- Turn Off The Tap
Most people leave the water running while they brush but this is a terrible habit. Once the water goes down the tap it starts the whole purifying process over again. This process should only be for the water that has been used and contaminated, so it’s not very eco-friendly to leave the tap running. Most people rush brushing their teeth so they can turn off the tap faster (good intention, bad results). Wet your brush and turn off the tap, this is much more environmentally responsible and you can even get a better brush.
- Use a Bamboo Toothbrush
Regular toothbrushes are made from nylon and polypropylene plastic, which are derived from fossil fuels and ultimately support the oil industry. These compounds can take up to 1000 years or more to decompose. Over one billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away in the United States alone each year. This equates to roughly another fifty million pounds of plastic waste that ends up in our landfills, waterways, or oceans. One great alternative is bamboo brushes, these can be disposed of guilt-free because bamboo is biodegradable and grows quickly in nature. We created a Good Organics bamboo toothbrush, you can check it out here. Some bamboo toothbrush companies still use nylon bristles, we made sure we used sustainable materials all the way through. Check out what our customers are saying here.
- Use Organic Floss
Traditional dental floss is generally made from nylon, which is a plastic. Nylon is not recyclable and can take hundreds of years to decompose. If that’s not bad enough, floss is usually coated in chemicals to make it glide in between your teeth better. The problem is, these chemicals can have harmful side effects. Studies have found high levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in some of the floss from the world’s largest brands. These chemicals are known as (PFAS) for short and studies have linked them with serious health issues. Some issues include weight gain, thyroid disease, compromised immune system, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, fertility issues, lowered growth and sex hormones, and even certain types of cancers. You can imagine what chemicals like that can do to marine wildlife and natural habitats. Thankfully, there are better alternatives. We created a silk dental floss that is coated in beeswax, you can check it out here. Our floss is 100% cruelty-free, plastic-free, and toxin-free. It even comes in a glass bottle, so we’re not adding to the plastic pollution problem. Try it now!
- No More Mouthwash
If you’re using traditional mouthwash, please stop today. We’ve written a more in-depth blog post about mouthwash here. The short story goes like this...mouthwash destroys your oral health. Just like antibiotics can destroy the microbiome of your gut and cause all sorts of issues, mouthwash does the same to your oral microbiome. It kills both the good and bad bacteria in your mouth. The good bacteria you need to decrease your risks of gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath. It dries your mouth out, can lead to ulcers and mouth cancer. There are many organic ways to wash your mouth, one is simply pulling with coconut oil. This is super safe, healthy, and effective. Besides the harmful effects of mouthwash on your oral health and body, once you spit it down the drain it continues to destroy natural habitats. In some cases, it can even kill microorganisms. Not to mention the plastic bottle.