How clean are your teeth?
Very clean? Pretty clean? Clean enough, tbh?
Either way it doesn’t really matter. We’re not here to talk hygiene. Well, not entirely. We’re here to talk sustainability – with some hygiene thrown in for good measure.
Saving the planet is all the rage these days, and so it should be. And while most of us are making little changes here and there to live more eco-friendly lives, our oral care regimes are often overlooked when it comes to sustainable living.
But they don’t have to be.
There’s a tonne of glorious sustainable oral hygiene products out there at the moment, all waiting to clean our mouths in the most natural, eco-friendly way possible.
Here’s five of them we’re fairly fond of at the moment.
1. The Humble Brush 2 pack: €6.99
As the world’s most sold bamboo toothbrush, the Humble Brush has been making dental care that bit more eco-friendly since, well, people stopped wanting to clean their teeth with plastic.
Made from 100 percent biodegradable, sustainably-grown bamboo, the product will clean your teeth just as well as your regular old toothbrush – except it’s better because you’re helping the environment.
There are countless brands of bamboo brush out there, but the Humble Brush is a decent shout because of its strong and durable nylon bristles that aren’t as hard as other toothbrushes – and its fully recycled packaging.
Each product sold by the company also contributes to a children in need project so, you know, a decent enough purchase.
2. Natural charcoal toothpaste 60ml: €8.00
Yes, the idea of cleaning your teeth with charcoal doesn’t seem logical, but it’s actually a stellar way to bring some whiteness back to your smile without being abrasive.
This brand, Georganics, uses a peroxide-free activated charcoal formulation along with organic peppermint essential oils to clean your teeth.
It’s non-foaming so you need to apply it with a bamboo spatula, but a small jar (60ml) should last about one month if used twice daily.
3. Plastic-free floss 2 pack: €6.99
Ever wondered what in the world you could possibly need that plastic covering on your floss for?
Nothing. Literally nothing.
Which is why a good few sustainable brands have been dropping it entirely and instead selling their floss the way it should be sold: plastic-free and with a bit of cardboard around it.
The packaging of Humble’s dental floss acts as its dispenser, meaning that you’re using every part of the product before you discard it.
The floss also comes in cinnamon flavour. Divine.
4. Natural chewing gum 2 pack: €4.99
These days, chewing gum doesn’t necessarily scream oral care.
We buy it for something to chomp on, something to curb the boredom, or something to take away the vague smell of our breath that will no doubt return almost immediately.
However, this is a special kind of chewing gum that is actually good for your teeth: natural chewing gum.
Made from chicle, a natural gum base from the Sapodilla tree, this gum doesn’t contain any artificial flavours or sugar, meaning that it’s actually good for you.
And good for the planet too. Sound.
5. Mouthwash tablets: €12.00
A lot of conventional mouthwashes can be irritating to some people’s skin, which is less than ideal when all you want is to have some clean, fresh breath.
Thankfully, an alternative does exist in the form of Georganics mouthwash tablets, as sold on Green Outlook Ireland.
The 180 tablets come in a glass bottle and are made from natural and non-toxic ingredients, with fluoride, glycerine and an SLS free formula to help restore a healthy pH balance.
You’ll get about three months out of the bottle too, so it’s not half bad value either.
