How eco-friendly are bamboo toothbrushes really?
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With an estimated one billion plastic toothbrushes thrown away each year in the US, the interest in bamboo toothbrushes as an alternative to plastic has grown. The question is: are bamboo toothbrushes eco-friendly? The answer: yes and no.
There are over 1,000 types of bamboo. Bamboo is a sustainable crop, perhaps one of the most sustainable since bamboo regrows every three to five years due to a unique rhizome-dependent system compared to 20 years or more for other trees (bamboo is actually considered a grass).
Bamboo toothbrushes are recyclable. However, they are not as ecofriendly as advertised. Although the handles are made of bamboo, the bristles are usually made of Nylon 4 or Nylon 6 which are not recyclable. Nylon-6 never biodegrades. Nylon-4, claims to be biodegradable, but isn’t. More accurately it is biodegradable under the ‘right conditions’ which means it can biodegrade in artificially created laboratory conditions. The only recyclable bristles are made from animal hair. While used as bristles for centuries, it may not be considered “cruelty free or vegan” as advertised. To recycle a bamboo brush, the bristles must be manually removed. It takes 4 to 6 months for a bamboo toothbrush to biodegrade by composting (assuming it is cut into small pieces) and 5 – 10 years to break down if buried. The majority of bamboo is grown and manufactured in China. If you live outside of Asia, there will be carbon emissions associated with transport. The high demand for bamboo has resulted in much of China’s land is being re-planted as bamboo (mono-plantations) thus changing the ecosystems. Mono-plantations can have a negative effect on local ecosystems by decreasing biodiversity, soil health, and water quality. A report showed that China cut down significant amounts of natural forests for bamboo production.
Bamboo toothbrushes aren’t the most sustainable option for oral hygiene, according to researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the Eastman Dental Institute at University College London. Their study was the first to perform a lifecycle assessment (LCA) to measure the environmental consequences of a healthcare product.
Bamboo brushes are an example of greenwashing: taking advantage of those looking for sustainable options with unsustainable items. Ironically, they seem to always arrive in plastic packaging! Bamboo brushes require more care than plastic brushes. Bamboo is an organic material; therefore, it encourages the growth of mold faster than a plastic toothbrush. Care must be taken to dry the brush after use. Finally, bamboo brushes are considered disposable, adding to the “throw away” society stigma.
The bamboo toothbrush industry uses all the popular buzz words (all-natural, no harsh preservatives or chemicals, no plastic, zero-waste, paraben-free, vegan friendly, cruelty-free, sulfate-free) in their advertising. However, the use of stylish and popular adjectives does not make the concept true. Instead, a better option may be to consider biodegradable plastics. The ideal toothbrush is one which uses recyclable plastics in a continuous process. Plastic brushes which can be recycled don’t take up a lot of land, and they don’t need lots of water to grow. We need a system where plastic toothbrushes can be collected like batteries and then recycled into new products.
In summary, bamboo toothbrushes may be more eco-friendly than plastic brushes assuming they are recycled correctly (a generous assumption) and the effects on the ecosystem, carbon emissions and plastic packaging are ignored. Most would agree that being more eco-friendly is the right goal for the planet. As with all topics, I advocate investigating the whole issue and the facts rather than reliance on slick advertising and trendy hype as evidence of efficacy.
Bamboo toothbrushes reduce waste and are actually anti-microbial.
The most widely known and popular advantage, a bamboo-based toothbrush eliminates unnecessary waste while giving you the same quality of cleaning that a plastic brush can offer. With both the packaging and tossing of your toothbrush, recycling, reusing, or composting has never been easier. Here at Parkcrest Dental Group, we recommend changing your toothbrush every one to three months for optimum care. With a biodegradable toothbrush, you can feel better about reaching for that new brush.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Eco Friendly Bamboo Toothbrush.
Another advantage of bamboo is that it is naturally antimicrobial. There’s a reason cutting boards and kitchen utensils are made out of wood and bamboo. Unlike plastic, properties inside the bamboo kill bacteria that penetrate it’s surface, providing long-lasting protection against harmful bacteria.
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With the many advantages that come with choosing bamboo, it’s important to note some disadvantages. Parkcrest Dental Group encourages you, as a consumer, to evaluate all components of a product and make the best decision for you.
For instance, some businesses place their biodegradable product in plastic wrapping, so be careful when you’re shopping for a brush that you choose the company with the right intentions.
Some businesses also advertise Nylon-4 bristles, which have been shown to biodegrade under certain conditions. A closer look, however, will tell you that most are actually made with Nylon-6 bristles that are in fact not biodegradable. An easy way to check which bristle type you are purchasing is on the recycling instructions on the back of the packaging. If you need to remove the bristles before you can compost your handle, then they are probably Nylon-6 or made of some other plastic properties.
While they are customizable as far as colors, they are still your basic toothbrush. There are currently no frills or performance technology like rubber grips or tongue scrapers.
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It’s easy to see why environmentalists and people everywhere are choosing bamboo. The effectiveness of a bamboo toothbrush on your teeth is equal to those of typical plastic ones, with the added benefit of better environmental impact and antimicrobial properties. Here at Parkcrest Dental Group, we don’t discriminate against brush choices. As long as you are brushing and flossing the recommended two times a day, we applaud you.
Come see why Parkcrest Dental Group is the only place to go for a dentist in Springfield, MO. Call us at (417) 887- to schedule an appointment with Dr. Harrison for your orthodontic care today. Or visit us at 540 W. LaSalle St in Springfield for a tour of our office.
For more information, please visit Bamboo Travel Toothbrush.