Brush with the Planet: 5 Reasons Why Wooden Toothbrushes Are Better for You and the Earth

Brush with the Planet: 5 Reasons Why Wooden Toothbrushes Are Better for You and the Earth

Do you want to contribute your bit to making the world a more sustainable place? Switch to wooden toothbrushes. With so much going on in your mind, you never realised you were using plastic toothbrushes. Because of the widespread use of plastic in our daily lives, eliminating it in any form has become increasingly important. So why not get rid of plastic toothbrushes? Wooden toothbrushes made from natural, renewable, and sustainable materials are also biodegradable and compostable, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic toothbrushes.

Why do you think plastic toothbrushes became so prevalent?

With the introduction of nylon-bristled toothbrushes, more and more people felt comfortable practising good dental hygiene. The softer bristles made them more family-friendly by causing less damage to the gums of younger users still learning proper brushing techniques.

Furthermore, plastic toothbrushes were much easier and faster to mass-produce, making them more widely available to the general public. This meant that more people could take better care of their teeth, and maintaining a healthy smile would be less expensive. Plastic toothbrushes are made from melted plastic injected into molds. Imagine how much plastic needs to be disposed of.



Benefits of Using Wooden Toothbrushes for Oral Hygiene

Here are why you should consider switching to wooden toothbrushes and making them part of your daily routine.

1. Wooden toothbrushes are more environmentally friendly.

An increasing number of consumers are looking to switch to wooden toothbrushes as the bamboo alternatives are far more environmentally friendly than the plastic ones we have used. Global plastic consumption has become a primary concern for a variety of reasons. It is estimated that up to 58 million tonnes of plastic waste will enter the ocean each year. Plastic production also produces toxic gases such as polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, and dioxins. These toxins can harm all living things, including impairing the human immune system and exacerbating asthmatic symptoms.

Bamboo toothbrush production is considered environmentally friendly because it does not involve the combustion of gases, crude oil, and/or coal, as plastic production does. They also do not need large, expensive machinery to cut and collect the bamboo used for wooden toothbrushes, which must be hand-cut to preserve the bamboo forests.

Wooden toothbrushes are also environmentally friendly because many can be recycled once they have completed their lifecycle. 

2. Wooden Toothbrush is Equally Effective as Traditional Plastic Brushes

Are wooden toothbrushes as effective as plastic toothbrushes? With the removal of nylon bristles from many wooden toothbrushes, consumers are curious about the effectiveness of the alternative bristles in cleaning their teeth.

Major toothbrush retailers and dental professionals agree these bristles are as effective as their traditional nylon counterparts. When appropriately used, the bamboo handles of wooden toothbrushes hold up well.

3. Wooden Toothbrushes last as long as traditional ones

Because many wooden toothbrushes are considered natural products, many customers wonder how long they will last once used. The good news is that when used properly, wooden toothbrushes last as long as traditional plastic toothbrushes.

If you want to get the most out of your wooden toothbrush, make sure you are following proper brushing techniques such as:

  •   For outside surfaces, place your toothbrush against the gum line at a 45-degree angle and move the toothbrush gently back and forth in short strokes.
  •   For the inside surfaces, tilt your brush vertically and make up-and-down strokes.

It's also important to remember to replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

 

4. Wooden Toothbrushes are as Safe and Hygienic as Traditional ones

A zero-waste wooden toothbrush is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic toothbrushes, aligning with sustainable living practices and minimising environmental impact. Wooden toothbrushes are perfectly safe and clean. The handle is usually made of bamboo or other sustainably sourced wood that is biodegradable and compostable. Bamboo is popular due to its natural antimicrobial properties and rapid growth, making it an environmentally sustainable resource.

Bamboo's natural antimicrobial properties are one of the reasons why millions of people are replacing traditional plastic toothbrushes with bamboo brushes. Bamboo toothbrushes are less prone to bacterial growth than regular plastic toothbrushes. However, bamboo is a natural wood product that must be adequately maintained; otherwise, the material will degrade much faster.


To Summarise

Switching to a zero-waste wooden toothbrush is a simple but effective way to make daily tasks more sustainable. Take extra precautions when storing your wooden toothbrush; it will be an excellent step for those looking to reduce their environmental impact and promote a healthier planet.

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