Why Taking Care of Your Oral Health is So Important

Moving towards a zero waste lifestyle means thinking about all your daily routines in each room of your home. When it comes to a zero waste bathroom, for example, we need to think about how we can take care of our basic hygiene needs without costing the planet. How you take care of your teeth is one important thing to think about.

We all know how important it is to take care of our teeth. But how you are taking care of your teeth can have a big impact, not only on your dental health but also on your sustainability credentials. Taking care of your teeth in a truly eco-friendly and sustainable way really can make a big difference.

Brushing Your Teeth

We all know that we should be brushing our teeth at least twice a day. And commonly we are advised to renew our toothbrushes at least every three months. That means when we use plastic handled brushes – we are tossing around four a year. The plastic waste can really begin to build up over the course of a lifetime!

Our bamboo toothbrushes with charcoal infused nylon bristles are a great way to reduce your waste and your negative impact on our planet. Unlike the typical toothbrushes with plastic handles, bamboo toothbrush handles are biodegradable. The only part of your toothbrush that won't break down are the nylon bristles. That means there is a considerable reduction in plastic waste.

Bamboo toothbrushes that are 'retired' from toothbrushing duty can be reused within your home in a range of different ways. For example, they can come in handy for cleaning crevices and other hard-to-reach places around your home.

Once you're done, you can pull out the nylon bristles with a pair of pliers, then use the bamboo handle for other things. For example, you can use them as plant labels or garden markers, or you can make a slot in the base and use them as clothes pegs for line-drying clothes.... use your imagination and you will soon find that they can be put to good use.

Then, once you are finished with them, the bamboo can simply be popped into your composting system and over time, they will naturally rot down and add to a soil amender that can be used in your garden or for potted plants.

Flossing

Those who take good care of their teeth know that brushing alone is not always enough. Flossing is another key part of good dental hygiene. Going that extra mile for a gleaming smile might be good for your social life. But is it good for the environment?

Unfortunately, most floss on the market is made from nylon. Even more eco-friendly silk floss is not as ethical or sustainable as it may at first appear. When you think about how much floss is used and thrown away each year, it is easy to see why change is needed.

Our vegan dental floss is made from corn, with a light spearmint flavoring and Candelilla wax coating. Choosing this floss is another great way to move towards zero waste. This is fully natural and biodegradable – this too can simply be added to your composting system.

And the packaging is reusable – a small glass jar that can easily be refilled with one of our refill packs. So you can also avoid bringing all that unnecessary plastic packaging into your home.

Tooth Powder or Toothpaste

Once you have equipped yourself with more eco-friendly alternatives to the regular toothbrush and floss, you may also want to think about what tooth powder or tooth paste you use. There are a range of more eco-friendly, natural options out there to choose from. One interesting thing to consider is that you might even be able to make your own. For example, you can use charcoal, plant-materials, and other entirely natural ingredients – potentially even ingredients you source or grow in your very own garden.

Taking care of your teeth is so important. But how you do so is not only important for the sake of your health and for your appearance. It is also important for the environment. By making more sustainable tooth care choices, you can move closer to a truly ethical, eco-friendly zero waste lifestyle.