Why don't hotels typically provide guests with toothpaste?

They do in ITC hotels...

In my experience, most upscale-ish hotels will provide it, but you have to ask. They usually have a toothbrush/paste combo pack for guests who have forgotten their toothbrushes (or had their luggage lost).

Hyatts generally have toothpaste in the bathrooms these days. I think this started shortly after the TSA's liquid/gels idiocy.

Hilton (in Singapore) and Scandic (Stockholm) do supply toothpaste as well.

My first response -- not listed in any of the other answers below -- would be that in addition to toothpaste being relatively "safe" to transport (IE, not likely to leak all over your clothing inside your suitcase) is that in the US toothpaste is a fairly personal decision. According to one article (linked below) from 2011, there were between 300-400 different types sold regularly in stores. Unlike bathing products, which are regarded by most as being differentiated mainly by scent, toothpastes tout a variety of "benefits" and people tend to have a very strong preference for one or the other. I would personally only use provided toothpaste if I were desperate, but then again for myself the same holds true for hotel hair products. That said, every hotel I've worked at has kept toothpaste and an array of other items that are available upon request. Many of them cost too much to provide to every guest, and with things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and razors (all of which all of the hotels I've worked at have provided) it wouldn't matter if you used them or not. Cleanliness standards would require we replace the toothbrushes and razors with every guest, which increases the cost even more. [1] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703373404576148363319407354.html

Haven't we all experienced this - the hotel will have assorted toiletry items  in the bathroom (depending on the hotel we are staying at). But the toothpaste is typically a missing item in most hotels.., quite irrespective of how the hotel is priced! Well, apparently, from this Slate research and article, the reason found is actually quite frustrating: "We don’t get toothpaste in our rooms because we don’t ask for toothpaste in our rooms; we don’t ask for toothpaste in our rooms because we never knew we could." Check it out http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/07/toothpaste_in_hotels_why_do_they_provide_shampoo_soap_and_high_end_toiletries.single.html

We have toothpaste. Just come down to the desk and we'll give you some. We don't put it in every room, as we do with soap and shampoo. Perhaps we should. We've just never thought of it. Most hotels at the mid-market tiers don't. Also, Nikky is correct: most people bring their own. Soap and shampoo can be a little messy or bulky to transport, but most people can put a tube of toothpaste in their ditty bag to bring along.

Shampoo (leaks when pressure changes in a plane) and especially soap (slimy, wet) are a pain to carry around. Toothpaste is less bulky and TENDS to behave itself. Thus easier for people to bring their own. And use their preferred type in the process. Compare with towels. Will we ever expect travellers to carry their own damp towel in a suitcase or carry -on, in order to save a notch on the rate? Only in the most cost -conscious of places. That said, most hotels in China do provide toothpaste. Must be a regional thing. I've never understood what's with all the ice machines in North America, but I'm not complaining.

Some do supply mini toothpaste. But People generally can carry there own toothpaste because it's a smaller item. The others are generally large weighted item's. So people don't tend to take them with them. They are also a luxury item so it seems to fit well on making you feel pampered and looked after in the hotel.