When considering sustainable living, oral care hardly comes to mind. But it’s a vital aspect of daily life that needs more attention than you’d admit.
Sometime in 2019, about 373 000 toothbrushes were found among the 262 tons of plastic debris accumulated at Cocos Islands.
Imagine how many such pollutants we have worldwide. It’s time to give sustainable oral care routines a nod to prevent more environmental harm.
This guide will spotlight the best oral hygiene regimen that aligns with an eco-friendly lifestyle. At Dental O So Gentle, a practice committed to both patient comfort and environmental responsibility, they’ve been advocating for eco-friendly oral care routines for years, so we have complied a list of benefits and tips to help you get started on your eco-friendly oral care routine. With our help, you can focus on nurturing your oral hygiene and the planet!
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Oral Care
Opting for sustainable options has perks– toothbrush litter will be significantly reduced! But there’s more:
Reducing Environmental Impact
It ensures you leave fewer ecological footprints. How? Sustainable oral care products like biodegradable floss limit plastic waste or chemical run-off. So, eco-friendly oral care equals less harm to the environment.
Promoting Biodiversity
Eco-friendly products also sustain the health of ecosystems and wildlife, thereby preserving biodiversity.
Conserving Resources
Sustainable oral hygiene encourages the mindful use of resources. Simple acts like turning the water off while brushing save water.
Healthier Ingredients
When you opt for eco-friendly products, you reduce the chemical load in your body. These products have non-toxic ingredients, making them the best bet for your health and the environment.
Step-by-Step Guide to a Greener Oral Hygiene
Ready for a step-by-step guide on creating more eco-friendly oral care:
1. Bamboo Toothbrushes
The composite plastic in plastic toothbrushes doesn’t break down. When you trash these toothbrushes, you probably forget about them. However, the plastics stay around for a long time, breaking down into microplastics that harm the environment.
What’s the solution?
Alternatively, opt for a bamboo toothbrush. They are compostable and easily eco-friendly for anyone who cares about the environment.
You may toss an old bamboo toothbrush in a composting bin or your trash since it’s biodegradable. However, not all bamboo toothbrushes are equal. Some have bio-based bristles made from boar bristles, while others aren’t entirely biodegradable and consist of nylon bristles.
If you use the latter, you must dispose of the handle separately from the bristle.
Furthermore, electric toothbrushes often have reusable handles. All you need to do is change the heads or opt for bamboo electric toothbrushes.
2. Rethinking Toothpaste
The disposal of toothpaste tubes is a great risk to the environment. It’s unsurprising because people dispose of about 1.5 million toothpaste tubes yearly. Made of mixed materials, these tubes are not recyclable. Hence, it contributes to pollution, which affects the environment in the long run.
To solve this, opt for products with more eco-friendly tubes. For instance, companies are adopting High-Density Polythene tubes that are much easier to recycle and require no extra recycling efforts.
Other options include recyclable plastics and aluminum. These options are entirely recyclable and offer a safer alternative to regular toothpaste tubes.
Finally, you can forgo those tubes entirely and choose chewable toothpaste tablets. These unconventional options come in sustainable containers. When you chew this tablet, it mixes with your saliva and creates foam in your mouth to wet your toothbrush bristles.
3. A Fresh Take on Flossing
Floss may seem small and inconsequential in the grand scheme. However, the quantity of floss used worldwide causes significant harmful waste. Besides environmental harm, the chemicals that enable the smooth glide of floss on your teeth may harm you health-wise.
So, not only are you protecting the environment, but you may be doing yourself some favor when you opt for safer flossing alternatives.
Instead of regular floss, try a water flosser that removes debris with pressurized water. Or reusable floss that limits the amount of waste you dispose of. Besides these two options, some floss is completely non-plastic. They are crafted from bio-based materials like silk or bamboo coasted in plant-based wax or beeswax. Most come in refillable glass jars, making it easy to get a refill spool when necessary.
The Right Disposal Matters: Eco-Friendly Product Lifecycle
Planning to adopt eco-friendly oral care products? Great! However, disposal is another essential part of sustainability. Because disposing of sustainable products wrongly may be counterproductive in the long run.
Composting Bamboo Toothbrushes
Like we said earlier, some bamboo toothbrush bristles are non-biodegradable. Hence, you must remove the bristles to ensure the bamboo decomposes and aids the nutrient cycle.
Recycling Glass Jars
Toothpaste tablets sometimes come in glass jars. Instead of disposing of them randomly, you can recycle or repurpose them for storing DIY oral care products. You may also store small household items in them.
Other Sustainable Oral Hygiene Practices
Beyond using the right products, your oral hygiene process can be more sustainable.
Water Conservation
You probably think the amount of water used while brushing is little. But you’d be shocked at how much water you may waste when you leave the water running while brushing. How about you turn off the tap while brushing and conserve water?
Or, better still, spit out excess toothpaste without rinsing your mouth. This will maximize the benefits of your toothpaste while saving water.
Energy Conservation
Manual toothbrushes save energy. But if you must use an electric one, use one with a solar-powered charger. And keep the gadget off, and the charger unplugged when not in use.
Supporting Sustainable Brands and Making Informed Choices
Overall, it all boils down to opting for sustainable brands. Try to support brands that have sustainability values similar to yours. It’s not just the products or ingredients; you should confirm that the sustainability extends to manufacturing, packaging, and shipping.
Look for Transparency and Certifications
Companies that prioritize sustainability often have certifications that affirm this fact. You may look for certifications like B Corp that hint at rigorous environmental and social performance standards.
Research and Choose Wisely
A little research would not hurt. Before you support a brand, constantly study and only opt for brands that use natural ingredients. How much effort do they dedicate to reducing their carbon footprint? Do they invest in biodegradable packaging? All these should influence your decisions and preferences.
Conclusion: The Ripple Effect of Eco-Friendly Choices
In the end, sustainability requires deliberate efforts from individuals. It’s easy to adopt a better eco-friendly oral regimen. However, this conscious decision doesn’t just affect your community; it keeps you healthy as well.
Remember that these simple practices may also influence individuals around you to make conscious efforts. Our daily choices can push us toward or veer us farther from a heather planet. But it all starts with you.