Brushing your teeth is the foundation of good oral care, so it's worth investing in a good toothbrush!
Toothbrushes have a big job. They do and see a lot — from helping to clean our teeth with their trusty pal, toothpaste, at least twice a day, as well as removing any food that we can't reach ourselves. It comes as no surprise that after all this cleaning, they need to be replaced from time to time.
So what's the magic number? You should replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. But before you buy just any old toothbrush, think about this...if every person was purchasing 4 plastic toothbrushes a year that would equate to over 31 billion toothbrushes going straight into landfill.
Luckily, we have wonderful, Sustainable Toothbrushes that are good for the planet and you. Read on to find out what signs to look for before changing your toothbrush as well as, finding what toothbrush is best for you!
Image: Grin Natural
4 Signs It's Time To Buy A New Toothbrush
Overtime, the bristles on your toothbrush start to weaken, bend and twist in all different directions. These sort of movements affect your toothbrush's ability to move food along and remove food plaque. So in simple terms if you don't replace your toothrbush every few months, your increasing your chances of plauqe, gum disease and tooth decay.
Signs to look out for:
- The bristles are fayed, bent or falling out
- The bristles are unusually stiff or worn out
- An uninviting smell emerges
- If you've been sick, to avoid bacteria from spreading
Why not grab a 4pk of Grin Biodegradable Toothbrushes in bulk, so you're set for the year, or to share with your family.
Image: The Natural Family Co
Soft Bristles Vs. Medium Bristles
Soft vs. Medium Bristles — what's the difference? There's no real difference. Both toothbrushes remove a significant amount of plaque. Medium bristles are slightly thicker making the bristles more stiff. If anything you have to be more careful with these brushes to avoid causing damage to gum tissue.
Interestingly enough most dentists actually recommend only using a soft bristle, but there are findings that state, approximately 45% of Australians use a medium toothbrush. So it really comes down to personal preference. Either way they both do a great job at cleaning your teeth.
Image: F&F
Charcoal Toothbrushes
Charcoal enhanced bristles are more moisture proof and antibacterial than normal bristles. This helps to keep the bristles dry, away from bacterium breeding, leaving the mouth more comfortable, healthy with clean, and white teeth.
You can shop our range of Charcoal Toothbrushes from Green + Kind, Eco Toothbrush and Grin Natural.
Sustainable Tip: Our Bamboo Toothbrushes are specifically great, because they are compostable and can be repurposed in a multitude of ways. Try repurposing your bamboo toothbrush as a plant marker in the garden. See how we used it for our tomatos.
Image: Jack N Jill
Children's Toothbrushes
Let's not forget about children's toothbrushes. Our range of Children's Brushes are a lot smaller, designed to fit in their small mouths and gently clean their baby teeth.
Jack N' Jill make wonderful eco-friendly, plastic-free toothbrushes for children. With rounded nylon bristles for superior cleaning, and an ergonomic handle made from 100% corn starch, that can be added to your compost, they are a great way to introduce your children to the importance of being eco responsible. They come with cute designs too.
We also have Kids Toothpaste that is not as overpowering or strong as regular toothpaste. Instead this range includes nice, subtle flavours your children will enjoy — definitely helping to make brushing teeth time more fun!
We hope you have discovered some new great tips you can carry with you, to practice good oral hygiene. At the same time, if you haven't made the switch from a plastic toothbrush, now is the time. Our Sustainable Toothbrushes are an easy swap and one that is great for the planet!
Remember! Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Our top tip and a handy way to remember, is by replacing your toothbrush at the start of every new season!
For more around good oral health and sustainable swaps, check out the following blogs:
More Reasons To Smile With ecostore
5 Ways To Relieve Teething Discomfort in Babies and Toddlers
