04/22/2026
This Earth Day is a great opportunity to review your daily routines and see how you can take steps to help out the planet. This could mean cutting out single-use plastics, conserving water, or even “going green” with your dental hygiene routine! Here are a few easy ways you can make sure your daily oral healthcare regimen is eco-friendly:
1. Turn off the water while you brush.
If you leave the water on while you brush your teeth, you could be doing more damage to the environment than you realize. In fact, people who leave the water on while they brush their teeth waste around 200 gallons of water per month on average! This is enough to fill four hot tubs a year! Thankfully, just one small flick of the wrist to turn off the faucet can make a significant difference in your daily environment impact.
2. Try an eco-friendly toothbrush!
If you’ve seen those photos that showcase the pollution in our oceans, then you’ve likely seen a toothbrush among the waste. Many plastic toothbrushes cannot be recycled, and therefore they end up polluting our environment. To help protect the planet on this Earth Day, consider going out and purchasing an eco-friendly toothbrush instead! Bamboo toothbrushes have become quite popular in recent years, as well as toothbrushes made from recyclable materials.
3. Even flossing can be made green.
Unfortunately, there is no real eco-friendly way to dispose of your run-of-the-mill dental floss as both the floss and its container are typically made from plastic. There are, however, a few ways you can floss while minimizing your environmental impact. First things first: try to avoid the single-use plastic floss picks. While they may be more convenient, they increase your plastic usage by quite a bit! Instead, consider zero-waste flossing options. This includes looking for flosses made from silk—which is biodegradable—as well as flosses sold in eco-friendly containers like glass or cardboard. You might even consider tossing the traditional flossing method out of your routine entirely! Water picks are handheld tools that use of high-powered water jets to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth. These completely eliminate your need for single-use plastic floss!
4. Repurpose that plastic toothbrush.
If you’re replacing that old plastic toothbrush with an eco-friendly alternative, you may be wondering how to dispose of it. While, unfortunately, there is no real way to recycle this plastic, you can try to repurpose it instead! You’d be surprised by how many crafty ways there are to repurpose your toothbrush. Use them to clean jewelry or scrub away stains on your laundry. Use them to de-grease your appliances, clean off kitchen gadgets, and even scrub the grout in your tile floors. There are so many ways that toothbrushes can be used to clean even after they’re unable to sufficiently clean your teeth. Searching for additional ways to fortify your teeth and preserve your radiant smile? Your journey to optimal oral health begins here!
