Achieving true sustainability means looking at all areas of your life to practice more sustainable ideas and concepts. We all know that sustainable fashion is very much something you can achieve with a bit of knowledge. It’s all about picking the right brands, being more responsible in how you own your clothes, and so on. But, there are other aspects of your life that need sustainability treatment – like your oral health care routine.
Everyone should brush their teeth twice a day and follow basic oral health guidelines to keep their teeth and gums in excellent shape. Poor oral health can lead to a variety of overall health concerns, but there are concerns over how sustainable oral health routines are. If you’re not careful, you could make serious contributions to the global carbon footprint.
So, here are some ideas to be more sustainable while looking after your oral health:
Switch to a zero-waste toothbrush
Most toothbrushes are made from plastic, including plastic fibre bristles. Naturally, this means you contribute to a lot of waste over the years as these toothbrushes can’t be recycled and aren’t sourced from sustainable materials. Thankfully, there are loads of zero-waste options out there, such as bamboo toothbrushes. These options are made from more sustainable materials, and they can also be fully recycled, meaning you contribute zero waste from your toothbrush!
Use eco-friendly toothpaste & floss
You need toothpaste to keep your teeth clean, but most of it comes in plastic tubes that are impossible to recycle. Likewise, dental floss is hard to recycle and contributes to more plastic waste. Again, you have sustainable options in these categories. With toothpaste, you can get some in recyclable glass jars – or there are chewable toothpaste tablets that are even more sustainable! With floss, you can find some brands that use natural bamboo fibres, making the product easier to recycle and way more sustainable.
Find a sustainable dentist
When you visit the dentist, try to find one that actually cares about sustainability. They should usually talk about what they’re doing to limit their carbon footprint. A couple of examples revolve around x-rays and orthodontics. With the latter, dentists that offer Invisalign over braces are usually trying to be more sustainable. There is a big difference between Invisalign and braces in terms of their environmental impact. It is believed that opting for aligners like Invisalign can be better for the climate overall. With regards to x-rays, some dentists use digital imaging rather than a traditional x-ray because it is better for the environment. Ask your dentist what sustainable practices they have in place before you decide to commit to them.
Just like that, you’ve managed to create an oral health care routine that’s way more sustainable than ever before. The big benefit is that you aren’t sacrificing anything at all. You are still taking care of your oral health, brushing your teeth, flossing, and seeing the dentist. The difference is that you are being more eco-conscious and sustainable! People are often afraid to be more sustainable because they think it means they have to make massive sacrifices. In truth, you rarely do, it’s usually a case of swapping one thing for another.
