Top 5 Sustainable Bamboo Toothbrush Brands
If you have even perused through some of the articles on this blog, you would have come across many bamboo-based products that we champion. It turns out that though bamboo has been used for everything from construction to the manufacturing of knick-knacks for centuries in Asia, the western world has only far recently warmed up to the use of this wonderful plant in the day to day items. The popularity has grown so much that we were surprised to find that there exist sustainable bamboo toothbrushes. It may not be obvious at first but discarded plastic toothbrushes total around 50 million pounds of plastic waste every year. We had to talk about them when we found out.
Bamboo is a wonderful substitute for other rarer types of wood. It has some really impressive properties. It has low incubation time, amazing tensile strength for something so lightweight, natural color, fresh odor, antimicrobial properties, and hypoallergenic properties. This makes it ideal for a wide range of possible functions. Someday we will talk about all the possible items in the house that can be made more eco friendly and even more functional when replaced with their bamboo variants. Today we will focus on the humble toothbrush.
Pro Tips To Keep In Mind
- Understand what part of the toothbrush is made of bamboo. It will almost always be the body of the toothbrush that is fashioned from the bamboo. Do not go in expecting that the bristles of the toothbrush will be made that way. The bristles will be made of Nylon which is not biodegradable. If this is a bummer, a way to reassure yourself is to think of how often you change toothbrushes. So even if only the body is made of bamboo, a 90% reduction in plastic waste is still a major win.
- A lot of sustainable bamboo toothbrushes will have charcoal infused bristles. This is not regular charcoal. This coating is of a special type of charcoal called Bamboo Charcoal. This form of charcoal has a very long history in China. It has been used for and is excellent for dental care. So you see, the pairing of the bamboo brush body with bamboo charcoal infused bristles is not an accident. The beneficial effects of bamboo charcoal on teeth have been known for centuries. Plus, it makes for a great nature-based theme for a product that promotes sustainable living.
- The bristles that usually come with bamboo toothbrushes are softer than regular “soft” toothbrushes. They also tend to fall out more regularly than plastic toothbrushes. This is a common complaint on the product pages of almost all the brands selling these. So expect to replace them more frequently than you would replace a non-bamboo toothbrush. The recommended time for most products is 50 days. To be safe, we go through one every month. That means one $10-$15 purchase should last you a whole year.
- Be sure to check the brush for splinters and cracks before using it. This is one common manufacturing defect that customers have come across. It is also a very painful one to fall victim to. Don’t let it discourage you as even after wastage, the products themselves are super affordable and it only takes a second to make sure.
There is sadly not a lot of differentiation in the bamboo toothbrush product line. They have very similar designs and features because this is still a fledgling manufacturing process. As long as you keep the above tips in mind, you should be good with your purchase. So, without further ado, here are our 5 favorite sustainable bamboo toothbrushes on Amazon right now.
Dr.Perfect Bamboo Toothbrush Soft Natural Bristles
Steve personally uses this one! This brand ships their toothbrushes in paper packaging. They are 12 in a package for a very affordable overall package. The product is FDA and CE certified. It has a plain straight handle with no curves which might be off-putting to some but we like these precisely for their simplicity.
EveEco Bamboo Toothbrush
These brushes use BPA free bamboo charcoal infused nylon bristles. The body has one curve over its entire length. The company is confident in the quality of its product and offers a 60-day refund policy.
Greenzla Bamboo Toothbrush (4 Pack) with Travel Toothbrush Case & Charcoal Dental Floss
This is more of a complete travel package that includes a dedicated case for your in use toothbrush. The bristles are bamboo charcoal infused. The design of the handle is simple. The travel tube is easy to use. They also throw in dental floss which is infused with charcoal and mint essence. If you are picking something up for a trip then we recommend this package. If you decide to stick with this brand, at the time of writing this, they are running a promotion where you get a discount if you buy two products from the Amazon page.
Colgate Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush 4 Pack
How can you dwell on dental hygiene and not talk about Colgate? They are synonymous with toothpaste and toothbrushes all over the world. Their offering here has charcoal infused bristles in a two-tone color scheme. There is a cute design on the handle that we like. When buying this you are guaranteed Colgate’s high-quality testing standards which makes them a little more expensive than the rest of the brushes on this list.
Isshah Kids Bamboo Toothbrushes
Finally, if you have young ones running around the house and you want to start them early on the eco-friendly lifestyle, this is a great kids toothbrush to introduce them to it. The bristles are not charcoal infused. Instead, they come in different colors so you know that your kids will always have a favorite one. The handle is thick and cylindrical which makes it easy for kids to get a grip on.
So those were our picks for the best sustainable bamboo toothbrushes online. To be honest, we’ve had a few unpleasant experiences with bamboo toothbrushes in the past. We are still willing to give them a chance though because we are aware of the damage that the regular options cause. Hopefully, you will be on the same page as us and not let a few problems stop you from living an organic and environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Love,
Scooch and Steve
