A National Geographic study revealed 90% of table salts in Europe contained microplastics and a recent WWF study revealed people around the world are consuming a credit card’s-worth of microplastic every week.
We know the majority of microplastics do not come from toothbrushes but every little change is another step in the right direction.
Dr Eddie Coyle, dentist and clinical director at Bupa Dental Care, supports the rise in bamboo toothbrushes but advises taking extra care to keep yours clean:
Dr Coyle says “Once you finish brushing, rinse the bristles for 30 seconds to wash away remaining toothpaste or food debris, and avoid leaving your toothbrush in a warm, damp case or holder as this encourages the growth of microorganisms.”
“When the bristles start to curve, bend or fold over, it’s time to get a new one”.
Compared to conventional brushes electric toothbrushes use more plastic, have a battery that is hard to recycle and require energy from the grid so are not eco friendly at present.
Just as Tesla and consumer demand changed the automotive industry, we envisage there will be its equivalent in the electric toothbrush industry out very soon.