Eco Toothbrush Review
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, News & Reviews |
Dentists recommend that you change your toothbrush every three months, so four times a year is apparently the minimum. If you brush hard and the bristles of your brush get all mashed down (you know what I’m talking about guys), you need to toss that brush out even sooner. Tons of toothbrushes in our bathroom wastebaskets means tons of toothbrushes in our landfills and oceans. All this discarded dental care amounts to 50 million pounds worth of waste every single year. And that’s just the brush itself. What about all the plastic and paper packaging, plus the poisons that go into the conventional plastic toothbrushes? Lucky for us, there are companies out there who care not only about our oral hygiene, but also about our health and the planet. Check out the lowdown on the most eco toothbrushes around.
Preserve By Recycline
The Recycline Preserve toothbrush is made from 100% recycled plastic, which includes Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups. Stonyfield recycles their yogurt cups into Preserve tongue cleaners, razors, and of course, toothbrushes.
The toothbrush’s packaging can be used as a travel case (double the function means double the eco-friendliness). Once you’re finished with a Preserve toothbrush, you can simply slip it into Recycline’s postage-paid mailer and ship it back to them, where it will be turned into plastic lumber for decks and picnic tables! Now that’s a thorough use of the recycling system-from yogurt containers to toothbrushes to outdoor furniture; Recycline is certainly living up to its name.
Preserve’s dentist-recommended 45 degree angle guarantees a thorough cleaning.
MSRP: $4.65 per toothbrush/$28 per 6-pack
RADIUS
The RADIUS Original toothbrush was introduced in 1983 and is still popular today. It’s made from cellulose harvested from sustainable yield forests and is designed to last three times longer than a regular toothbrush. It’s packaged in lightweight, recycled soda bottle plastic, and any bit of a Radius that is rejected during the manufacturing process is recycled and reused. Each year, RADIUS uses less water and electricity in the manufacture of their toothbrushes than they did the previous year.
The RADIUS handle is designed to be ergonomic, with a thumb rest and all, and the extra large oval head holds 6,500 nylon filaments. It’s a bit strange to get used to at first because the head is so much bigger than an ordinary toothbrush, but after just a few brushes it feels just fine. The large head allows you to brush and massage your gums at the same time as you’re cleaning your pearly whites. A plus for all those lefties out there who often feel overlooked, RADIUS is available in both a right and left-handed version. And it’s approved by the ADA to boot.
MSRP: $7.95 per toothbrush
Fuchs
Fuchs EkoTec Replaceable Heads Toothbrush System is good for both your mouth and the environment. The replaceable heads cut down on waste from tossing out the entire toothbrush. The replaceable head snaps easily right into place and pops back out when you’re ready to change it.
Brushing with this toothbrush is a breeze. The EkoTec hits those hard-to-reach and cavity prone back molars easily. And it’s super affordable to boot-it’s like getting three toothbrushes for $1.65 each!
MSRP: $4.95 for one toothbrush and 2 replaceable heads
Posted on July 15, 2008 |
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eCo Times reports the latest on sustainable lifestyle choices and the new green economy. This online magazine brings you the best in cutting edge green media, organic and Fair Trade product reviews, and insights into viable planetary solutions.
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Wow, I need to get myself a Fuchs EkoTec!
Each time I throw my entire brush away, I feel sad for the neglected plastic handle that didn’t do anything wrong, but must be tossed with the worn out bristles.
Thanks for the helpful info!
I’ve used Radius brushes. The Source by Radius also has replaceable heads. Two replacement heads come with the brushes. And the cool handle is made of recylced wood fiber.