"When I read that toothpaste was not going to be allowed in carry-ons, I was a bit perturbed,'' says traveler Michelle Bryan. "I'm moving to China, and after 14 hours on a plane across the Pacific, a girl wants to brush her teeth.''

Indeed. Of all the e-mails I have received about finding alternatives to liquids and gels for inflight personal hygiene, the number one concern has been how to clean your teeth.

In another message whose subject line reads "For furry teeth on long flights,'' Brian Hendler suggests Oral-B Brush Ups, little fresh-tasting, textured finger puppets you rub against your teeth. The company makes lots of other dry toothpaste alternatives, like strips and flosses. But these "finger brushes" seem to be the most popular.

Vows road warrior Dave Johnson in a list of things he will do differently on business trips from now on: "I will take those strange Oral-B finger tip tooth cleaner things as well.''

An entertaining Atlanta Journal-Constitution article discusses more toiletry remedies on the go, such as dry toothpaste powder and bar shampoo, and how the companies who make them are scrambling to bring them to market sooner to meet the demand created by the new travel restrictions.

Jay Hibbard, a weekly business traveler in Portland, Maine, switched to old-fashioned men's shaving soap and a brush. "Just drop the soap into the bathroom glass, swirl it with the brush covered with hot water, and voil?, shaving foam," he writes. "The brush was a little expensive — $6 — but the soap is cheap — $1.50."

Of course, a lot of these dry products require water to be reconstituted, and there's been a lot of talk lately questioning whether airlines are being tight-fisted about giving out enough water onboard.

Still, there are plenty of dry products that work dry. Stephanie Yates, a military veteran, suggests a stick of pure cocoa butter for lip balm and a lotion substitute. And, as most travelers have already discovered, powerfully-scented deodorants can substitute for liquid cologne in a pinch. Just no Old Spice, please.

Finally, frequent flier Bruce Kane says the one thing he hasn't been able to replace yet is his beloved antibacterial Germ-X, which normally comes in a liquid dispenser or pump. Good news, Bruce. Yes, Germ-X does make 42-count soft hand and face wipes.

There goes the image of today's airline cabin as the 21-century version of the Great Unwashed.

Write to Barbara Correa at bboydstoncorrea@yahoo.com