Eco-Friendly Toothpaste: How-To Guide
2020 has encouraged us all to shift our mindsets and focus on what our daily routine does to the grand scheme of bettering the world.
One of the most common routines done by the majority of people is brushing your teeth. But, the majority of us do not brush our teeth or do any of our dental hygiene care in an eco-friendly way!
While we should obviously look after our teeth and gums first before trying to save the world, there are some easy hacks to consider when it comes to making oral hygiene decisions in an eco-friendly way.
In the past few years, popular dental hygiene products have been re-launched vegan-style and in recyclable packaging, which is what people are starting to care about. This all has to do with the consumer pressure to offer eco-friendly oral hygiene solutions. And while being vegan and using vegan-style dental hygiene products has an impact on your oral health, it is not the only way to have eco-friendly toothpaste.
We want to throw it out there that while using vegan toothpaste can aid in your oral health, it is not the only thing to consider. What you choose to eat has impacts on both your teeth and the environment too!
How Can Toothpaste Be Eco-Friendly?
Who knew that one day the words “eco-friendly” and “toothpaste” would be paired together? Toothpaste has not actually always been an eco-friendly item and that aspect of it has only become mainstream in the last few years.
There are two main factors that contribute to toothpaste being eco-friendly, and it boils down to how the toothpaste is made, and what packaging the toothpaste comes in.
And in order for a toothpaste to be considered eco-friendly, it must tick both of these boxes! So a toothpaste that has organic ingredients but is sold wrapped in plastic will not receive an eco-friendly tick. And vice versa--a toothpaste made from chemical ingredients that are wrapped in a recyclable product will also not receive that eco-friendly tick.
One of the main reasons why many people are not prioritizing investing in eco-friendly toothpaste amongst other dental hygiene products is because it can feel overwhelming with what to choose. But incorporating eco-friendly toothpaste into your daily routine is easier than you might think, and thank goodness because it’s about time!
To help you in transforming your oral hygiene arsenal to being eco-friendly, we have created the ultimate how-to guide for ensuring that you select the right toothpaste and other oral hygiene products!
Your How-To Guide for Eco-Friendly Toothpaste
1. Say no to plastic.
Eco-friendly toothpaste is not just based on the ingredients used, but also the packaging that it comes in, which too many brands tend to ignore. Traditional dental oral hygiene products use a whole lot of plastic. Plastic toothbrush, plastic toothpaste bottle, mouthwash in a plastic bottle, dental floss in a plastic case, and so on.
You get our point—the standard dental oral hygiene products tend to come in plastic, until now! You can switch to a natural, organic bamboo toothbrush or use toothpaste that comes in a recyclable bottle. By making these really simple changes and saying no to dental companies that overuse plastic, you can make a small contribution to a big change!
2. Avoid using toothpaste with synthetic chemicals.
There is a range of factors to consider when it comes to toothpaste, with the main ones being the ingredients used to make the toothpaste! Many chemicals are created in unnatural ways and often contain small microscopic traces of plastic. But the good news is that there is a range of toothpaste options that are made from plant-based products that can still get the same job done that toothpaste with chemicals can.
So, when you choose all-natural toothpaste that does not use chemicals, you can brush your teeth confidently knowing your toothpaste is doing good for the world and you are not consuming any potentially harmful chemicals or traces of plastic.
3. Look for an all-natural toothpaste.
We live in a world where everything has an all-natural counterpart, and that includes toothpaste too!
Choosing all-natural toothpaste is an extremely eco-friendly solution, and one that keeps your oral hygiene in tip-top shape. Toothpaste that is all-natural uses ingredients like mineral clay, sea salt, and a whole range of extracted plants. In our toothpaste, we keep it simple but effective with our main ingredients being Above Sea ECOSAFE Coral Calcium, SilverSol Nano Silver Solution, and Xylitol (which you can learn about here!)
4. The more affordable toothpaste tends to be the eco-friendly one.
Contrary to what many people might assume, eco-friendly toothpaste tends to also be more affordable than the standard brands. This is often because the eco-friendly toothpaste is not yet as mainstream, meaning the companies tend to operate more independently and are able to be sold at a better cost for a much more reasonable price. So not only will you brush your teeth with powerful toothpaste that elevates your oral hygiene, but you do not have to spend a fortune on it!
