, ready to use right out of the box, and comfortable to hold (not too heavy, not too light, with a smooth, matte surface). There are five modes and three intensity settings to choose from, and we appreciated that we could switch between them while brushing.
The toothbrush uses intelligent SenseIQ technology to sense pressure, motion, and coverage up to 100 times per second. It uses this information to adapt intensity automatically. An LED indicator warns you if you scrub too hard or apply too much pressure; while vibration alerts tell you when to switch brushing areas and when your two minutes are up. We liked being able to view a 3D map of our brushing efforts on the AI-powered Sonicare app, while the All-in-One brush head with its extra-long, angled bristles gave us that fresh-from-the-dentist smoothness after every brush.
We particularly appreciated that the elegant, vegan leather travel case doubles as a charger for travel-ready convenience. The battery lasts approximately two weeks (enough for most trips) and has an icon to indicate how much charge remains.
The Details: Electric | Charging travel case
This toothbrush offers three intensities and three brushing modes, including one especially designed for gum care.
While we liked the simplicity of not having an app or Bluetooth connectivity, some may miss these features.
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 is specially designed for sensitive teeth and gums. It’s also ideal for orthodontics and dental work including braces, crowns, and veneers. A built-in pressure sensor emits a gentle pulsing sound whenever you brush too hard, while other vibrating alerts let you know when to switch brushing areas and when your two minutes are up. You can choose between three intensities and three brushing modes: clean, white, and gum care. The latter adds an extra minute of reduced-power brushing for a gentle gum massage.
We used all of the settings each time we brushed. Toggling through them was easy, although we had to stop brushing to do so which limited the usefulness of the two-minute timer. The brush was comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver, leaving our teeth perfectly clean and smooth. This model also features intelligent BrushSync, which adjusts the intensity according to the type of brush head used and notifies you via a light on the handle when it’s time to change heads. The toothbrush comes with a compact charging base and a sturdy, hygienic travel case.
The Details: Electric | Travel case
With a handle that doubles as a protective case, this toothbrush is ideal for slipping into a carry-on or backpack pocket.
The case features ventilation holes and is therefore not completely sealed.
For maximum on-the-go convenience, we love the Gum Folding Travel Toothbrush. Its tri-fold design reduces its size considerably for easy packing, while the handle doubles as a sturdy travel case to protect bristles from germs in transit. Tiny holes allow air to pass through so that the brush can continue to dry even if packed damp; similarly, a special coating prevents bacteria from accumulating.
Unlike some other folding toothbrushes, this one is just as sturdy as a regular toothbrush when unfolded, with a full-sized head. Meanwhile, the bristles are soft enough for sensitive gums with a multi-level design that enables them to clean effectively in between teeth. When you’re finished brushing, use the tongue cleaner on the reverse side of the head to complete your oral hygiene routine.
The Details: Manual | Handle doubles as a travel case | Soft bristles
You don’t need water to use these mini toothbrushes.
The disposable concept isn’t very environmentally friendly.
The Freshee 5-in-1 Disposable Mini Toothbrush is the ideal solution for those long travel days when access to a bathroom isn’t always convenient. That’s because it’s pre-pasted with a gel bubble filled with a liquid toothpaste designed for use without water. And, since it also minimizes foam production you won’t need to spit. Each toothbrush is individually wrapped to keep it sterile until you’re ready to use it.
The tiny packet fits in a jacket pocket, wallet, or carry-on pouch and since you throw the toothbrush away after use, you don’t have to worry about packing the damp brush away again. Despite its diminutive size, the toothbrush takes care of all your oral hygiene needs. Pull the handle apart to reveal a toothpick, then use the flossing stick on the end to clean in between each tooth. There’s even a tongue scraper on the back of the toothbrush head for optimal oral cleaning.
The Details: Manual | Individually wrapped | Soft bristles
This kit provides everything you need to keep your teeth clean in a TSA-approved, travel-ready bag.
The zippered pouch could be more durable.
Don’t have time to shop around for all of the dental care items you need ahead of your next trip? The Spark Dental Co. Travel Kit includes them all in a single purchase. First up, there’s a travel toothbrush with soft bristles and a tapered head for navigating the furthest reaches of your mouth. This toothbrush folds into its own handle, halving its size when packed and protecting it from germs — although some may find the locking mechanism is a little flimsy.
