Why you should opt for Bamboo and Beechwood toothbrushes

Why should you opt for Bamboo and Beechwood toothbrushes instead of the plastic ones when you’re looking next time for a new toothbrush.

We all know the basics of sustainability - reduce, reuse, and recycle. The three Rs are seemingly simple but when it comes to  application, we all wonder how. Contrary to popular opinion, it does not involve grand gestures of environmental activism. Charity begins at home. From separating your trash into recyclable and non-recyclable stuff to shifting to environment-friendly products, there are scores of steps you can take right at home to save the planet. 

One of the most crucial items in such cases are eco-friendly, bamboo toothbrushes or Beechwwod toothbrushes. These alternatives to plastic toothbrushes go a long way in reducing plastic waste generation globally. 

Previously, a certain kind of contraption with animal bone handles and rough bristles were used for brushing teeth. These were known as “chew-sticks” and were widely used all across the world, especially Europe. Very soon, the animal bone handle was replaced by celluloid and the bristles were made of Nylon. The first plastic toothbrush was sold in the year 1938. Since then, plastic toothbrushes have been extensively produced and used across all cultures. They are easy to manufacture at very little production costs, thus allowing for massive profit margins. However, there are a lot of drawbacks of plastic toothbrushes and the primary of them is it’s effects on the environment. Plastic toothbrushes have to be discarded after use for a month or two. In the UK itself, over 264 million toothbrushes are discarded every year while the statistic hits 1 billion alone in the US. The plastic in these brushes is not biodegradable and causes massive amounts of waste generation and pollution. 

What makes bamboo and beechwood toothbrushes friendlier for the planet? 

It is a fact that bamboo and beechwood is two of the most widely, fastest growing plants. They are also biodegradable which means that once you're through with using the toothbrush, you can just toss it in your compost lot. The naturally occurring anti-microbial properties on bamboo means that they do not require any pesticides or fertilizers to grow. They can grow very quickly, at a rate of over a yard per day. So there is no reason to run out of supply. The production does not require too much resources and the bamboo handles are built with minimal raw materials with eco-friendliness as the ulterior motive. The bamboo handles decompose very quickly if discarded properly. Its bristles are of Nylon 4 that can decompose more quickly than the chemical laden Nylon 6 used in plastic brushes. 

Plastic, however, is non-biodegradable and it may take over a thousand years to decompose. Celluloid basically breaks into microplastics that are non-biodegradable and essentially a leading cause of pollution in the beaches, rivers, and oceans.  These toothbrushes also need to be discarded quite frequently. That causes even more plastic waste generation that ultimately ends up in our water bodies, beaches, the polar areas posing a threat not just to aquatic life but terrestrial life as well. 

Bamboo and beechwood  also possess antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties. This means that certain elements of bamboo and beechwood can kill bacteria that penetrate its surface, unlike plastic. This provides long-lasting usage without harmful bacteria infecting the brush you put in your mouth every morning and night. Eco-friendly toothbrushes are easily more hygienic than plastic ones as the anti-microbial elements also protect your mouth from bacterial growth. They also last longer as they do not easily splinter. Plastic toothbrushes on the other hand are made using chemicals like polypropylene and polyethylene. There are multiple cases of seepage of such chemicals outside the surface of the toothbrush, ultimately causing harmful medical complications when they enter the bloodstream. 

In a nutshell..

In conclusion, we see that bamboo and beechwood toothbrushes eliminate production waste while giving you the same standard of cleaning as a plastic brush. They also look classy and unique in your hands. The aesthetic packaging adds to the eco-friendly vibe of the product. They are also safe to burn if you don’t own a compost heap as bamboo does not release any toxic gases like nitrogen oxides when burnt. Bamboo toothbrushes are a much healthier and environmentally conscious choice. With the kind of environmentally sustainable manufacturing process and packaging, composting, reusing, and recycling has never been simpler.