5. Cruelty-free is also eco-friendly.
Believe it or not, a lot of toothpaste is tested on animals first. When you find a toothpaste that has a “cruelty-free” title on it, it means that it has been ethically tested during its research and development phase.
We believe that an eco-friendly world is a world in which all living organisms are treated with respect and dignity.
6. Eco-friendly toothpaste can still offer the same protection for your teeth and gums.
Many people get nervous that eco-friendly natural toothpaste will put their teeth at risk of more damage. But, all toothpaste is created with the goal of protecting your teeth—just different ingredients are used!
Even all-natural, eco-friendly ingredients are selected specifically because they have properties that are beneficial to your dental health.
Coral Toothpaste includes coral calcium to prevent cavities, Nano Silver to destroy harmful bacteria without harming healthy cells, and xylitol to prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth and reduce plaque. All three ingredients are all-natural, but all three ingredients are also proven by science to actually work.
7. The toothpaste will still taste good, we promise.
In general, organic and natural products get a bad rap for not tasting as good--just think of that time you coaxed someone into a whey grass shot.
However, natural toothpaste still has natural sweetener agents in them like xylitol and plant extracts that ensure the toothpaste is friendly to your tastebuds, too! Natural toothpaste still offers you that refreshing and minty aftertaste that signals fresh breath and good oral hygiene!
In addition to Mint, Coral Toothpaste also comes in Bubble Berry and Cinnamon Tea Tree--pretty good flavors if you ask us!
Don’t Stop at Just Your Toothpaste
While choosing an eco-friendly toothpaste is important, you don’t want to cancel that out by using other dental hygiene products that don’t have the best interest of the environment.
Here are some other products you’ll want to check the eco-friendliness of so you can ensure that your overall oral health care routine uses eco-friendly dental products. And with eco-friendly oral hygiene bundles like ours, it is easy to ensure your entire dental hygiene routine is eco-friendly!
Dental Floss
Did you know that dental floss has damaging impacts on marine wildlife? Unfortunately, many people use waxed nylon as their preferred dental floss, which cannot be recycled and too often finds its way into the ocean. Many marine life animals mistake the dental floss for actual food and end up getting injured or killed from ingesting this.
Replace the stock-standard dental floss with eco-friendly silk or bamboo floss, which can decompose naturally and does not pose a threat to marine life.
Mouthwash
We all love mouthwash because it tops off our oral hygiene routine by doing one final purge of bacteria and leaving our mouth feeling fresh.
But more so than not, people tend to use a mouthwash that is full of chemicals like preservatives and artificial coloring. There are natural mouthwashes that are not only chemical-free, but taste just as great (if not better!) with flavors like mint or cinnamon.
Toothbrush
What is the point of using eco-friendly toothpaste if your toothbrush isn’t eco-friendly as well? One of the most disposed-of plastic items in the world is plastic toothbrushes, which are not biodegradable and stockpile at landfills.
Fortunately, there is a range of eco-friendly toothbrushes to choose from, like our bamboo toothbrush that can decompose on its own in half a year! Swapping toothbrushes is one of the most impactful ways to save the environment!
Eco-Friendly Toothpaste Leads to a More Eco-Friendly You!
Brushing your teeth with toothpaste is part of your daily routine. So when you are reminded daily of doing good for the environment by brushing your teeth with eco-friendly toothpaste, you will likely be inspired to make further eco-friendly choices throughout the day. That could range from what you eat, how you get around, and even what you wear!
Eco-friendly toothpaste should be just one item in your oral hygiene routine that does its part to help protect the world. Make sure to make conscious decisions around the types of dental floss, mouthwash, and toothbrushes you use, too.
With this eco-friendly arsenal, you will come one step closer to making the world a better place every time you brush your teeth--small, consistent steps toward sustainability are what matter the most!
Sources:
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/best-toothpaste-for-environment
https://inhabitat.com/your-guide-to-eco-friendly-toothpastes/
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