Bamboo toothbrushes have been popping up in shops all over the place. But are they any safer than traditional toothbrushes?
Keep reading to find out how switching to bamboo toothbrushes can help save the day.
The Problem Plastic Toothbrushes Pose
Did you know that over 3.5 million plastic toothbrushes are sold every year, which is causing quite a problem!
The thing is:
Traditional toothbrushes aren’t made with materials that are suitable for chucking away. This is because the materials can’t biodegrade.
Scientists think it will take over 400 years before plastic products start to biodegrade. With this in mind, that means your first ever toothbrush is likely to be around today.
When you combine this fact with how many toothbrushes are sold each year, it feels slightly worrying. And this gets more detrimental when you talk about microplastics.
Microplastic is causing more harm than people think, and what makes it worse is most of the time, you can’t see the damage it’s causing until it’s too late.
Microplastic is formed when plastic is left out in the elements. Over a long period, the plastic will start to disintegrate into smaller pieces.
This is where the problem starts:
These tiny pieces of plastic can very easily leach into the soil and make its way into anything that grows in the area.
It doesn’t stop there:
If it rains, all these microplastic pieces can be picked up and washed away into the sea. Because of this, sea life has been dying all over the world due to plastic being in their stomach.
You see, sea life can easily mistake plastic for food; once they swallow the plastic, they either choke to death or die of starvation. This is because their stomach acid can not digest the plastic.
And it’s not just marine life that’s suffering; it’s humans too. The thing is, you are what you eat, so every time you eat a fish, plant, or drink water that has plastic inside, then you’re also infecting yourself.
This is causing enormous problems for peoples health, as you can see listed below:
- Particle toxicity
- Oxidative stress
These are just a few things that can be caused by ingesting microplastic; there’s a lot more, so it’s something to be concerned about.
Is Bamboo A Good Alternative To Plastic?
Because people are starting to understand the harm plastic is causing the environment, it has led to people looking for new materials to replace it.
But, is bamboo an excellent alternative to plastic or not?
As it turns out, bamboo is an excellent alternative to plastic, and this can be put down to four main reasons:
It’s Better For The Environment
Bamboo can absorb carbon dioxide two times better than trees, and what makes it even better is it can generate 30% more oxygen than plants and trees.
This makes bamboo farms excellent for the environment. But there’s more; because bamboo has such strong roots, it can help stabilize soil and prevent landslides.
Bamboo Grows Quickly
It’s actually classed as the quickest-growing plant in the world. In perfect conditions, bamboo has been known to grow up to 3 feet in 24 hours.
This makes bamboo far more sustainable than any other plant. But the best thing about bamboo is you don’t need to use pesticides and very little water.
Unlike many materials, bamboo has natural antibacterial qualities so the wood doesn’t need to be put through any special treatments.
This is because of a substance called Bamboo Kun found within its fiber. Because of this, bamboo makes the perfect material for kitchen/hygiene items. Just take a look at these eco-friendly toothbrushes and see what you think.
Strong And Durable
Bamboo is one of the strongest and most durable natural materials. So it shouldn’t be a surprise it’s used to build homes, bicycles, and much more.
This has earnt bamboo the nickname “Green Steel” because of its strength. The best thing is, it’s super light and a lot easier to carry around.
Okay, by now, you should be pretty sold that using bamboo is a lot better for the environment than plastic.
So if you’re ready to switch from traditional toothbrushes, then keep reading. Below are some of the best bamboo toothbrush brands on the market:
These are one of the top-performing bamboo toothbrush brands due to the bristles also being biodegradable. The bristles are made with boar hair, which is naturally harvested in a vegan-friendly manner.
The bristles are then boiled for hygiene and to stiffen the hair. The pack comes with six brushes in a pack that will last a person one and a half years.
The pack also includes a travel case, so your toothbrushes don’t pick up dirt while traveling.
With this pack, you only get a pack of four brushes, which will last one person a year before they need replacing. They come packaged in eco-friendly cardboard, which can be composted to leave no trace.
The bristles are made with charcoal-infused nylon, which gives the bristles antibacterial properties. The problem is they can’t be disposed of in the same as the handle; you’ll have to chop them off and find another way.
It’s another pack of four bamboo toothbrushes. The bottom of the handles is colored to help you tell the difference between the toothbrushes.
This makes them the perfect brushes for sharing between your family. The bristles are made with 62% castor oil and 38% nylon, which means they aren’t 100% biodegradable.
Make sure you dispose of the handle and the bristles separately.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the problems with plastic and shown you why you need to make the switch.
Remember, plastic will never degrade, which means the plastic you use today will still be visible in over 400 years.
Help the planet and yourself by switching to biodegradable toothbrushes.