Every morning and evening we brush our teeth. We scrub our mouth bones to be fresh, clean, and healthy.

 

 

 

Until now this hygiene ritual never got much attention, except from our dentist, of course. We get a gold star at our biannual dental visit for brushing our teeth.

Yay — no cavities! Well, the truth is plastic toothbrushes are not very clean.

They are harming the planet. This is an EcoRoots spotlight on the plastic toothbrush.

 

Plastic pollution is reaching a critical mass!

It is a sad reality that nearly everything in our world contains some type of plastic. Single-use plastics are enemy number one. They can’t be recycled easily and often are tossed.

Plastic toothbrushes are in this category.

 

The contemporary toothbrush is made with different types of plastic that are harmful in the process of production and breakdown. Since the early 20^th century the toothbrush design has been made with plastic.

That means, every toothbrush ever created still exists somewhere on the planet. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is more than likely in the landfill or the ocean.

A bit of history about the toothbrush

Humans have been cleaning their teeth for a while.

In the 1400s, Chinese Emperor Hongzhi designed a tool very similar to what we call a toothbrush. He fashioned boar bristles into a bone or wood handle and viola!

This natural toothbrush design remained untouched for centuries. However, it was a luxury item for the elite.

 

Dental care making waves; the toothbrush goes mainstream.

Pearly whites were vital tools in the Civil War. Two opposing teeth were necessary for tearing open paper gunpowder cartridges, to load into the barrel of a gun.

By World War I the U.S military needed men with healthy teeth. Six teeth to chew! That is if the men wanted to eat tough dry rationed meat. Recruits were barely grinning and all gums. Many were sent home. So, by World War II the military made brushing teeth mandatory. Every soldier was bestowed a toothbrush.

 

And then there was plastic…

Public demand for the toothbrush soared. In tandem to this was the discovery of plastic. Chemists figured out that by mixing nitrocellulose and camphor (a fragrant oily substance) the result was a strong, glossy substance that could be easily molded.

In addition, the Dupont chemical company created a thin moldable fiber called nylon.

Synthetic handles and bristles came together to form the new plastic toothbrush. It was easily accessible and affordable for everyone.

Go here, to read this fascinating National Geographic article detailing the toothbrush in all its’ glory and demise.

 

It gets worse

Since the 1930’s the plastic in toothbrushes has evolved. However, none of the compounds used for plastic fabrication are something to celebrate.

Plastic is a polymer. Polymers are long flexible chains of chemicals that can be shaped under heat and pressure.

Burning fossil fuels plays a large role in plastic manufacturing.

Ethane from crude oil and propane from natural gas are broken down into Ethylene and Propylene. These then get polymerized (solidified) to form resins. As if we don’t have enough carbon woes.

Making plastic is adding to the problem. The entire process emits carbon dioxide and toxic pollutants into the air. Addiction to plastic is a problem.

 

And worse...

There is a recycling symbol on the back of plastics, containing a number.

That number is a code used to signify the chemical used in that piece of plastic.

It has been said that the amount of plastics created on this world could rebuild the Pyramids of Giza.

The most detrimental to our ecosystem are single-use plastics.

Toothbrushes are made with single-use plastics. The plastic toothbrush is not recyclable. Its’ small parts get stuck in the machinery.

So, they end up damaging natural habitats and endangering wildlife.

 

Here’s the math

The American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months.

On average, 1 person will replace 300 toothbrushes in their lifetime!

In the United States alone, 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are being chucked every year. To put that into perspective, if all these toothbrushes were lined up they would wrap around the world four times.

 

 

Plastic has long lifespan, longer than you or I.

Remember the one you had last summer with the squishy dot grip? It is still out there…somewhere.

 

But you are probably wondering what can I do?

Check out our natural toothbrush!

 

 

We don’t expect you to put the toothpaste back into the tube. Just like we can’t reverse the worlds’ dirty habit of producing single-use plastic toothbrushes. Starting today though, you can make a different choice.

Our vision at EcoRoots — a world without plastic.

We know there are better ways to make your daily habits more sustainable.

We don’t want you to stop brushing your teeth. Nobody wants that! Instead here is an option to replace your plastic toothbrush.

 

Plastic is out!

 

 

 

Try the EcoRoots Bamboo Sustainable Toothbrush.

Remember that original toothbrush design from the 1400’s it was made of natural materials. It is our aim to get back to those eco roots.

Our Bamboo brush is a natural toothbrush made from ethically sourced materials.

 

 

 

 

Get this:

It has a 100% biodegradable bamboo handle. We can’t talk enough about bamboo! It is anti-microbial, antifungal, and anti-bacterial.

It is the worlds fastest growing and naturally renewing resource. You won’t ever have to go back to that plastic brush again.

 

 

Also:

The bristles are BPA-Free, Non-Toxic and charcoal-infused.

Charcoal is natural, and amazing for scrubbing off unwanted stains and grime.

We use recyclable nylon in the bristles because the other alternative is pig hair bristles. We wanted to keep this product animal-friendly.

That means our Bamboo brush is vegan!

Here at EcoRoots, we pride ourselves on being a cruelty-free brand.

 

 

Even Better

The set has 4 toothbrushes exhibiting a minimalist design for the trendsetter in you.

Who said a natural toothbrush couldn’t be functional and decorative? Each handle has a unique geometric shape on making it easy to differentiate.

 

 

 

You are probably wondering how do I recycle the Bamboo Sustainable Toothbrush?

 

When your brush has lost life and you are ready to replace, here’s what you do:

1. First, you will need some pliers to pull out the bristles
2. Recycle those bristles!
3. Compost the handle and set it free into the earth
4. Buy a new Bamboo Sustainable Toothbrush
5. Recycle the packaging because we only use up-cyclable materials. They are completely plastic-free and biodegradable. The shipping peanuts are made of Cornstarch. They can be re-used, or you can soak them with water and compost.
6. Brush your teeth—being eco-friendly never felt so good!
7. Time for another, repeat steps 1-7

 

 

And now

Aren’t you ready to stop adding to the plastic pile?

Take a small step to save the environment.

The Bamboo Sustainable Toothbrush is just what you need to end the plastic cycle.

Every dollar you spend towards a sustainable product is a vote for the environment.

 

 

 

Don’t let fossil fuels make their way into your bathroom!

Added bonus, we donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Ocean Conservancy.

Save the planet and get that mouth squeaky clean. It is time to take action and curb the use of plastics.

Replace your plastic toothbrush with a natural toothbrush and your plastic floss with our corn floss or bamboo floss. Check out more dental hygiene products, like toothpaste, floss here.