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Plastic toothbrushes are the staple of many households, but recently people have been switching to the more environmentally friendly alternative.
And it’s not hard to see why plastic toothbrushes can take over 400 years to decompose; even then, they leave behind trace particles of microplastic.
It’s thought that 3.5 billion plastic toothbrushes are sold worldwide each year, which is a staggering amount of plastic.
Throughout your lifetime, you’ll use around 300 toothbrushes. And considering how long they take to degrade, there’s a good chance your first toothbrush will still be around when your great-great-great-grandchild brushes their teeth for the first time.
So, to help you cut down on your plastic waste, I’ve put a list together of the best bamboo toothbrushes. By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to know about bamboo toothbrushes. Hopefully, this will be the turning point for your plastic-free life.
Our Reviews Of The Best Bamboo Toothbrushes on the Market
Gaia Guy Natural Bristle Bamboo Toothbrush
BEST OVERALL
These 100% biodegradable toothbrushes come beautifully packaged, which was designed for people that want to leave zero waste.
No more do you have to feel guilty about chucking away your garbage. The company uses renewable resources to keep up with sustainability issues.
Gia Guy bamboo toothbrushes come in a pack of six and are vegan-friendly. They use sustainable bamboo material to make the handle and boar hair bristles. The boars are specially bred, which then gets boiled to ensure the bristles are perfectly straight.
The boar bristles are less abrasive than regular nylon bristles, so they don’t damage the enamel.
To assist you while traveling the toothbrush comes with a bamboo travel case. Overall this is a genuinely sustainable toothbrush. You can see the design was to leave zero impact on the planet.
Technical specifications
- Size: Boar
- Number In Package: 6
- BPA-Free: Yes
- Vegan-Friendly: Yes
- Biodegradable: Yes
- Warranty: 30-day guarantee
Greenzla Bamboo Toothbrush
RUNNER-UP
Each pack comes four beautifully designed charcoal-infused bristles; each natural bamboo toothbrush comes with a different number on leaves painted to the bamboo. The kit also includes 30 meters mint-infused charcoal and a bamboo travel case.
Each toothbrush is made using super soft bristles, which they claim to be made using activated charcoal bamboo fiber and nothing else.
But, I’ve yet to see anything that confirms nor denies this, so I’m pretty dubious on how well the soft bristles will biodegrade.
The whole dental kit is made with 100% natural organic material, making it safe for the environment and highly sustainable for the planet.
If you’re not happy with the product in any way, then Greenzla offers a money-back guarantee.
Technical specifications
- Bristles: Charcoal Bamboo Fiber
- Number In Package: 4
- Number In Package: 4
- BPA-Free: Yes
- Vegan-friendly: Yes
- Biodegradable: 95% Maybe 100% Depending On The Bristles
- Warranty: Money-Back Guarantee
Your Basics Shop Bamboo Toothbrush
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Their vegan-friendly toothbrush is made using a soft PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) bristle, which is comfortable and easy to use.
PBT is similar to PET plastic but more durable and lee water absorbent. But, for that reason, these bamboo toothbrushes are not 100% biodegradable.
It comes in a pack of four soft bristles toothbrushes, which help clean your teeth without damaging your teeth.
They use soft bamboo to make the handle. Each bamboo toothbrush comes with its own uniquely colored travel case, which is made with 30% wheat.
The cases come in Blue, Green, Pink, and Beige, which makes it great for sharing it between you and your family. Overall the toothbrush is about 95% biodegradable, which means you need to dispose of the bristles correctly.
Technical specifications
- Bristles: Polybutylene Terephthalate
- Number In Package: 4
- BPA-Free: Yes
- Vegan-friendly: Yes
- Biodegradable: 95% Bristles Do Not Biodegrade
- Warranty: 30-Day
Isshah Bamboo Charcoal-Infused Bristles
These stunning bamboo toothbrushes come in pack four; each toothbrush has an individual number to help you tell the difference between them.
Each box was designed to last for one person, one year; you could also opt to share them out with your family.
Isshah helps save the build-up of trash one bamboo toothbrush at a time. 95% of the product is entirely biodegradable from the handle to packaging. The bristles get made using a bamboo plastic, which is better for the environment, but still not biodegradable.
They use a smooth bamboo handle, which they claim will never splinter and stay water-resistant.
They also say the bamboo handles are healthier and more durable than plastic. You can also have kids packs and family packs to pick from; it gives you a few more options.
Technical specifications
- Bristles: Bamboo Plastic
- Number In Package: 4
- BPA-Free: Yes
- Vegan-friendly: Yes
- Biodegradable: 95% Bristles Do Not Biodegrade
- Warranty: Money-Back Guarantee
GoWoo 100% Natural Bamboo Toothbrush
GoWoo has specially designed there toothbrushes to give a 100% natural feel. They clean your teeth using super-soft bristles made using 62% castor oil 38% and nylon.
Because of the nylon, these bamboo toothbrushes are not 100% biodegradable.
The synthetic nylon 4 plastic bristles are designed to be resistant to microbial growth, making it healthier than a standard toothbrush.
The handle is durable and longlasting, to ensure it doesn’t blister or chip away after using the bamboo toothbrush.
They use biodegradable packaging, which holds four colored toothbrushes to help tell the difference between them. The bristles and bamboo handle have the colors yellow, blue, purple, and pink, which gives the toothbrush a little more glam.