Other contents include a travel-sized tube of minty Crest toothpaste and a miniature bottle of Scope mouthwash. Both have been specifically chosen to comply with TSA rules for liquids and gels on airplanes. Finally, the kit includes a box of Oral-B dental floss for a true deep clean. All of these items come in a leakproof, zippered plastic pouch that can be used over and over again. There’s even a little space for any extra items you may wish to add.
The Details: Manual | Handle doubles as a travel case | Soft bristles
We picked the best travel toothbrushes based on a combination of real-world testing and thorough research. All of our electric toothbrush picks were tested at home, where we evaluated them for ease of use, design, functionality, features, and quality. The selections in this article are some of our favorites from various real-world tests. The manual toothbrushes were selected by meticulously researching available data, trends, and other online reviews. We also interviewed a dental hygienist to make sure we knew what features to look for when selecting toothbrushes.
If your budget allows for it, dental hygienist Caroline Amerson, RDH, BSDH, MS, says an electric toothbrush is always preferable to a manual one in terms of providing superior dental care. That’s because an electric toothbrush performs over 30,000 strokes per minute whereas a manual one can only perform around 300. Even if you’re going on a wilderness expedition with no access to electricity (or if you’re just worried about finding the correct adapter), a fully charged electric toothbrush will likely last for several weeks.
Amerson also points out that it’s possible to extend battery life by using the toothbrush manually in the morning and switching the electric motor on at night when it’s imperative to remove plaque and food before sleep. And, she says, just as a broken escalator turns into a functional set of stairs, so an uncharged electric toothbrush can be used as a manual one in a pinch. You could also look for an electric toothbrush with a travel-specific charging case. There is one caveat — disposable, pre-pasted toothbrushes are ideal for travel days when access to running water is difficult and you want to avoid packing a separate tube of toothpaste.
Amerson says that you should only ever consider using a toothbrush with soft or extra-soft bristles. In fact, she says that “medium or hard bristles should be reserved for cleaning the grout between your bathroom tiles!” She also points out that the two major electric toothbrush brands in the United States (Oral-B and Sonicare) offer different brush head styles. Oral-B brushes use a round oscillating head which requires hopping from tooth to tooth using a slight rocking motion.
Meanwhile, Sonicare brushes have a more traditional head that should be held against the teeth with the last row of bristles sweeping the gumline. There’s no need to exert any pressure or implement any special kind of motion — just let the toothbrush glide around your mouth. Amerson points out that both styles work equally well, although she finds that Sonicare brushes offer an easier and more natural transition from manual toothbrushes.
Keeping your toothbrush clean in transit requires some kind of traveling case or brush cap to prevent the bristles from coming into contact with germs. Amerson recommends choosing a case that has air vents in it to allow the bristles to dry properly. And when it comes to storing your toothbrush at your destination, try not to keep it in the same space as the toilet but rather on a nightstand or in the sink area if the latter is separate to the toilet. Finally, if you become unwell on your travels, consider purchasing a replacement toothbrush or switching out the head to prevent lingering bacteria from prolonging the sickness.
Unless space is a major concern — in which case, a folding manual toothbrush like the one listed above is your best bet — you should be able to use your everyday toothbrush on your travels. The amount you can expect to spend depends on whether you choose a manual toothbrush (usually in the $1 to $5 range) or an electric one (anywhere from $20 for a budget brand like Quip to $300+ for a top of the range choice from Sonicare). Amerson says that if high-end electric toothbrushes are out of your budget, any toothbrush with a motor is better than one without, so spend what you can while bearing in mind that a better quality product will last longer and offer more value in terms of cost per use.
According to TSA guidelines, electric toothbrushes may be packed in both your checked and carry-on luggage. The exception is those that use lithium ion batteries, which MUST be packed in your carry-on. Airports and airlines outside the U.S. may have different rules, but the general consensus seems to be that keeping your electric toothbrush with you in the cabin is the best and most acceptable practice.
Jessica Macdonald has been writing about travel gear and accessories for more than 10 years. Some of the products featured in this article were chosen according to the results of real-life tests carried out by the T+L team, while others were chosen after hours of online research. We also consulted the expert opinion of dental hygienist Caroline Amerson, RDH, BSDH, MS.
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