Brushing your teeth is good for you, but how does it affect the environment? In a recent study, scientists looked into the ecological impact of the three most common types of toothbrush: electric, bamboo, and the standard plastic-stemmed model most of us use.
What they found is surprising.
Bamboo toothbrushes have become popular among environmentally conscious consumers. But it turns out that they’re not the most eco-friendly choice after all. That honor would go to the standard plastic toothbrush instead.
This being said, the scientists’ reasoning is a bit hypothetical. Several factors were weighed when coming to their conclusion, but the most important one is that plastic toothbrushes must be recycled.
So, if you live in a place where you’re able to do this, you can sleep (and then wake up and brush your teeth) easier knowing that your choice of brush is the best one for the earth.
On the other hand, if there isn’t infrastructure in place for recycling your plastic toothbrush, it’s probably a good idea to opt for a bamboo one instead.
Read on to learn more about the toothbrush sustainability study.
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Contact our writer – Alysa Salzberg
