This month, we’re focusing our energy into your medicine cabinet. From disposing of medication to selecting health and beauty products, there are plenty of ways that you can make your medicine cabinet, and the items in it, more planet friendly. While some of the solutions are obvious, such as stocking up on sustainable beauty products you need, some are areas that we often overlook. Today, we’re giving you five tips for something that we hope everybody does at least twice per day – brushing your teeth. You can have a pearly white smile and still be good to the world around you!
Tip Number One: Learn to Love Baking Soda
While buying eco-friendly toothpaste is always an option, why not consider using baking soda instead? All you need is a half cup of baking soda, a fourth of a cup of hydrogen peroxide and a fourth of a cup of warm water. If you’re not a fan of hydrogen peroxide on your teeth, just use the baking soda and water and you’ll get a perfectly clean mouth. While it’s true that you’re not adding extra topical fluoride, you’re still cleaning your teeth effectively and you’re doing it without excess chemicals, packaging or consumer media influence. One box of baking soda can easily last you for several months if you’re using it to make toothpaste.
Pay Attention to Water Usage
There are two simple and quick tricks that you can use when it comes to water that will make your oral hygiene more eco-friendly. The first is to be sure that you’re brushing your teeth using cold water rather than warm or hot water. The water temperature truly does not impact how clean your teeth are, and warm or hot water requires more energy. Secondly, don’t let the tap run while you’re brushing your teeth. Turn it on to wet your toothbrush and to rinse, but turn it off in between. It may seem like very little water, but added up over everybody who keeps the tap running while brushing their teeth, it’s a lot!
Research What You Really Need
We certainly don’t question your right to use whatever rinses, additional fluoride or mouth washes you feel make a true difference in your oral health. We do, however, encourage you to do the research behind those products. In some cases, you’re generating an additional plastic bottle and a chemically manufactured product and there’s no real clinical science (or even active ingredients) behind the product’s claims. We all want healthy teeth that last long into life. Just be sure that you’re not a victim of consumer marketing rather than a responsible lover of healthy teeth.
Think About Toothbrush Purchases
There are a number of ways that you can make your daily toothbrush more eco-friendly. You just need to find the one that you’ll be most comfortable with. There are plenty (and we mean plenty) of toothbrushes made and manufactured by eco-friendly companies. We try not to recommend products here, so we’ll just advise you to do your research and make sure that you find a truly planet-friendly solution and be wary of green-washing. However, even if you buy an eco-friendly toothbrush, you won’t be doing the planet any favors if you’re throwing it away and getting a new one every month. The American Dental Association recommends a new toothbrush every three-to-four months. However, if you practice good hygiene about cleaning and storing your toothbrush, you can make it last longer.
Finally, think about electric toothbrushes and do your research about whether the extra energy is really getting your teeth cleaner. In some cases, the answer is yes. In other cases, perhaps not so much.
Be a Responsible Recycler
Finally, chances are that your dental routine is more than just a toothbrush and toothpaste. You likely have mouthwash and possibly even travel-sizes of your dental health products. Recycle all of the containers that you can, and be sure to use all of the product in them. Yes, we know that getting that last ounce of toothpaste out can be challenging. But it’s worth it!
Healthy, happy smiles are essential to a healthy, happy you. But so is a healthy, happy planet. Follow our tips for eco-friendly teeth and we’ll all be … happy and healthy!
Did we miss a tip for happy, healthy and eco-friendly teeth? Share it with us. Comment below or tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram.
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Photo Credit: Dave Lanovaz via Flickr
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