Reviews and more!! : The Benefits of Bamboo Toothbrushes

The Benefits of Bamboo Toothbrushes

Are you looking to take your oral routine to new, more sustainable heights?

Purchasing a bamboo toothbrush could be just what the doctor–or should we say dentist–ordered. The bamboo toothbrush is becoming increasingly popular these days for eco-minded consumers who want to “green” their lifestyle in every way possible. Unlike the plastic toothbrush, which is the most popular type of toothbrush on the market today, bamboo toothbrushes are derived from natural materials, specifically the fast-growing bamboo plant. Aside from being something that’s sustainably harvested, bamboo toothbrushes are also 100 percent biodegradable. In other words, they don’t just sit in a landfill for hundreds of years as a plastic toothbrush would.

Estimated Read Time: 4 Minutes

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at bamboo toothbrushes, how they’re made, the benefits they hold over plastic toothbrushes, and more.

How Bamboo Toothbrushes Are Made

Bamboo toothbrushes are comprised of a bamboo handle, nylon bristles, and charcoal. The first step in creating a bamboo toothbrush is harvesting the bamboo plant for the toothbrush handle. The handle is made solely of bamboo. The bristles are typically made of nylon and infused with charcoal to provide an extra assist in teeth cleaning. Nylon and charcoal are mixed together in order to create the bristles and then extruded before being installed on the bamboo handle.

Bamboo or Plastic Toothbrush: What’s Better?

If you’re asking yourself this question specifically from a sustainability manner (assuming that both types of toothbrushes can clean your teeth the same), the answer is an easy one: bamboo. Think about it this way: Plastic toothbrushes are not recyclable or biodegradable, and it’s estimated that some 23 billion are discarded worldwide every year. Every year, that’s 23 billion plastic toothbrushes clogging up landfills. That’s 230 billion toothbrushes in a decade.

Bamboo, on the other hand, doesn’t just present a sustainable material that is naturally harvested and biodegradable, but it can also clean just as well as a plastic toothbrush. In addition to sustainability benefits, bamboo toothbrushes are also BPA-free and have antimicrobial properties as well.

Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Worth the Price?

One potential drawback to using a bamboo toothbrush is the comparatively higher price point versus plastic toothbrushes. But think about it this way: Plastic toothbrushes tend to be cheaper than bamboo toothbrushes because it’s far easier and cheaper to make plastic than it is to harvest bamboo. However, these affordability benefits also have some very negative environmental consequences.

Think of the comparison between corrugated and paper-based packaging and plastic packaging. The former is more sustainable in that it can be sustainably harvested, and then after such packaging is used, it can be recycled. Even if it’s inadvertently thrown away, paper-based products will decompose over time rather than sitting in a landfill. Most plastic-based packaging isn’t recyclable. It’s widely used because it’s so cheap to produce. But this upfront affordability has some very dire environmental consequences. You could make the same case when justifying why bamboo toothbrushes are worth the extra price.

Shopping Tips: How to Find the Best Bamboo Toothbrushes

We’ll conclude this piece by focusing on some shopping tips and advice on how to find deals on bamboo toothbrushes. The first thing you should know is that you’re likely not going to find a bamboo toothbrush at the same price point as a plastic toothbrush. While plastic toothbrushes cost anywhere from $1 to $2 per item, good bamboo toothbrushes cost about $4 per toothbrush.

Here’s a look at some tips to get the most bang for your buck with a bamboo toothbrush:

Look for one with activated charcoal bristles as it will help remove stains and promote better overall breath.
Try to bundle: Though bamboo toothbrushes come at higher price points, it is possible to bundle your purchase. For example, Isshah sells a four-pack of bamboo toothbrushes for just $5, or about $1.25 per brush. While the quality and ergonomics might not be as good as other bamboo brushes, the price might make more sense for many families.
Look for sustainability certifications: To ensure your toothbrush is fully sustainable, look for green certifications such as Green America, nontoxic, BPA-free, and zero-waste packaging, among others.

Where to Buy the Best Bamboo Toothbrushes

You can find bamboo toothbrushes at the same stores you’d buy your plastic toothbrushes, including big-box department stores and pharmacy retailers. Below are some of our favorite stores to buy bamboo toothbrushes.