As part of our commitment to improving sustainability, we have sourced products that will reduce our use of plastics, which we now offer in the practice. Toothpaste tubes are difficult to recycle in most cases, there is always a waste element because the tubes usually cannot be emptied and most kinds of toothpaste contain micro-plastics. Each time we spit toothpaste into the sink, it goes into the environment, taking the micro-plastics with it. We need to clean our teeth, and many alternative products can be problematic, particularly if they don’t contain fluoride.
We have started supplying toothpaste tablets in recyclable bags of 125 tablets. These will last for two months if brushing twice each day. The tablets don’t contain microplastics but do contain fluoride. You simply place a tablet in your mouth and let it dissolve. Then start brushing and the foam will start to build up so that you can clean your teeth. Don’t rinse after. Just spit the excess out.
If you want to floss your teeth, the most often used materials are very strong but do contain plastic. Even the containers are plastic. Our new floss is plant-based, uses 80% fewer greenhouse gases than normal floss, is completely vegan and even the container is made from cardboard rather than plastic. Some eco flosses are made from silk. We have avoided these products on the basis that animals are exploited to produce them. While plant-based floss can break, it works really well.
Finally, for now, we have our bamboo toothbrush range and we are also looking at trying to source bamboo electric toothbrush heads. If you would like to know more about any of these products, please let us know.
Watch this space.
