Before the creation of the toothbrush and toothpaste, people would clean the debris from their teeth with a rough cloth, twigs, salts, or chalk. Luckily, currently, a range of brushing options are available for tooth hygiene. The Bamboo Toothbrush has gained popularity worldwide due to its biodegradability. A bamboo toothbrush has a bamboo handle and, in some cases, nylon or other natural fibres equally as resilient as plastic.
Bamboo toothbrushes are not a novel product, but before you switch, learn more about why bamboo can be a great replacement to cut down on household plastic waste.
What is a Bamboo Toothbrush?
Bamboo toothbrushes are traditional manual toothbrushes with a similar appearance to those on retail shelves. The main distinction is that bamboo, which is more environmentally friendly than plastic, was used to make the long handle. A bamboo toothbrush includes long bristles and a handle to clean plaque and food particles from your teeth.
Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Better for the Environment?
Compared to plastic, bamboo has a smaller ecological impact since bamboo plants grow quickly, replacing the material that was used to make the toothbrush. If bamboo is used in its natural state, such as for toothbrush handles, it is also biodegradable.
Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Good for Teeth and Health?
Just like regular toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes have an impact on a person's teeth. The same equipment used to create plastic toothbrushes is used to create bamboo toothbrushes. The best aspect is that bamboo toothbrushes don't require you to put plastic in your mouth.
How to Dispose of a Bamboo Toothbrush?
The bristles, the handle, and the metal staples that hold the bristle to the handle make up a bamboo toothbrush. Each of these parts must be handled differently when disposing of your bamboo toothbrush.
For the Bamboo Handle: This can be recycled or composted to create something new (like arts or crafts and gardening labels). It should be safe to reintroduce it to the soil after six months if you compost it at your home. Alternatively, you might throw it in a public composting container.
For the Bristles: They can be recycled at your local recycling centre.
For the Staples: These are constructed from aluminium. Although these are extremely recyclable, they will degrade through environmental chemical reactions, just like any metal. When you separate the bristles from the handle, the metal staples will also come out.
Follow the Steps to Remove Bristles from a Bamboo Toothbrush:
- Using a pair of pliers, seize one bundle of the bristles.
- Continue doing this until the brush is free of all bristles.
- Pull the bristles up, removing one bunch at a time.
- Recycle or compost the handle.
Bamboo Toothbrushes are Better
Bamboo toothbrushes are ultimately beneficial to both the environment and human health. They aid in lowering plastic pollution and preventing potential plastic toxicity in our bodies.