Sustainable Swaps for a Healthy Smile
3.4 Billion. 1 Billion. 50 Million.
If we were playing Jeopardy the questions would be:
How many Toothbrushes are sold worldwide each year?
How many toothbrushes are thrown away each year in the US?
How many pounds of toothbrush waste winds up in landfills each year?
It’s clear that solving the problem associated with dental waste is no trivial pursuit.
Just ask Pavan Raj Gowda, the founder of Green Kids Now, Inc. Pavan is on a mission to raise awareness of plastic toothbrush pollution and educate consumers on alternative options. He is encouraging people to swap out their plastic toothbrushes for biodegradable options with charcoal bristles. You can read more about his organization, take a pledge to switch to a biodegradable toothbrush, and sign his change.org petition.
For those of you who have traditional toothbrushes and want to do better, here are some recommendations:
- Reuse your old toothbrush around the house for other purposes like cleaning tight spaces.
- Utilize the Tom’s of Maine Natural Care Recycling Program which is working in partnership with TerraCycle to collect and recycle products that can’t be put into your local recycling bin.
And by the way, this recycling program is for more than just toothbrushes. Here are some of the other items that you can dispose of more sustainably with Tom’s and TerraCycle:
- Mouthwash bottles and caps
- Deodorant containers and caps
- Toothpaste tubes and caps
- Soap packaging
- Floss containers
And they don’t have to be a Tom’s of Maine product! Thank you Tom’s for supporting a free and simple way to support a more circular economy.
Beyond the impact of plastics on our environment, many dental products also contain ingredients that may be harmful or cause a reaction in certain individuals. A study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology found that the use of certain types of dental floss with flourine resulted in higher levels of a PFAS chemical in their blood than in those who did not use floss with fluorine.
What we bring into our homes and use on a daily basis matters.
So what are we to do to keep our dental routines sustainable, healthy and in line with our conscience?
Consider One of These Softly Swaps for a More Sustainable Smile
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Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush with Travel Case
This toothbrush comes with a No Bamboo-Zling promise.
Made from certified USDA Organic materials and is backed by a 365 day guarantee.
Check this brand out on Amazon and get a 10% discount if you purchase 2 or more SmartLifEco products. They have a full line of dental care products including biodegradable dental floss picks for adults and kids.
They also pledge to plant 1 tree for each product sold.
Davids Natural Whitening Toothpaste
from Davids
Wow. Davids has really knocked it out of the park with this option.
- EWG Verified
- No Animal Testing
- Proudly Made in America
- SLS Free
- 98% of ingredients are sourced from the USA
- Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
- packaged in a recyclable metal tube
And it comes with a nifty tube roller just like my mom used to make us use to get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.
Lumineux Teeth Whitening Mouthwash
from Oral Essentials
Who knew that essential oils could whiten just was well as harsh chemicals?
Certified by MadeSafe to be free of known toxic chemicals, this SWAP is great for sensitive teeth, BPA Free, and certified vegan. Clinically proven through double blind studies to maintain enamel health and whiten as well as other brands.
Want to find more sustainable swaps when you are shopping on Amazon? Add Softly to Chrome — It’s Free!
