Oral care on a cruise or ferry: seasickness, fizzy drinks and a deck-proof kit

A cruise or a long ferry crossing can be hard on teeth in two ways. If the sea is rough you may be sick, and acid and brushing do not mix. And if drinks are on offer all day, fizzy and fruit-based ones keep acid on your teeth for hours. The advice below comes from two pages on the American Dental Association’s consumer site, MouthHealthy.org; the kit is our own suggestion.

If you are seasick

The ADA’s MouthHealthy page on cold and flu season gives the clearest advice we found for after vomiting. Rinse first: it says to swish with water, a diluted mouth rinse or a mixture of water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Then spit, and brush about 30 minutes later. It cautions that if you brush too soon you are just rubbing acid all over the hard outer shell of your teeth.

On a ship that means keeping a bottle of water and a small cup in the cabin, and resisting the urge to brush straight away. If you are being sick often, see a dentist when you are back on land.

Fizzy and fruity drinks

On the MouthHealthy page on dietary acids, the ADA says that the major erosion culprit is soft drinks, especially soda and sports drinks, and that the fizz raises the acid level of any drink regardless of its flavour. Sugar-free versions are not exempt. Juices and lemonade are also higher in acid than regular water.

Its advice for when you do indulge is practical:

• Use a straw.
• Do not swish the drink or hold it in your mouth longer than you need to. Sip and swallow.
• Rinse your mouth with water, drink milk or have a little cheese afterwards.
• Wait an hour before brushing after acidic foods, so your saliva can wash away acids and your enamel can re-harden.
• Chew sugarless gum with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, because it encourages saliva, which helps keep acids under control.

The deck-proof kit

All of this is our suggestion. Cruise lines and ferry operators have their own luggage rules, so check before you go.

Item	Why	Notes
Compact manual toothbrush with a cover	Works anywhere, no power needed	A dry brush in a cover stays cleaner in a bag
Small tube of fluoride toothpaste	Brushing twice a day still applies	Travel size is enough
Interdental brushes or floss picks	Easy to carry	See interdental brushes
Sugar-free gum with the ADA Seal	Between drinks and snacks	Bin it, not over the rail
Small bottle of water	For rinsing after drinks and after sickness	Use water you would drink
Zip pouch	Keeps it dry in a damp cabin	A zip bag is enough

For a longer trip, our travel oral-care kit checklist covers more, and brushing teeth abroad: tap water or bottled explains which water to use at the sink. If you wear a retainer or use an electric brush, see travelling with a retainer and travelling with an electric toothbrush.

On deck

Sun and wind on deck are the other part of a boat day. Calm Eden’s guide to an umbrella for Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines suggests a poncho or light jacket for island-hopping and boat days, and an umbrella only for sheltered stops, because spray and wind make one awkward on deck.

A note on the umbrella

FlosserGuide shares an owner with Calm Eden, which sells the Haven Umbrella. According to the seller’s listing it folds to 40 cm (15.75 in), weighs about 390 g, opens and closes with one press and has a swivel carabiner handle that clips to a bag. The listing says it is storm-proof; on a windy deck or in any strong wind, close it and shelter.

In short

• After vomiting, rinse with water, spit and brush about 30 minutes later, as the ADA advises.
• Fizzy drinks, including sugar-free ones, are acidic; use a straw, sip, rinse and wait to brush.
• Pack a small flat kit and a bottle of water.

Sources: American Dental Association, MouthHealthy.org, Cold and flu season and Dietary acids and your teeth, both read on 26 October 2026. The kit is our own suggestion. This guide is general information, not dental advice; see a dentist for personal concerns.