Why make the switch to a Bamboo Toothbrush

Why make the switch to a Bamboo Toothbrush

When you head to your local shop or browse dental care online, do you find yourself searching for the cheapest multi-pack toothbrushes? It’s an honest mistake to make - it’s ingrained deep within us to usually grab the most bog standard toothbrush from large brands such as Colgate or Oral B, or their knock-off cousins found in Aldi and Lidl.

However, if you’re reading this, you are probably at a point in your life where you are reconsidering the plastic products that you regularly buy. With regards to toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes are becoming an increasingly more popular alternative to plastic toothbrushes. 

Whilst this is no new invention (in fact the first record of bamboo being used to make toothbrushes goes as far back as the 8th century 😲), more and more people are turning to this alternative. 

‘Why should I make the switch to a bamboo toothbrush’, we hear you ask? Well, here are a few reasons why. 

 

Is using a bamboo toothbrush better than plastic toothbrushes? 

The answer is yes. Switching to a bamboo toothbrush as an alternative to plastic ones is a simple way to reduce your use of plastic at home. Plastic toothbrushes, just like more single-use plastic products you may have in your home like shampoo bottles or drinking straws, are extremely difficult to recycle and don’t break down in the environment. 

As mentioned in our last blog, plastic isn’t a material that can easily, or ever decompose. Basically, plastic is the bad guy, so making the switch from plastic to bamboo toothbrushes means that you are already reducing your plastic intake and usage in your home. 

Usually with bamboo toothbrushes, you will find that the toothbrush handles are biodegradable, yet most of them still have nylon bristles. 

Kind of defeats the point of an environmentally-friendly toothbrush, don’t you think? 

This is where alternative materials, such as castor oil, can be used to create toothbrush heads bristles like that of Bamboo Barter’s toothbrushes.

Unlike plastic-petroleum bristles made from crude oil like fossil fuels that harm the environment, castor oil made bristles do not harm the environment. As opposed to plastic bristles that become toxic to ground water and soil, plant-based castor-oil bristles break down into nutrients that nourish the soil.

 

What are the benefits of bamboo toothbrushes?

Aside from the obvious ecological benefits of using bamboo toothbrushes, there are also many other ways that these eco-friendly toothbrushes can benefit your life. 

Like the fact that bamboo has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, reducing the fear of harmful bacteria growing on your toothbrush. All you need to do is ensure that you clean and dry your toothbrush after each use, which we show you how to do in our latest Instagram reel:

 
 

Not only that, but bamboo toothbrushes actually deliver the same quality of cleaning capabilities for your teeth and gums as a plastic toothbrush does. It all comes down to the quality of the toothbrush to judge whether it will be of benefit to you. 

When looking for a new bamboo toothbrush, look at the:

  • Toothbrush head to ensure it is for an adult or made for children (usually a smaller head is recommended for both adults and children)
  • Shape of the handle (more so for personal preference)
  • Softness of the bristles - nobody wants to be brushing their teeth and gums with something that feels like a combination of rocks and sandpaper. 

Last but certainly not least, bamboo toothbrushes last just as long as plastic toothbrushes as well!

Bamboo toothbrushes are just as durable as plastic toothbrushes, in which dentists recommend that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months (or if there is visible damage to the bristles and you find your teeth are not as squeaky clean as they usually are). 

This just so happens to ✨perfectly✨ align timing wise with our plantable seeds in Bamboo Barter’s bamboo toothbrushes. As you can read in our FAQs, it takes approximately 90 days for our seeds to reach maturity, acting as a nice reminder that once your seeds have sprouted, it’s time to replace your toothbrush! 

Who doesn’t love a friendly reminder? 

Alternatively, you can buy the Bamboo Barter Pack of 4 Bamboo Toothbrushes, providing you with a year’s supply of toothbrushes and plantable seeds!


Ditch Plastics, Move to Bamboo

With a bamboo toothbrush, you are helping to reduce plastic waste, whilst also maintaining your dental care. An added bonus is that with a bamboo toothbrush, like with Bamboo Barter, the toothbrush handle can be composted at home or through your garden waste bin. 

So if you’re thinking about whether or not to make the switch to a bamboo toothbrush, the answer is yes: now is the time to do so. 

With the world’s plastic pollution rate on track to double by 2060, it’s now needed more than ever for people to make sustainable changes to their lifestyle, acting as the world’s advocates for a greener, more sustainable future that features far less plastic than predicted. 

Let’s start doing more good for the planet. 

Do you want some help in taking the next step? Shop the Bamboo Barter toothbrush range - accredited by ethy.