Essential Facts You Need to Know about Bamboo Toothbrush

With increasing environmental concerns, eco-friendly Australians choose biodegradable products like the bamboo toothbrush. A brush made from bamboo materials has been designed to be the world’s most effective plant-based toothbrush and have a lesser environmental impact.

A bamboo toothbrush handle is more environmentally friendly than a plastic one because it breaks down faster. If you use a bamboo toothbrush, you can compost it after you've used it.

Some people are switching to bamboo brushes to reduce their use of plastic at home. Learn whether a bamboo toothbrush is a healthy and eco-friendly choice.

Statistics on Plastic Waste

According to the Department for Environment and Energy, Australia produced 67 million tons of plastic waste last 2016-2017 alone. A lot of this waste was plastic which couldn't be recycled and was sent to landfills, adding to the enormous burden of plastic waste on Earth.

They're also nonbiodegradable and hard to recycle because they're made from small pieces of plastic moulded into one big piece. Therefore, every disposable plastic toothbrush that gets discarded — and that’d be 23 billion per year worldwide if we replaced them on average every three months — stays in our landfills and oceans, clogging them up and polluting them.

Unlike the synthetic, manufactured plastics and nylon toothbrushes, bamboo is a natural product that helps lessen plastic pollution since it comes directly from the bamboo plant. It’s a fast-growing, plant, and 100% biodegradable. And so, it’s become the sustainable material of toothbrush choice – for toothbrushes and much more.

Why should you use a bamboo toothbrush?

Bamboo is an entirely natural material, unlike plastic. Bamboo plants grow quickly and can be harvested within three to five years of planting. It requires very little water and doesn't require pesticides. It can grow in a variety of different environmental conditions. It clearly has a far lower carbon footprint to produce as a material.

Switching to a natural toothbrush made from bamboo is a simple way to cut down on the amount of disposable plastic waste you produce. Aside from the bamboo handles, they're very similar to traditional manual brushes and are just as effective as removing food particles and plaque.

A bamboo toothbrush handle is more environmentally friendly than a plastic one because it decomposes naturally. If you use a bamboo toothbrush, you can compost it after you've used it.

How to Choose a Bamboo Toothbrush?

As you would when choosing a regular plastic toothbrush, you need to select a bamboo toothbrush that fits your specific needs.

For example, choose one that fits comfortably in your teeth and has a handle that you can grip and manoeuvre easily. For children, it's especially important if you're buying a bamboo toothbrush designed for kids because their smaller jaws and limited dexterity mean they may not be able to use it properly.

Also, pay attention to the bristles. You should ideally use a soft nylon-broomed brush, but some bamboo brushes are made with coarse boar hair for the bristles. Some people might not tolerate these bristles well since they could cause tooth abrasion, sensitivity, and gum irritation.

To ensure that you're cleaning your teeth effectively, replace your bamboo toothbrush just as often as you would replace your plastic toothbrush. According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA), you should replace your toothbrush every three months or when it starts showing signs of wear and tear, like bent or splayed bristles.