Should You Try A Bamboo Toothbrush?

 

Introduction

Bamboo toothbrushes are very popular nowadays. You can easily find one on the shelves of your local store. It is advertised as ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘biodegradable’ with its bamboo construction. And, some even come in recycled paper packaging with eco-friendly ink print. The thing is, would you really be lowering your environmental impact by using a bamboo toothbrush? Will it effectively clean my teeth like a regular toothbrush? What are the dangers I need to look out for when using one? Let’s find out the answers to these questions regarding bamboo toothbrushes below.

Positives

First, let us start with the positives of using a bamboo toothbrush. Not all of the marketing about it is a sham.

Less Plastic, More Eco-Friendly

Bamboo toothbrushes have less or have no plastic depending on what you can find. Some even come in eco-friendly packaging. So, if your objective is to reduce your plastic waste, it does achieve that objective.

Sustainable

Bamboo belongs to the grass family and unlike trees, it is highly sustainable. It doesn’t require fertilizer to grow compared to trees. 

Negatives

The negatives about bamboo toothbrushes revolve around their natural and biodegradable properties. Plastic, as a material, is more durable and resistant to wear and tear. This is true in daily use compared to natural materials like bamboo. 

Prone to Fungus, Molds, and Bacteria

Wood is susceptible to fungus and mold growth and bamboo isn’t exempt. Natural bristles are also prone to bacteria when left moist after use. While this is also true with regular toothbrushes, bamboo and natural components are simply much more vulnerable. So, users must dry the bamboo toothbrush completely after use to prevent fungus, mold, and bacteria growth.

Probably Still Has Plastic

If you think that all bamboo toothbrushes are biodegradable and eco-friendly, you might want to take a closer look. Some bamboo toothbrushes sold today still use nylon bristles and nylon isn’t biodegradable. But, you’d have to remove the nylon bristles before composing the bamboo component of the toothbrush.

Degrades Faster

Natural bristles in 100% biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes degrade faster than nylon bristles. 

This means you’ll likely change the toothbrush more often. 

The increasing environmental awareness and call for a more sustainable form of living pushed bamboo toothbrushes to go mainstream. Organic and natural alternatives have become popular and widely used today as well. Shifting towards eco-friendly alternatives is always a good choice. You can help preserve the environment for the next generation and generations to come. 

There are plenty of alternative natural dental products available today aside from bamboo toothbrushes. You should also consider organic toothpaste to go with your eco-friendly toothbrush. Check out our Arak Sewak collection, you can find toothpaste and mouthwash for kids and adults.