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Posted on 1/15/2019 by Barbara Ketchum |
 Many people are concerned about the environment and are switching to eco-friendly, everyday products. Toothbrushes are no exception, and when given the option, those who want to use a product that is recyclable will take that choice over a regular toothbrush. Are Green Toothbrushes Available?The eco-friendly trend hasn't reached the dental industry yet. While there are some options in Europe and specific online sites offer environmentally friendly toothbrushes that claim to be 100% recyclable, the American Dental Association (ADA) hasn't endorsed any of them yet.We are conscious of the waste from plastic, which can be extremely damaging to the planet, and scientists are working hard to develop more eco-friendly dental products, but we're not there yet. What Materials Are Used to Make Green Toothbrushes?One of the most popular materials used to manufacture eco-friendly toothbrushes available on the market today is bamboo. This material is found in nature, is plant-based and fully recyclable. An attractive property that could benefit your teeth if you use a bamboo toothbrush is that it's antibacterial, which plastic isn't.Some of these recyclable products also include natural bristles which you can clip, before recycling the handle. Even the packaging is biodegradable when you purchase these eco-friendly products. They have thought of everything. We cannot endorse these as toothbrushes that do an adequate job in cleaning your teeth, however. Electric ToothbrushesIf you are concerned about throwing plastic away and adding to the levels of waste that already exists, you could opt for an electric toothbrush. While these are not considered eco-friendly or green toothbrushes, there is a lot less waste because you're not throwing away a large piece of plastic every three months. This is not a perfect solution, because in most cases, you still need to replace the plastic heads often.Dentistry has evolved with modern times, and at some point, we will be able to offer more eco-friendly toothbrushes. Many manufacturers already have green toothpaste and other products. |
