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My wife has lost most of her fine motor control skills and grip strength. One of the challenges that makes is getting toothpaste out of the tube. Once a tube gets down to about 1/3 left, she has a very difficult time and wants a fresh tube. Is there some kind of small easy device that will wring out the last 1/3?

I'm a 65 year old former family caregiver with hand issues.

I had my PCP prescribe some appointments with an Occupational Therapist.
This OT really helped me out with hand issues and activities of daily living.

Honestly, modern packaging is ridiculously difficult to open.
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Reply to brandee
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If she's having trouble brushing her teeth now, and I would say she is, you'll need to brush them for her. Eventually she may not know what toothpaste is. Or not want to brush her teeth, Or not know what a toothbrush is. (My husband got to the point where he said he didn't know what those things were and had never seen them before. Plus he flushed his toothbrush down the toilet, or tried to.)

Prepare for her not to be able to perform personal hygiene tasks. It's best to look down the road to see what's coming rather than to run head-on into it.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Maybe a wall mounted electric dispenser? Then all she has to do is wave her brush head in it to activate.
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Reply to Geaton777
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I thought the heading was a joke. The usual problem is how to get toothpaste back into the tube!
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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Fawnby Dec 13, 2025
Good one, Margaret!
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Both Crest and Colgate have a free standing container style gel toothpaste. They taper up in design to about 4” tall on a 3” oval shaped base. You squeeze them to get the toothpaste out.

Target has them. Under $5.00. I love them as it keeps a neater lavabo.

Theres also these trendy “foaming” toothpastes that come in containers that look like dry shampoo containers. Have a nozzle that u press down on. AutoBrush & SuperSmile are brand names and they have flavor/scent combinations. Way way way more pricey and places like Ulta carry them. I imagine that Crest will be / have done their own more affordable version of these
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Reply to igloo572
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pamzimmrrt Dec 13, 2025
I get that Crest and Colgate at the $1.25 store, have for years and we love it!
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I use a plastic one like Lea recommended. Someone will need to put the tube in and start winding it. You can wind it for your wife when needed. The one Lea recommended seems to let the tube stand up.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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https://www.amazon.com/s?k=toothpaste+squeeze+tool&crid=2KRTBH20VP7UX&sprefix=%2Caps%2C307&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

Above is a link to toothpaste squeeze tools on Amazon. They probably require fine motor skills to use, I would imagine. I'd use the leftover tube myself if I were you and give your wife a fresh tube of toothpaste to make life simpler.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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AlvaDeer Dec 13, 2025
Oh, Lea, you get my 2025 trophy for the woman with an answer to EVERYTHING!
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