Where do you brush your teeth?

[FreeGoldRush]

It seems inappropriate to brush your teeth and spit on the ground at a tenting spot that is used often by others. Where do you discard any sort of waste water when camping at/near a shelter?

[Gambit McCrae]

Im sure any answer other then swallowing it or kicking your heel in the dirt will be frowned upon, but you know how you see those clumps of treens right outside of camping areas with little shrubs all around the base? I spit in those. Or i wait till im out of camp and take a break on the side of the trail.

[Trailweaver]

I step away from the campsite (a few feet into the brush) and brush and spit there. Then I use my water bottle to kind of wash it away. If I'm going to brush several times at one campsite (evening, morning?), then I do the brushing and spiting at one place so I only have to clean up one site.

[MuddyWaters]

It seems inappropriate to brush your teeth and spit on the ground at a tenting spot that is used often by others. Where do you discard any sort of waste water when camping at/near a shelter?

Most people spit it within 20 ft of the shelter, or into fire ring. So I wouldnt stress over it.

[egilbe]

Just a small dab of toothpaste and swallow it.

[Engine]

Where we cook and eat...

[AfterParty]

Cat hole seems logical to me.

[Puddlefish]

Downwind of others and in the underbrush. Same general idea as hanging your bear bag, so maybe in the same area. Don't just spit it, spray it. Spreads out the scent, less likely to get little animals exploring... or at least that's the theory.

[DLP]

I use baking soda and swallow it. I consider it part of my sodium for the day and sort of like electrolytes.

[Traveler]

First shalt thou take out the Holy Tooth Brush, then shalt thou count to three as thou scrubbiest thine teeth, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then spittest thy teeth waste upon the ground so as not to offendeth thine camping brethren nor soil thine own shoes."

With apologies to Michael Palin

[JumpMaster Blaster]

Just a small dab of toothpaste and swallow it.

NO. That causes at best nausea and at worst vomiting for many people. Swallowing toothpaste isn't an option to me. Step a few yards away from the campsite or shelter, brush, spit, and run some water over it. Or like what was previously mentioned, walk down the trail for a few minutes and do it there.

[Secondmouse]

First shalt thou take out the Holy Tooth Brush, then shalt thou count to three as thou scrubbiest thine teeth, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then spittest thou thy teeth wasting upon the ground so's not to ofendeth thine camping brethren nor soil thine own shoes."

With apologies to Michael Palin

wait, the three count... it that per tooth? or the whole thing?

that would explain the sudden rise in the number of dental implant offices that have begun to spring up all over...

[The Cleaner]

I use baking soda and swallow it. I consider it part of my sodium for the day and sort of like electrolytes.

I've been using baking soda for 30 years on backcountry trips.It can also be used to rinse out flavors in water containers.

[Just Bill]

I generally don't brush my teeth- the vigorous scrubbing causes them to fall out.

If I do brush-
I wait until the other people at camp go to get water or sumthin.
I clear a likely spot and I spit on the ground.
Then I pee real good to wash away the toothpaste smear.
Then I poop on top of the pee to cover that up.
Then I put the other fella's tent back on the spot where I found it and get to hiking.

[egilbe]

NO. That causes at best nausea and at worst vomiting for many people. Swallowing toothpaste isn't an option to me. Step a few yards away from the campsite or shelter, brush, spit, and run some water over it. Or like what was previously mentioned, walk down the trail for a few minutes and do it there.

Never had any ill effects from swallowing a pea sized dab of toothpaste

[JC13]

We used a activated charcoal/coconut husk powder. When we were done brushing we just spit it in the bushes.

[SouthMark]

Was taught by a caretaker in Maine that the LNT method was to do a spraying effect as a fine mist.

[Halloween]

I use the spray method.

[gbolt]

If able to, I brush and spit close to a privy. It's an area most people don't stomp around or come close too. I like it better than around camp or eating area. I just had this same question, in my head, when I was on the trail last night lol.

[Lone Wolf]

i spit into the same ziplock that i pack out my TP in