The TSA seems to have gotten serious about electronic items with built-in batteries and keeps adding devices to the list of prohibited items, and if last week we were talking about cordless hair straighteners and curlers that were restricted because of the batteries, now we are talking about electric toothbrushes! It may sound exaggerated, we know, but there are more and more incidents on planes due to fires with lithium batteries and the TSA wants to be cautious.
An electric toothbrush?
Yes, an electric toothbrush, they are the new enemy of the TSA and you already know it is because of the lithium batteries. It is not that suddenly all electric toothbrushes have caught fire in the middle of a flight, but there have been several incidents that made the authorities reflect on what should and should not travel by plane.
If it has a rechargeable battery, it goes with you in the cabin
The rule is very simple, everything that has a lithium battery has to travel in carry-on luggage. Never in the checked suitcase. And basically it is because if something goes wrong (and it happens sometimes), it is better that it is within reach of the crew, not hidden among pants and souvenirs in the airplane hold, don’t you think?
It does not matter if the device in question looks harmless or small, even if your toothbrush is no longer than 20 centimeters and does not look like it will catch fire, the rechargeable battery inside it can. A short circuit or overheating from the pressure is enough for a small incident to end in tragedy.
How to know if your toothbrush is “suspicious”?
Here is the important difference:
- If it uses normal batteries (the usual ones), you can put it wherever you want.
- If it charges with a base or with USB, it most likely has a lithium battery, so straight into the backpack or carry-on bag.
- Ah, and a detail not everyone knows: cover the toothbrush head or put a lock on it, just in case it activates on its own during the flight. It is not common, but it could happen.
Other devices also under scrutiny
The electric toothbrush is not the only one, we told you at the beginning of the article that there is a huge list of beauty devices that are also starting to be more controlled at airport security checkpoints.
- Cordless straighteners and curlers
- Devices with butane gas
- Airbrush makeup devices
- LED light masks
- Electronic massagers
They all share one thing: they either have lithium, or they run on fuel. And that, on a plane, is closely monitored.
Exaggeration or justified precaution?
Well no! It is not exaggeration. Only in the first half of 2025, the FAA (the U.S. aviation authority) recorded 46 onboard fires related to batteries. Some flights even had to land early. And not because of a catastrophe, but because a portable charger overheated.
So yes, we know it sounds strange, but a poorly placed toothbrush can be a real problem. It is not paranoia, it is only precaution!!
Tips to avoid trouble at security
If your toothbrush is rechargeable, always carry it with you in the cabin
- Make sure it is turned off
- Protect it well with a cover or cap
- And if you are unsure of what type of battery it has, apply the TSA rule:
“If in doubt, leave it out”
Next time you pack your suitcase, check it well before putting that rechargeable toothbrush between the socks! What looks like a simple detail can make the difference between a calm flight and a scare in the air.