What about toothpaste?

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Have folks flown lately and gotten away with having a partially-used toothpaste tube in carry-on bag? I love my toothpaste & doubt I'll find it where I'm flying next. I've probably got 3 ounces left in a tube...should I tuck it into my carryon? I can't find anything specific about toothpaste, not even on the TSA site. Gels and liquids I don't care about...my hotel will provide little shampoos and soaps. What to do, what to do, when one is picky about her toothpaste brand?

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April 1, 2007
Practical Traveler | Airline Carry-On
For Your Next Trip, Stock Up on Dental Mitts
By MICHELLE HIGGINS

SINCE the Transportation Security Administration began cracking down on liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on luggage last summer, travelers determined not to check their bags have been haunting the trial-size aisles at Wal-Mart, trolling for samples at department store cosmetics counters and hoarding tiny shampoos and lotions from hotel rooms.

In response to the carry-on rules, which mandate containers of no more than three ounces and require that each passenger’s items be placed in a single, clear, quart-size, zip-top plastic bag, some fliers have reverted to old-fashioned hygiene — switching to shaving soap and tooth powder. And more than a few, simply unable to find three-ounce bottles or tubes of toothpaste in time for a trip, have shown up for business meetings or sightseeing tours looking not quite as fresh and polished as they once did.

For more click here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/tr...accarryon.html

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

According to the website, you can't take a tube of toothpaste larger than 3 oz., even if it has been squeezed down. You could try rolling it up and putting it in your 1qt. clear plastic ziplock baggie, but it might get confiscated.

My dentist gives me samples to take on trips. They're under 2 oz.

[Dave M Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dave M]

That's correct. It's the size of the container that's limited to three ounces. From the TSA website on what you can carry on for toothpaste:

3 oz. or smaller container

I buy "trial size" tubes of toothpaste and other items I want in my carryon, including old-fashioned shaving cream. They are available at most large drugstores and many grocery stores, as well as Wal-Mart and Target.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

I have a friend who had a squeezed down large tube; it was confiscated, and she was told it can't be larger than a 3 oz container, period.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Ah who needs tooth paste any way. I bet that proubly Half of everyones teeth are fake anyway.

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

In theory it's true that you are not allowed to bring any CONTAINER larger than 3 oz. So as some people said larger toothpaste tubes that have been squeezed down aren't allowed. But I saw people with larger tubes in their ziplock bags make it through security just fine. It all depends on how strict the individual security agent is.

I've also heard that they don't allow unmarked containers or containers that aren't clear so they can see into them. Again, this isn't always the case. They don't all seem to be playing from the same set of rules.

I traveled through several security checkpoints on our recent vacation (both in the U.S. and in Europe). None of the security people even looked at what we had in our fully loaded 1 qt. ziplock bags.

On a recent trip my brother had some expensive cologne in the acceptable 3 oz size but in a stainless steel bottle. He brought a padded mailer to send it home if they decided not to allow it. But they didn't question it at all.

My theory is, take what you need (within the guidelines as best as you can figure them out) but be prepared to have something disposed of if the particular agent doesn't like it (there is no arguing allowed).

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

What about toothpaste?

I prefer it to soap.

(My avatar is me and my BIL fishing on the swimdeck of the Margaritaville Dock. But I can't see it, or any others, or any pictures, cuz ole PC has a hard enough time just dealing with everything else on these two websites. I'm happy when it doesn't give up trying to load a page and lock up. )

[Dave M Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dave M]

I've also heard that they don't allow unmarked containers or containers that aren't clear so they can see into them.

The rules vary by country. Neither of those limitations exists for U.S. security checkpoints.

More on toothpaste from the same link in my earlier post:

All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

What if I sqeeze 3 oz worth of my fave toothpaste into a small, clear container and put it into a qt ziplock baggie? Reason being: I've never seen Jason Powersmile sold in a 3 oz sampler tube. Many stores don't carry it at all unless they have a natural foods and/or personal care section.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

What if I sqeeze 3 oz worth of my fave toothpaste into a small, clear container and put it into a qt ziplock baggie? Reason being: I've never seen Jason Powersmile sold in a 3 oz sampler tube. Many stores don't carry it at all unless they have a natural foods and/or personal care section.

Carol

Our normal sized tubes of toothpaste and shampoos, suntan lotions, etc were allowed in checked baggage. Luckily the medications were in tubes that were less than 3oz. I don't trust medications to the check-in odyssey.

I wasn't messing with the carry-on and then having to buy everything again down here <and probably not getting my prefered brands>.

I'll leave the light on for you.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Carol

Our normal sized tubes of toothpaste and shampoos, suntan lotions, etc were allowed in checked baggage. Luckily the medications were in tubes that were less than 3oz. I don't trust medications to the check-in odyssey.

I wasn't messing with the carry-on and then having to buy everything again down here <and probably not getting my prefered brands>.

I'll leave the light on for you.

Hey Lawren! I don't want to check baggage since just two weeks ago I had a piece of luggage delayed for two days. I'd rather risk them taking my rolled up toothpaste tube. Luckily I found sunscreens that are 3 oz...so one goes in hubby's carryon and one in mine.

Thanks for offering to leave the light on for us! If you want to leave behind any wine, beer or champagne, I wouldn't mind that either!

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

How long is this trip? How about roughing it with Colgate for a few days?

[Dave M Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dave M]

What if I sqeeze 3 oz worth of my fave toothpaste into a small, clear container and put it into a qt ziplock baggie?

Jackpot!

That will work for you. There is no requirement that those 3 oz (and smaller) containers have identifying brand markings.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Carol, when I went to Vegas they tried to confiscate my rolled up toothpaste and my expensive lotion that I got on the Alaskan cruise. I had to check in my carryon so I wouldn't have my stuff confiscated. shaggy

[CarolF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CarolF]

Hi Carol

Putting a small amount of toothpaste into a little jar for the carry on bag then the full tube in the checked in luggage would be best.

I'm a bit fussy about shampoos and lotions too, so I save small containers before the trip then label and fill all the little containers. Most go in the check in luggage except one of each for the carry on bag. The advantage of this is that you can discard used bottles as you finish them. By the time you are ready to go home you don't have to waste precious luggage space with quarter filled bottles and tubes (lots more room for souvenirs and treasures).