How to Replace and Recycle Your Toothbrush

We can all agree that we could never live without the humble toothbrush. You might not be sure how to recycle and replace your toothbrush or how often to do when it comes to disposing of this necessity though.

How often should you change your toothbrush?
We recommend that get a new toothbrush every 3 months. By this point, it’s usually worn out and not cleaning your teeth as well as it should. Not to mention, your toothbrush will have also accumulated a bunch of bacteria in its bristles over this time.
It’s also important to change a new one after sick, as the bacteria can still be present on the toothbrush. This is just one of the main tips for self-isolation oral care during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Plastic toothbrushes VS. bamboo toothbrushes

A plastic toothbrush has always taken a major part of the market. But with the increase of environmental awareness, it has been taken place by the bamboo toothbrush.

What makes plastic toothbrushes replaced?
There are several reasons many people choose to not brush their teeth with a traditional plastic toothbrush:

– Non-renewable raw material — made of polypropylene plastic and nylon
– Long decompose time — a plastic toothbrush can take over 400 years to decompose
– Potential hazards to the environment — the present disposal process of plastic garbage will release chemicals into the air, and destroy the marine system.

Can you recycle plastic toothbrushes?
In most countries, you can’t just throw your plastic toothbrush and toothpaste into the regular recycling bin. Instead, the best way to recycle your plastic toothbrush is through the free Terracycle Oral Care Recycling Program.

Many people still prefer to seek a toothbrush alternative that is friendlier to the planet while keeping their teeth in top shape. This is where the bamboo toothbrush comes in!

What are the benefits of a bamboo toothbrush?
We highly recommend purchasing recyclable bamboo toothbrushes and interproximal brushes for the good of the planet and your smile.

Here are some reasons to use a bamboo toothbrush:
– Renewable raw material — natural bamboo
– Eco-friendly — 100% biodegradable
– Naturally antimicrobial — reduces the growth of bacteria, viruses on the toothbrush

How do you recycle a bamboo toothbrush?
Recycling a bamboo toothbrush is as easy as following these three simple steps:

– Once you are ready to discard your bamboo toothbrush or bamboo interproximal brush, grab a pair of pliers or tweezers to pull the bristles out of the head of the brush.
– Collect the nylon bristles in a pile, ready to recycle. The easiest way to collect them without making a mess is to put the bristles in a plastic bottle to keep the recyclable plastic waste in one place. If pulling out the bristles is too tedious a task, you can simply snap off the whole head instead.
– With the bamboo handle, you can now simply bury it into the ground in your garden!

Replacing your toothbrush regularly and the correct way will ensure you can keep both your teeth and the environment as clean as possible! This is especially important during the current Coronavirus operating restrictions while you can’t make an appointment with your dentist for a regular check-up and clean.