Environmentally Friendly Tooth Care

We’re often faced with the lure of various products hoping to stem our worry about environmental impact. As we focus on incorporating preventative measures to improve our health, we’re also worried about chemicals in the products we use and their potential dangers or threats to our health. In considering what product may be safe for ourselves and our environment, it’s worth noting that the Mayo Clinic believes there is insufficient evidence to suggest triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal ingredient commonly found in consumer products, including toothpaste, soaps and detergents, is overtly dangerous. Most green products for oral care offer a fluoride-free option for those worried about excessive ingestion – despite the studies that show the benefits of fluoride greatly outweigh the dangers.

However, if you are looking to break from the mainstream with everyday dental care to adopt practices and possibly products that may be safer it can be daunting, especially when it comes to something essential like your hygiene routine. To help simplify, we’ve researched some of the more popular products and presented them here:

Preserve Toothbrush: This green brush has a handle made from 100% recycled plastic yogurt cups, and includes a nifty case for travelling.

The Environmental Toothbrush: If you’re trying to swear off plastic (even of a recycled variety), these bamboo toothbrushes from an Australian company might just be for you. “The handles are biodegradable, environmentally sustainable, and do not pollute the environment. The amazing growth and self-renewing ability of bamboo means that deforestation is not necessary either. Even our packaging is biodegradable.” The cost is $36 AUS for a 12-pack, only a little more than $25 with the conversion to U.S.

Eco-Dent Monte Bianco Toothbrush: This firm manufactures various vegan toothpaste and floss varieties, and these brushes come with removable heads to save on further waste. All this – and they cost much less than most everyday toothbrushes at $1.99. 

Desert Essence Natural Toothpaste: This company has an assortment of different toothpaste varieties, ranging in flavor and whitening ability. All are SLS free, and many are gluten and fluoride free depending on your preference.

Dr. Ken’s Toothpaste: Another brand that offers both fluoride and fluoride-free options, Dr. Ken’s is an all natural variety that is more visible on the store shelves than many other companies that dominate the market – if you’re looking for an easy switch over to eco-friendly products, this might be the option for you.

Whatever you choose to use to maintain your teeth and gums, if you want to do your part to protect the environment and conserve resources, it is always beneficial to turn off the faucet when you brush!

How to teach your child good oral hygiene

Teaching healthy habits is much more about what we do than what we say. Children will closely observe their parents’ behavior and other important adults in their lives as they learn and form their own behaviors and habits. In other words, it is important that parents practice what they preach when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene.

It can be difficult for children to understand the importance of taking good care of their teeth and gums and how it can impact their overall health. Fortunately, there are ways to engage kids using age appropriate activities to help them understand just how vital oral hygiene is. 

Here are a few strategies you may want to try: 

·         Give kids choices. Let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste, providing that they’re age appropriate. Before the age of two fluoride-free toothpaste is recommended.  From the age of two on it’s best to use an ADA approved brand containing fluoride. Characters on toothbrushes or a superhero on the tube of toothpaste might encourage them to stick to their brushing routine.

·         Show them how it’s done. Let them see you brush your teeth in the morning and evening. If the message is not resonating consider showing them some fun YouTube videos. Watching what a peer is doing is often more relatable and considered a lot “cooler” than mom or dad!

·         Invest in technology. If the novelty of a manual toothbrush wears off, consider purchasing an electric toothbrush. If you have more than one child, you can save money by purchasing one and then buying individual heads for each child. Turn brushing into fun-time using this new “toy” to do the job. For younger kids consider a less expensive option—adding a fun faucet fountain like a whale or dolphin to make it more entertaining.

·        Turn tooth brushing time into story time. If you are creative you can make up a story where all the bad guys have brown, ugly teeth. Otherwise, there are a number of great books to read aloud, like Open Wide by Laurie Keller or The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss.

There are many factors that help children learn how to take good care of their teeth and maintain a healthy smile. Beyond modeling good habits, the other most important thing a parent can do is book regular checkups and limit sugar intake. If a dental emergency should occur, contact your dentist immediately.