Technical specifications
- Bristles: Castor Oil & Nylon
- Number In Package: 4
- BPA-Free: Yes
- Vegan-friendly: Yes
- Biodegradable: 95% Bristles Do Not Biodegrade
- Warranty: Non-specific time on money-back guarantees
Reusable Storage Bags FAQ
I understand switching from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo one can be a big decision. And with all the big choices in life, you probably have some questions about the subject. This is why I’m going to answer some of the most popular questions.
Check them out:
Do Dentists Recommend Bamboo Toothbrushes?
It’s a big question; dentists are often seen promoting and selling electric toothbrushes for years now. And for a good reason, they clean your teeth excellently and have built-in timers. But does that mean you can’t have clean teeth?
No, the main reason electric toothbrushes are promoted so heavily is because of the built-in timer. This ensures people spend 3 minutes cleaning their teeth. So what about bamboo toothbrushes? Well, as long as you’re cleaning your teeth correctly as well as flossing, then there should be no problems.
In fact, the Parkcrest Dental Group said, “Here at Parkcrest Dental Group, we don’t discriminate against brush choices. As long as you are brushing and flossing the recommended two times a day, we applaud you.”
So, yes, dentists may not specifically recommend bamboo toothbrushes, but they don’t say they don’t work. It all comes down to your own personal hygiene. If your brushing and flossing, you won’t have any problems switching from a plastic toothbrush to bamboo.
How Long Do Bamboo Toothbrushes Last?
We all know that plastic is nearly indestructible, which means they can last a long time before they show signs of wear. But, what you might not know is, bamboo toothbrushes can last just as long without having to change them.
They recommend changing your toothbrush every 2-3 months to ensure it remains fresh and continues to clean. This is precisely the same when it comes to their plastic cousin.
One thing that’s important to remember is to keep proper care of your toothbrush every time you use it. It ensures the bamboo toothbrush lasts the longest.
So, how do you look after your toothbrush?
- Brushing: Pressing too hard when you brush is the leading cause of broken bristles. When brushing your teeth, fight the urge to aggressively brush your teeth, instead use a soft circular motion. Your teeth, gums, and your toothbrush will thank you for it.
- Rinse Every time you use your brush it’s vital to remember to rinse it thoroughly afterward. This means removing any suds and food debris. The key to excellent oral hygiene is keeping away bacteria, which is why you must rinse.
- Dry: Bacteria loves damp and warm conditions, which makes your toothbrush the perfect breeding ground. Make sure you dry around the handles and the bristles before you think about storing it. It’s also ill-advised to use a toothbrush cover, it might seem like it helps keep the bacteria away, but it actually helps them grow.
- Storing: Correctly storing your toothbrush is very important; it helps prevent mold growing between the bristles. To store your toothbrush, it best to keep it in a dry environment and kept away from bacterial contaminants.
Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Better Than Plastic?
It’s another important question I just have to answer; in short, yes, bamboo toothbrushes are better than plastic for a few reasons.
Firstly when bamboo is used in its natural form (Like it is in bamboo toothbrushes), then it has a considerably lower carbon footprint when you compare it to plastic.
Not only that, but growing bamboo farms actually helps to lower the carbon emissions, which is a win-win when you think about it. And because bamboo grows so quickly, there’s no shortage, so need to worry about the poor little pandas starving.
The best thing about bamboo is, it’s actually biodegradable and has about the same environmental impact as a branch on the floor.
And when we look at the biodegradable definition, we can see this is a very beneficial feature!
You can even compost the toothbrush if you remove the bristles first, and even if it does end up in the trash, it’s still more environmentally friendly than plastic.
The problem with a plastic toothbrush is there made with polypropylene plastic, and nylon bristles, both of these materials are created from fossil fuels.
And we all know the problems fossil fuels are having on the planet. They also cant break down, which means your granddad’s first toothbrush is still out there somewhere today.
They think there are roughly 1 billion toothbrushes chucked away each year, most of them will never decompose.
Why Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Good?
Yes, not only can they clean your teeth to the same standard as a regular toothbrush, but they so much better for the environment.
By using bamboo, you choose to help the sustainability of the planet. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.
And because they can grow organically in very arid conditions you don’t need to use any:
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Irrigation
They also use BPA-free bristles, which are better for your health and the planet. Some even use boar hair, which means they’re fully compostable items.
Although they may be better for the environment, they still need disposing of correctly; this means removing the bristles (If there not made with boar hair) And respectably eliminating the bamboo. The best option is to compost when you can.
Conclusion
So, here we are the end of another installment, but before you leave me, there’re a few things I’d like you to take away. The first thing is bamboo is so much better for the environment, and although it might feel like a significant change, it really isn’t that bad.
Secondly, the fact that its bamboo doesn’t take away from the cleaning ability when you brush as some people would like you to think. As long as you brush twice a day and floss, your teeth will remain perfect.
And lastly, even though the bamboo handle is biodegradable, the nylon bristles are not. Make sure the bristles made with nylon are disposed of correctly.
That’s everything I have about the best bamboo toothbrushes if you have any questions, feel free to comment below and share. Or why not check out some of our reusable items.
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I'm a professional freediver that runs the Sakurra Mermaid School and I'm on a mission to help you create a more sustainable life style with small changes. You can (and should) learn more about me and my mission here.
