What To Look For In An Eco-Friendly Toothbrush

Environmentally Safe Toothbrush

Eco-friendly toothbrushes are advantageous for their ability to be good for the environment and help sustain your oral health. As today’s plastic toothbrushes continue to accumulate in the already over 50 million pounds of plastic found in our landfills and oceans, finding ways to replace our plastic sticks with bristles has started becoming easier over time. As more and more companies continue to divulge themselves into more sustainable care, the ever-evolving plastic problem we face with our environment continues to pervade everyone’s lives and affect people’s health overall.

So, what can those in the dental industry do about this huge problem? Encourage people to try out Eco-friendly toothbrushes! If you’re curious about how to look for the best eco-friendly toothbrush out there, then we’re here to help you explore how sustainable toothbrushes work, what to look for from an eco-friendly toothbrush, and give you some suggestions on how to get started living more sustainably. 

Finding The Perfect Sustainable Toothbrush For You

Despite the appeal of eco-friendly toothbrushes, plastic toothbrushes still remain one of the most recommended toothbrushes for patients due to their accordance with ADA standards for care. Despite how much they hurt our environment, plastic toothbrushes are affordable by many, easily reproducible, and follow the health standards that keep people’s teeth safe and clean. But because our environment constantly suffers under our plastic usage, plastic toothbrushes present bad news for the dental industry, and new innovations are needed to resolve this issue. 

But right now, one of the best ways to resolve this issue in your own life is by finding a sustainable toothbrush that works for you! If you’re looking to change your brushing habits and make your environment just a little bit cleaner, then here are some of our recommendations when searching for the best toothbrush for you:

  • Research The Materials: The sustainability industry likes to use products and labels that don’t mean they are good for the environment. In recent reports, the EPA has found that labels such as “bio-based” don’t always mean that the product will degrade naturally, even if it claims to do so. 
  • Choose APA Approved: Following ADA guidelines when searching for toothbrushes can help protect your oral health in the long run. The ADA has strict safety standards for dental practices and consumers.
  • Throw Away Responsibly: If you can’t find a sustainable toothbrush that works with your needs, then make sure to take the time out to recycle your plastic toothbrushes. Remember that plastic toothbrushes have a lifespan of three to four months, so only throw them away when necessary.
  • Find the Toothbrush For Your Lifestyle: If you have any chronic conditions or disabilities that prevent you from using sustainable toothbrushes, then electric toothbrushes can help. Always make sure to purchase toothbrushes that are both equitable for your lifestyle and your goals. 

Eco-friendly toothbrushes are an amazing concept but still have a long way to go before they can become mainstream. Solving the toothbrush problem also means solving the global waste problem, and that will take a lot of time and commitment to even conceive of a world without plastic. In the meantime, schedule that dentist appointment today to keep your teeth clean!