We all use our toothbrushes every single day. In fact, we are supposed to clean our teeth twice a day to maintain oral hygiene and keep our teeth healthy. However, have you ever wondered what happens to your brush once is no longer being used or has been replaced?
Here, we will explore the lifecycle of a toothbrush, the potential environmental impact of throwing away your brush, and what you can do to minimize its footprint.
The Lifecycle of a Toothbrush
The most commonly used toothbrushes are made from plastic. However, there are less-plastic bamboo toothbrush alternatives available on the market.
Toothbrushes, no matter what material they are made from, are designed with durability and effectiveness in mind. After all they are a tool for maintaining oral hygiene so need to be highly functional.
Manufacturing of toothbrushes
The first step in the lifecycle of a toothbrush is of course the manufacturing of it. Most toothbrushes are constructed from plastic with nylon used to form the bristles in the brush head.
At Sustuff our minimalist toothbrushes are mostly made from bamboo, combining a mould-free, durable handle with responsibly-sourced bamboo heads for a more sustainable alternative to plastic toothbrushes.
Toothbrush Usage
The main purpose of a toothbrush is of course the functionality. Most toothbrushes will prove to be effective at maintaining oral health, as long as you stick to the recommended advice for frequency and quality of daily brushing.
Typically, it is recommended to replace your toothbrush every three to four months. However, you might need to replace your brush sooner if the bristles become damaged.
This means that over a lifetime, an individual can go through hundreds of toothbrushes in the pursuit of maintaining their oral health.
Sustuff’s bamboo toothbrushes come with the added benefit of being able to replace the brush head whilst keeping the handle for longer. Our replacement brush heads (with either medium or soft bristles) can be bought for £8.99, and you can even subscribe and save to get a good deal on future replacement brush heads you will need for your brush.
Toothbrush Disposal
Once a toothbrush is no longer effective and you need a replacement, it is typically thrown away. Unfortunately, most plastic toothbrushes are not recyclable due to the mixed materials used in their construction.
However, there are alternative non-plastic toothbrushes (bamboo) that can be composted when they are disposed of, without the bristles. Our toothbrush handles are designed from recycled aluminium which helps reduce plastic and other unnecessary waste so that more nature is preserved.
Environmental Impact of disposing some toothbrushes
For toothbrushes that are not able to be recycled when they are disposed, there can be a negative environmental impact.
Most discarded toothbrushes will inevitably end up in landfills. Given that many discarded brushes are made from non-biodegradable materials, they can take a long time to decompose.
When non-recyclable items are thrown away some can find their way into the oceans. This can be the case with some toothbrushes that are disposed of. Therefore, some brushes that are thrown away are adding to the build-up of pollution in our oceans.
As plastic toothbrushes break down over time, they can contribute to the micro plastics problem. These tiny plastic particles can cause a negative impact on the environment.
How to dispose of a toothbrush
Despite the potential negative environmental impacts of toothbrushes being thrown away, there are things that can be done to dispose of your brush in a better way.
Some companies will offer toothbrush recycling programs. This can even be the case for electric brushes. These programs typically involve sending your used toothbrushes to a facility where they can be properly recycled. You should check if such a program is available for your chosen toothbrush.
It might even be that your local dental practice can provide advice on how you can recycle rather than throw away your brush.
Before throwing away your old toothbrush, you can even consider repurposing it for household cleaning tasks. Toothbrushes are great for scrubbing grout, cleaning jewellery, and reaching small crevices.
However, if you do repurpose your old brush for everyday cleaning tasks, make sure you first thoroughly clean the brush head between the bristles and even sanitise the handle.
Sustuff’s brushes as already mentioned allow you to go longer without needing replacement packs. You could repurpose your old heads for other cleaning tasks just like with a regular brush.
Take the next step to better brushing
Brushing your teeth is essential for good oral hygiene, but it does not have to be something that causes a negative impact when it comes to the day your brush needs to be replaced.
As we have discussed, your toothbrush can be put to other good uses after it’s oral hygiene usefulness comes to an end.
However, if you want your brush to last longer, consider checking our collection of bamboo toothbrushes today. With the long-lasting handle and replaceable heads our full-plastic alternative is the ideal manual brush for those conscious about disposing of their brushes!