Brushing our teeth twice a day has been ingrained on us since we were little children, so much so, it’s become a part of our daily routine.This results in us not overthinking about the damage plastic toothbrushes are having on the environment.
Luckily in recent years, the war on plastic has started to open people’s eyes to the environmental nightmare.
It’s thought that over a billion brushes are chucked away in the USA alone. This a staggering amount of plastic being sent to the landfill each year.
So what can we do about this?
Our best option is to start using biodegradable toothbrushes; at least that way we’re not harming the environment any further.
To help you on this journey, I’m going to walk you through the process, from finding to buying and answering all you burning questions.
Contents
What To Look For When Buying A Biodegradable Toothbrush
Choosing a biodegradable toothbrush can be quite tricky at times, not only that, but it can feel a bit daunting switching from what you’re used to. So, to help you out, here are a few things I like to look out for before I make my purchase:
Price
As with anything I love to check out the price, it gives you a great idea of what to expect, and whether you’re getting your money’s worth. Try to judge the quantity with the price!
Quantity
With bamboo toothbrushes being more on the expensive side, you must get your money’s worth. Make sure you get at least four in the pack, so you know you have enough for the year.
Bristles
The biggest problem you’ll find with trying to purchase a genuinely biodegradable toothbrush is with the bristle. The very best are boar bristles, but most are still nylon.
BPA-Free
This is probably the best thing about making a switch to biodegradable toothbrushes; you have the chance to escape from the chemical BPA, which is known to cause fertility problems.
Handle Material
You’ll have no issues finding a biodegradable handle; most get made with wood or bamboo. Your best option is bamboo; it’s far more sustainable than wood.
Colors
If you’re buying them to share with your family or friends, it’s essential to have a way of distinguishing between them. Some toothbrushes will have colored bottoms to help you out.
Which Are The Best Biodegradable Toothbrushes?
As I mentioned earlier, I want to help you with your journey, which is why I’ve compiled this list of biodegradable toothbrushes to get you going:
Cottify Natural Boar Hair Toothbrush
This has to be the best option when looking for a biodegradable toothbrush.
Yes, it might be a little more expensive than other brands, but for a good reason, it’s 100% biodegradable.
It comes in a pack of four toothbrushes and with ten interdental brushes.
The natural toothbrushes have an angled head, which makes it easier to handle and adds to the comfort.
On the handle, it has laser printed animals, which makes it easier to know whos is whos.
The best part is the boar bristles (Pig hair), which makes this brush fully biodegradable.
With the boar bristles, you get to choose if you want them softer; turn them from medium to soft with just a little warm water. If you’re worried about how hygienic boar hair is, fear not, the bristles get boiled after harvesting, so they are very clean.
Key Features
- Boar hair bristles
- Four in a pack
- Ten interdental brushes
- Laser animal imprints (Frog, Duck, Cat, Giraffe)
- 100% biodegradable
- Self-standing
They’re a great set of toothbrushes, I was a little skeptical about the boar hair bristles, but in the end, they were outstanding. It was nice being able to change the softness of the bristles for the days were your gums are feeling a little bit more sensitive.
Pros
- Everything is biodegradable
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Four designs
Cons
- Bristles can fall out
Isshah Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrushes
These bamboo toothbrushes come in a pack of four, and with a few buying options.
You can opt for adults, kids, or family pack sizes.
The natural bamboo handle means it can break down in the wild without causing any damage to the environment.
You can tell the manufacture cares for the environment, none of the packagings contains plastic, and the cardboard is made from recycled craft paper.
The downside is the bristles are made with BPA-free nylon, making this toothbrush only 95% biodegradable.
On the plus side, the handle is water-resistant, which means it doesn’t rot or mold. It’s also a lot stronger than wood and never splinters. To make sure you get the best quality from the bamboo handle, it is heat-treated, and the best bit is the toothbrush vegan friendly.
Key Features
- Made with natural bamboo
- No plastic
- Pack of four
- Charcoal bristles
- Vegan friendly
- Recycled packaging
The pack is extremely well valued for what you get, yes it’s a shame about the nylon bristles, but overall the environmental toothbrush does very well. It was also great to see them take care of the packaging and making sure it’s sustainable.
Pros
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Smooth finish
- Durable handle
Cons
- Nylon bristles
KoolerThings Bamboo Toothbrushes
The handle gets made using 100% biodegradable bamboo, which is an all-natural and organic product.
The smooth edges mean the handle doesn’t splinter even after repeated use. And to add to the durability and water-resistants, the bamboo is heat treated.
The bristles are made using BPA-free nylon, which is carbon treated; this makes them anti-microbial and provides a teeth whitening boost.
The narrow and small head is excellent when trying to reach the back of your teeth and around the gum line.
Everything about these toothbrushes is friendly for the environment, there are no harmful toxins used, and the packaging is 100% recyclable.
In the box, you get two boxes of four making a total of eight toothbrushes, which are numbered to make it easier to identify your toothbrush.
