Believe it or not, humans discard an estimated 3.5 billion toothbrushes worldwide every year. Like other plastic pollutants, discarded toothbrushes end up in landfills and waterways, adding to the world’s overall plastic burden. But thankfully, conscientious consumers can choose a simple alternative for their home hygiene needs – the bamboo toothbrush.
The Plastic Problem.
Plastic toothbrushes offer a cheap, waterproof, antimicrobial tool for home dental care. But plastic pollution poses a serious problem to the environment because it isn’t easily recyclable and doesn’t biodegrade over time. Instead, plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. Microplastics now contaminate every corner of Earth, from the top of Mount Everest to the deepest oceanic trenches. Despite its long-lasting nature, plastic can only be recycled under specific circumstances, which is why only 8 percent of the plastic waste in the US gets recycled.
The Dental Dilemma.
On the other hand, individuals need affordable toothbrushes to support their overall well-being. In addition to freshening breath and brightening smiles, brushing saves lives by preventing infection, prolonging tooth retention, and reducing dental decay. But dentists recommend replacing toothbrushes every 3-4 months because they lose their effectiveness and harbour microorganisms over time. So how can we have cleaner teeth and a clean planet too?
Enter the bamboo toothbrush.
Effective, biodegradable, and adorably bohemian, bamboo toothbrushes are smile-approved and eco-friendly. Bamboo offers a durable, inexpensive, renewable material that’s already found in sustainable products from toilet paper to t-shirts – and now biodegradable toothbrushes.
Why Bamboo?
For one thing, many varieties of bamboo grow faster than most wood, which makes bamboo affordable and can help preserve natural wildlife habitats. Secondly, heat-treating allows bamboo to repel water, preserving the material and inhibiting microbial growth. And best of all, bamboo breaks down quickly, making it compostable and sustainable.
About the Bristles.
Bamboo toothbrushes use natural, biodegradable bamboo for the handle and head, but what about the bristles? Various products differ here, but a few brands use boar hair bristles. These brushes may be too abrasive for some folks, aren’t vegan, and require additional care to inhibit bacterial growth, but they do make for a completely natural product. Most varieties, however, use plastic nylon bristles. This small amount of plastic can be removed from the compostable bamboo head and recycled.
Regardless of bristle type, all bamboo toothbrushes reduce plastic use by at least 90% compared to traditional toothbrushes, making bamboo brushes an effective, affordable, and practical way live a more sustainable life.
