Brush Without the Plastic: Zero-Waste Toothbrushes
Dentists tell us to change our toothbrush every three months, and that means billions of plastic toothbrushes are languishing on landfills. You can buy bamboo toothbrushes (don’t leave them in water, they will biodegrade away!)
But far better is a reusable toothbrush (with a stainless steel handle). You then just buy heads every three months, and keep the handle forever.
Barnaby’s Soft Grip Toothbrush has a weighted steel handle (so won’t slip in wet hands) and every few months, just unclick the head and replace with a new one.
Never use brands of toothpaste, gum or mouthwash sweetened with xylitol near pets (if they lick leftovers from around your mouth or sink, it could be fatal – there should be pack warnings).
Evermore Bamboo Toothbrush is a similar idea, designed with an upcycled cork gasket, so the brush won’t wobble, when you clean your teeth. The stainless steel head, means the toothbrush can stand on its own, without need for a toothbrush holder.
EcoSlurps Bamboo Toothbrushes (including for children)
Ecoslurps Bamboo Toothbrushes are sold in packs with medium strength charcoal bristles and easy-to-hold handles (each handle in the pack is a different colour). Sold in cardboard packaging. At end of use, just remove bristles with pliers and bin, then compost handles.
The children’s bamboo toothbrushes are the same, simply designed for little hands!
Only use fluoride toothpastes for children over 7, supervise while brushing and encourage them to spit out excess.
Why choose these bamboo toothbrushes?
Worldwide, over 3.5 billion plastic toothbrushes end up in landfills and oceans each year, where they break down into microplastics and harm ocean creatures.
Choosing zero waste toothbrushes not only is better for the earth. But sends a strong message to industry that we want more eco-friendly daily essentials, like dental care products.
What is bamboo?
Although not local, bamboo is the world’s fastest growing grass. And so it grows back really quickly (around 3 feet in 24 hours), after harvesting. Industrial bamboo is not the same as fresh bamboo shoots, eaten by pandas.
The only caveat with bamboo is that it does not like water. So don’t steep this toothbrush in a tumbler of water, ot it will biograde away!
Where to recycle old plastic toothbrushes
You can now recycle old plastic toothbrushes at any Boots branch (just ask staff for the used beauty/bathroom goods bin). Some communities have Terracycle bins, where you can also drop them off.
Communities and offices pay a one-off charge, then everyone can drop off unwanted goods to be made into industrial materials. It’s a great way to get all oral care plastic waste out of your town forever. The boxes also accept toothpaste tubes and floss containers, interdental brushes and electric toothbrush heads (that don’t contain RFID microchips).
Georganics Sonic Toothbrushes (for adults & children)
Georganics Sonic Toothbrush delivers 50,000 strokes per minute across 5 brushing modes to remove plaque and prevent tartar build-up. It has a built-in 2-minute timer and gives 5 weeks of battery life on a single charge.
Both versons for adults and children are sold in eco-friendly packaging. You can also buy replacement heads and chargers.
Avoid this brand’s gum near pets, due to toxic xylitol (if used, deposit in a gum drop bin to avoid littering). If used, do not compost the floss, as it could tangle (essential oils can harm compost creatures).
If using the sun protection, wash off your skin before letting pets kiss you due to zinc oxide.
To use, just spend 30 seconds on each right and left half of the lower and upper arch. The auto-stop timer assists you by pausing at 30 second intervals, indicating when to change sections. Your last selected setting is automatically saved, and set by the toothbrush for next use.
Use discount code AWIN15 for 15% discount. Avoid essential oils in toothpastes for pregnancy/nursing.
To use, just spend 30 seconds on each right and left half of the lower and upper arch. The auto-stop timer assists you by pausing at 30 second intervals, indicating when to change sections. Your last selected setting is automatically saved, and set by the toothbrush for next use.
GeoKids Sonic Toothbrush
The Geokids version is for children over 3 and again has a built-in 2 minute timer. The waterproof brush also includes 2 fun interchangeable heads, and is approved by FDA and CE for quality and safety.
Georganics Interdental Brushes (in cardboard packs)
Georganics Beechwood Interdental Brushes are the ideal alternative to dental floss, as they are vegan and won’t tangle. They actually work better than floss, as they can not just remove plaque and food debris from between teeth, but reach wider gaps where floss can’t.
They also help to prevent gum disease and decay in areas that your toothbrush misses. Sold in three sizes to fit your spaces precisely, whether you have teeth that are close together, or gappy teeth! If unsure, ask your dental hygenist.
How to use these interdental brushes
Replace each brush when it starts to splay, after around one week of use. A worn brush can’t clean as well and may irritate your gums. Each pack contains 6 brushes, so gives around 6 weeks of use.
They are also recommended for people who wear braces, or have bridges, implants or orthodontal appliances, but take care around wires and brackets to avoid damaging them.
Georganics Natural Beechwood Tongue Cleaner
Georganics Beechwood Tongue Scraper is ideal to clean the coating of your tongue without stimulatin the gag reflex, which a toothbrush would do. Cleaning your tongue helps to keep breath fresh and remove tartar and bacteria in the mouth. And also makes food taste nicer.
Made from FSC-certified beechwood, this is sold in plastic-free packaging. At end of use, just snap off and bin the head, and compost the handle.
To use, brush from the back to the tip of your tongue without applying much pressure, just gently scrap. Repeat until the tongue appears clean. Rinse the bristles well after each use, and replace every six months.
