Contents:

• Alternatives to plastic toothbrushes
• Ecological toothpastes

Regular and proper brushing is a guarantee for a beautiful smile and overall body health. To ensure adequate oral hygiene, we should brush our teeth at least morning and evening and complement our routine care with rinsing and flossing. Today, most drugstore toothpastes contain microplastics, and toothbrushes and other accessories are typically made of plastic. So, how can you care for your teeth in a more environmentally friendly way and in line with the zero-waste principle? What alternatives are there to "regular" toothpastes and plastic brushes?

Alternatives to plastic toothbrushes

Plastic toothbrushes often contain synthetic polymers that are harmful to health and the environment, as well as bisphenol A, which is commonly used in plastic manufacturing and is a form of synthetic estrogen whose presence can have negative effects on the human body. So, what can you replace plastic brushes with? Natural alternatives include:

• Bamboo toothbrushes – their handles are made of biodegradable bamboo, while the bristles are usually made of carbon fiber or bionylon. Their added advantage is that they are packaged in recycled paper boxes instead of plastic.
• Miswak ( meswak stick) – this twig made from branches of the arrack tree from the Arabian Peninsula is definitely a more exotic alternative to a plastic brush. The arack tree has whitening and antibacterial properties. The tip of this twig, after soaking in water, can be used like a regular toothbrush, without the need for toothpaste or other tooth cleaning agents. The ingredients contained in the twig, such as silica, tannin, and vitamin C, replace all pastes. The miswak twig perfectly cleans tooth enamel and the spaces between teeth, and its fiber also has a whitening effect.

Ecological toothpastes

Popular toothpastes from drugstores and supermarkets contain microplastics that are released into the environment when rinsed off with water. Furthermore, they are packaged in plastic containers that cannot be recycled. Therefore, all types of toothpastes, powders, and tablets for brushing teeth that are packaged in metal containers or glass jars are an ecological alternative:

• Fluoride-free toothpaste in a glass jar – naturally whitening toothpaste with sea buckthorn, mint oil, and sage extract. Cleanses, whitens tooth enamel, and protects it from damage.
• Tooth powder – a traditional, 100% natural and effective oral care product with a simple composition,
• Toothpaste tablets – usually available in jars or sachets. To use, place a single tablet in the mouth and chew, then brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush and rinse your mouth.

To ensure our brushing is 100% ecological, we must remember to turn off the water while brushing. If we brush our teeth for the recommended time, i.e., three minutes, and forget to turn off the tap during that time, we can use up to 19 liters of water in one go—and all completely unnecessarily!