Key Features
- Charcoal nylon bristles
- Pack of eight
- BPA-free
- Recycled packaging
- Bamboo handle
- Anti-microbial qualities
Overall the toothbrush was very efficient at cleaning your teeth and felt a lot better than plastic toothbrushes. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative that steps away from the classic plastic brush, then these are very easy to handle, even for your children.
Pros
- Efficient cleaning
- Feels nice in your hand
- Great value
Cons
- Splinters sometimes
- The pressure can make water squirt out
Daletu Wooden Toothbrushes
This biodegradable and reusable toothbrush is BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry about any harmful toxins.
The wooden handle gets made with a sustainable material, bamboo.
In the pack, you’ll receive ten toothbrushes; each one is individually wrapped to ensure they stay clean.
Don’t worry; the bamboo toothbrush doesn’t get wrapped plastic; each brush is packaged in recyclable cardboard.
All of this helps to reduce trash being sent to the landfill. If you’re looking to lower your plastic waste, this brush will certainly help with that.
They use an ergonomic design in all of there toothbrushes, which makes them easy to handle, while the small head makes it easier to reach the back of your mouth.
The bristles are made with nylon and are 1.1 inches in length, but remember they need cutting off before you discard them.
Key features
- Pack of 10
- Made from bamboo
- BPA-free
- Recyclable packaging
- 30-day free return policy
- Bristle length: 1.1 Inches
I liked these toothbrushes, the individual packed toothbrushes, and the fact you could recycle the material was perfect. The handle was very comfortable, and the medium-sized bristles made it perfect for any mouth. And with ten brushes in the pack, there is more than enough to go around.
Pros
- Affordable
- Pack of 10
- Comfortable
Cons
- Bristles fall off
Fcysy Natural Bamboo Toothbrush
The brushes are entirely BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your health.
The handle is made using a natural bamboo material, which means it can biodegrade.
Unfortunately, the bristles are made with nylon, so it doesn’t past the burn test.
Each brush has different color bristles and handles so you can quickly identify your toothbrush, and it protects your brush from moisture seeping into the wood.
And just in case you’re wondering, the paint used to paint the bamboo toothbrush is environmentally friendly.
You get two buying options due to there being different sizes for adults and children, making them perfect for a small family.
The bristles are made using innovative technology with a diameter of only 0.02 mm, which helps them get deep into the gums.
Key Features
- Pack of four
- Two sizes
- Made from bamboo
- BPA free
- Colored handles
- Spiral bristles
Overall they are a beautiful brush with a great design. The soft bristles were great around the gums, and the small diameter made it easy to get between the teeth. They’re also pretty eco-friendly, you won’t find any plastic other than the nylon bristles.
Pros
- Good price
- High-quality brush
- Great cleaning
Cons
- Some people found it uncomfortable
What Is The Most Eco-Friendly Toothbrush?
If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly toothbrush on the market, there can only be a couple of winners. And mine is Cottify, And this is for a few reasons. Firstly, the handle is made using bamboo, which makes it very sustainable and, more importantly, compostable.
The next reason is the bristles get made with boar hair, which is boiled and stiffened. The strands get carefully harvested from the animal to make biodegradable bristles.
Even the packaging is made with recyclable materials, which means you’re helping out the environment again.
How Long Does It Take For A Toothbrush To Decompose?
It depends on which type of toothbrush we’re are talking about, as we all know, plastic isn’t one of the fastest materials in the world to decompose.
No one knows how long it will take, but a rough estimation would be over 400 Years.
This can cause a considerable problem when you add it to the billions of toothbrushes that get chucked away every year. Luckily biodegradable toothbrushes take a lot less time.
A bamboo toothbrush with the bristles chopped off will biodegrade in the same amount of time it takes a stick to decompose.
As you can imagine, this is quite a lot quicker than 400 years.
Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Biodegradable?
It’s a sensible question to ask, and yes, the bamboo-part of the toothbrush is 100% biodegradable as long as it hasn’t been treated with any chemicals.
The problem occurs with the bristles; most of them are made with nylon, which makes it less than ideal for the biodegradability spectrum.
This is why I always opt for natural bristles like boar hair, they may be a little softer, but at least you know it’s better for the environment.
Do Dentists Recommend Bamboo Toothbrushes?
A dentist will always recommend an electric toothbrush, and it’s not hard to see why; they do clean your teeth more efficiently.
But this isn’t the main reason, with the rise of technology electric toothbrushes have timers in them, so you brush your teeth for the correct duration.
And this is what dentists are really looking for, so Bamboo toothbrushes are excellent, as long as you brush your teeth for the correct amount of time.
Conclusion
Making the switch to a biodegradable toothbrush might seem daunting, and I get it, chances are scary.
But by switching to biodegradable toothbrushes, we can help save the planet by stopping billions of pieces of plastic hitting our landfill systems and potentially the ocean.
Before you go, I want to make sure you remember a couple of things; most bamboo brushes use nylon bristles. But the most eco-friendly toothbrush bristles are made from boar hair.
Make sure you think about what the handle is made of and how it’s shaped, this way it won’t feel like as much of a change.
If you found this article interesting, then don’t forget to check out this article on reusable cotton rounds!