How Much Toothpaste Can You Bring on A Plane?

If you are on a long flight, particularly overnight, you may want to brush your teeth to freshen up before arriving at your destination.

You can take your toothbrush, but can you bring toothpaste too? If so, how much?

The rest of this article covers all the rules and everything you need to know about taking toothpaste on a plane, as well as some ideas for ensuring you take the size you want.

The Quick Answer: What size toothpaste can you take on a plane? Toothpaste is considered a liquid by the TSA so it is subject to the liquids rules if taking it through the TSA security checkpoint. This means a tube of toothpaste cannot be larger than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) otherwise it will be confiscated. It can be packed in your checked bag without restriction.

Can you take toothpaste through airport security?

Although you can take toothpaste through the TSA checkpoint, according to the TSA rules, all forms of toothpaste, whether liquids, gels or paste, are considered liquids. This means that:

• The toothpaste tube must be no larger than 3.4 ounce (100 ml) in size.
• It is the size of the container that is important so you cannot take a large toothpaste tube that only has less than 3.4 ounce of toothpaste in it.
• It must be placed in your transparent, resealable, one quart size bag with other small liquids and toiletries.
• The quart sized liquid bag must be placed separately in a bin at checkpoint before going through the x-ray machine.
• Only one quart sized liquid bag is permitted per passenger

You can take any quantity of solid toothpaste or toothpaste tablets through the checkpoint.

You can also bring a standard or an electric toothbrush with you too.

This is a response on Twitter from the TSA to a passenger’s question regarding carrying toothpaste on a plane:

Can you take larger prescription toothpaste through security?

You can take a container of toothpaste larger than 3.4 oz through the TSA security checkpoint if you have been prescribed it by a dentist or doctor. This applies to pastes, liquids and gels.

Place the toothpaste in a separate tray, inform the security agent that you have it, and show them a copy of the prescription.

See the TSA instructions below:

Can larger frozen toothpaste be taken through security?

You can take a tube of toothpaste larger than 3.4 oz through the security checkpoint if it is completely frozen! This is rather a bizarre idea, but it would allow you to circumvent the liquids security rule.

If the toothpaste had melted during the screening process, it would have been confiscated since it must be completely frozen. A large delay in getting through security may cause a problem.

It seems like lots of trouble to go to me, but I guess, as the response from @AskTSA below shows, it is something that some passengers may consider:

Can you bring toothpaste in your carry on?

As you will already know from reading the section above, you cannot take a tube of toothpaste larger than 3.4 oz (100 ml) through security.

But you can actually take a larger container of toothpaste on a plane in your carry on bag without having to buy a travel size tube.

This can be achieved if you purchase it in one of the stores at the airport after passing through the TSA checkpoint.

Can you use toothpaste while on board?

You can use any toothpaste while you are on board.

That is good news for you and perhaps your fellow travelers, particularly when you are on a long overnight flight and perhaps need to go straight to a meeting when you arrive.

Can you bring toothpaste in your checked baggage?

You will not encounter any problems when packing toothpaste inside your checked bags. Although toothpaste is considered a liquid in TSA regulations, the liquid rules only apply to taking toothpaste through airport security and on a plane in your carry-on. The restrictions do not apply to liquids in checked baggage.

Therefore, you can pack any size tube of your favorite toothpaste in your luggage to use while you are away.

Can you bring mouthwash on a plane?

According to the TSA, mouthwash is permitted in your carry on bag but as it is a liquid (obviously) it is subject to the same liquids rule so must be no larger than 3.4 ozs and be placed in your liquids bag.

Larger size mouthwash can be packed in your checked baggage.

Can you bring dental floss on a plane?

Dental floss can be taken on a plane in either your carry on luggage or checked luggage without restriction. The same applies to dental picks and other small items to help clean your teeth.

Conclusion

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not allow any containers of toothpaste larger than 3.4 ounce (100 ml) of liquid or gel per item that are carried through the security checkpoint.

Passengers can bring toothpaste in their carry-on bag in containers that hold 3.4 ounces or less per item. You will not have a problem packing larger amounts of toothpaste in a checked bag for your trip.

Toothpaste FAQs and travel tips

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