What are the two primary disposal methods for toothpaste foam after brushing teeth on the ISS?
Answer
Swallowing the foam or spitting it into a towel
Oral hygiene presents a unique challenge due to the lack of a sink for conventional spitting. Astronauts have two main management options for the resulting mixture of toothpaste and water. The first option, often chosen when using edible toothpaste, is to simply swallow the frothy output, effectively consuming the waste product. The second option involves spitting the residue carefully into a towel or cloth, which is then set aside for later disposal through the station's general waste management process. This choice is a constant micro-management decision between ingesting waste or dealing with solid waste.
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