Is it safe to brush teeth with tap water and drink ice in Egypt?

A discussion participant mentioned hearing about a 70-year-old first-time visitor to Egypt who got food poisoning and felt unwell for several days, despite following basic precautions (bottled water, no ice in drinks, brushing teeth only with bottled water). Takeaway: even standard precautions don't guarantee full protection.

Another traveler's experience: back in 2003 at a 3-star hotel she only brushed her teeth with bottled water out of caution, whereas now at the Sultan hotel (where she vacations for 3-4 weeks with her daughter) she comfortably brushes with tap water and drinks juices/cocktails with ice with no issues. Takeaway: the level of risk depends heavily on the specific hotel and individual body tolerance — some hotels require precautions, others don't.

A family with a 4-year-old stayed at Sultan hotel: the child drank cocktails and juices with ice, swam in the pool, and tried various foods — no stomach issues for any of the six travelers. Teeth were brushed with bottled water. Conclusion: standard hygiene precautions are sufficient.

A traveler with 10 years of Egypt trips never brushes teeth with tap water — only bottled — knowing the local water source. It's more psychological comfort than strict necessity, but a consistent habit.

A teenager (14–15 years old) spent three weeks in Egypt drinking juices and cola with ice and brushing teeth with tap water — no health issues. The same family has been traveling to Egypt since the child was 2 years old with no intestinal infections, while they did encounter problems in Kemer, Turkey.

A gastroenterologist's tip for preventing stomach issues: drink about 5 sips of cola morning and evening to help the stomach adapt. Additionally: bottled water for brushing teeth and washing face, frequent handwashing, and hand sanitizer. A family with children follows this routine and has no digestive problems in Egypt or elsewhere.