We use toothbrushes on a daily basis. They assist in maintaining a healthy mouth and teeth by being used twice daily for two minutes each time, in the morning and before bed. Despite this, a toothbrush has a rather limited shelf life. Theoretically, we should only utilize each of them 180 times, or six hours, over the course of three months.
Total in all, 256 million brushes are purchased and thrown away annually. What are our options given that that is a sizable mound of plastic? At World Of Dentistry, we believe in sustainable oral healthcare. These points will help you reduce your personal carbon footprint when it comes to maintaining your oral health.
1. Finding the best plastics to buy
For a variety of reasons, plastic is an important component of toothbrushes. They can be shaped easily, last for a long time, and are simple to maintain. Despite this, there are a number of well-known problems that can have a negative impact on the environment, including manufacture, shipping, and degradability. Because of this, we need to reconsider how we handle plastics.
Recycled plastic is one of the most widely used and popular types of plastic, but it isn't always the best choice for items used in the oral health industry. This is due to the possibility that it contains dangerous substances that should not be consumed. Since this is the case, recycled plastics probably won't be used to produce toothbrushes anytime soon. Nevertheless, they typically make for excellent packaging options.
At this time, the use of sustainable plastics, such as cellulosic plastic, is changing dramatically, which is encouraging for oral health. These are produced using plants like the castor oil plant and cane sugar. This is a wise decision. It helps reduce our reliance on plastics made from fossil fuels and reduces our environmental impact. World Of Dentistry is constantly seeking environmentally friendly procurement options, such as cane sugar, which has almost no environmental impact. They serve as an excellent illustration of how to select the proper plastics for a Dental Treatment business.
2. Having a long product lifespan and being carbon neutral
We must all take the problem of addressing climate change and the impacts of global warming earnestly. Water supplies are getting smaller, severe weather is happening more frequently, and food production is changing as a result of carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change.
Reduced carbon emissions and a move toward more fossil-free energy use are two of the most crucial measures we can take in this direction.
Being carbon neutral necessitates significant organizational change. It is crucial that manufacturers focus more intently on prolonging the lifespan of their goods while they are being forged. If we want to stop plastics from having a negative influence on the environment, we must increase sustainability and increase the product lifecycle of oral care items. Reduced waste production is a top priority for change.
3. Recycling plastic
Not only do oral care businesses have a duty to extend the life of toothbrushes, but also people and families can contribute. According to our research, 80% of us reuse our old toothbrushes, which is fantastic for the environment.
After its job of cleaning the mouth and gums is done, a toothbrush can be used for a variety of tasks around the house. With greater quality and size control, nylon hairs, which are more commonly found in toothbrushes these days, have long been preferred to organic bristles. Another thing that makes the brush a powerful cleaning instrument is a grip on the handle. The head of the brush should be easy to hold in contrast to scouring wipes, which can be difficult to grasp, especially when wet.
Our old toothbrushes can last longer and we can be a little bit more ecologically conscious if we are better at recycling our used plastics.
