How do astronauts brush their teeth?
“Astronauts use the same toothpaste as on Earth and can even select their preferred brand. Instead of rinsing with water and then spitting into a sink, astronauts spit toothpaste into a towel. Recently, astronauts have been using edible toothpaste to reduce water waste.
With long-duration flights, dental care is of increased concern. In 1973, Soviet Yuri Romanenko (father of current cosmonaut Roman Romanenko) developed a toothache on the 96-day Salyut 6 flight. The cosmonaut spent two weeks in pain before the crew returned to Earth. Since then, tools for dental care have been added to the crew’s emergency medical kit. Moreover, astronauts will regularly visit the dentist’s chair before their flight, anticipating any possible dental problems that could occur during their mission.”
Chris Hadfield a Canadian astronaut and Commander of Expedition 35, demonstrates how astronauts brush their teeth in space on video.
Clayton C. Anderson(2-time ISS astronaut; 6-time space walker, 30-year NASA employee) also shares his experience:
“It is ABSOLUTELY okay to swallow your toothpaste while living in outer space! I swallowed my Crest mint-flavored toothpaste at least 304 times during a 152-day stay in 2007. Downing your spit –laced with the minty fresh flavoring from the toothpaste tube– may sound disgusting, but it actually can be considered as a “space-age after dinner mint!”
The alternative, spitting multiple times into a towel or napkin, is used by some astronauts who can’t seem to get by the other option. I found that method to be quite messy and a waste of good consumables (paper towels and napkins). Plus, I didn’t like having to manipulate a spit-filled towel in zero gravity.
It’s now been about 7 years since my first foray into the vacuum of outer space, and to paraphrase the great astronaut and US Senator John Glenn, “Houston, I’m back home from zero-g and I feel fine!” Keep lookin’ up!”
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