Bamboo toothbrushes for oral hygiene

The growing social awareness for the care of the environment has led to eco-friendly alternatives that avoid excessive plastic consumption, one of which is bamboo toothbrushes. 

When it comes to 100% biodegradable toothbrushes, the handle of these toothbrushes is made of an entirely biological and degradable material: bamboo. In other words, it can disintegrate in a few months if buried.

Remember to check the composition of the bristles, as they are also part of the brush. It is possible to find bristles also made of this natural material: in this case, bamboo. However, the bristles found in most brushes are made of an element called tynex - although some can be made of nylon.

Tynex is a material with shallow abrasiveness, so it does not harm the teeth or gums. In addition, it prevents bacterial growth. If correct and complete recycling is to be carried out, if the bristles are not

natural, removing them from the handle would be necessary. This is because these materials - tynex and nylon - do not degrade. It is possible to remove the bristles with the help of tweezers and always discard the metal part head so they can take to their corresponding container. Although this action should only be done every time you change the brush, i.e., after

3 or 4 months isn't a very reasonable effort.

  Before buying a bamboo toothbrush, we recommend that you have as much information as possible about its components. To create a truly 100% biodegradable brush, not just the handle, the companies that sell them have decided to manufacture the bristles with eco-friendly materials. Specifically, they are made from bamboo fiber filaments. 

Let's say we have a bamboo brush - bristles included - made from the Phyllostachys edulis variety. It would meet all the requirements to benefit our planet, but how does our mouth respond to its use? Being natural bamboo bristles, it is tough to standardize their thickness and hardness.

However, if they are made with an artificial material such as tynex, a person can find a brush that fits their oral needs in the market, choosing between medium-hard or soft bristles. Due to its characteristics, bamboo scratches the surface of the pieces, causing enamel wear and causing abrasion problems, and irritation of the gums.

Consequently, the person may experience various complications such as dental sensitivity, bleeding, or recession of the gums, among others. Furthermore, being completely organic, natural bamboo is the ideal place to harbor bacteria. It is, therefore, less hygienic than tynex. 

For this reason, a person who uses an entirely bamboo brush should change it every two weeks to prevent the growth of bacterial agents. This means that it would be necessary to purchase and dispose of a total of 24 bamboo brushes annually, which is far more than a person using a conventional one would consume. In the case of plastic brushes, if they are replaced every three months, only 4 per year should be used.