Eco-Friendly Dental Care Products

Green up your dental routine with eco-friendly oral care products. Sustainable swaps like bamboo toothbrushes and waterless toothpaste tablets are just as effective at keeping your mouth healthy as their plastic-packaged counterparts. 

eco-friendly dental care products

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How Eco-Friendly Is Your Dental Care Routine? 

The average person replaces plastic toothbrushes every 3 months. According to National Geographic, over a billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away in the United States every year. If you put those toothbrushes on display, they would wrap around the Earth four times!

On a monthly basis, your plastic toothpaste tubes, plastic floss containers and plastic mouthwash bottles are discarded, and that adds up to a lot of plastic waste in landfills.

What Is Sustainable Oral Care?

Sustainable oral care consists of dental products that are made from materials that are biodegradable, composted, can be reused, and/or are made from renewable materials. These dental care products keep your teeth and gums healthy, but they also keep your environmental impact low.

From your toothbrush to your floss to your toothpaste, most oral care products are made from plastic and packaged in plastic. The good news is that there are eco-friendly dental brands that use sustainable materials like bamboo toothbrush handles, glass jars of floss and toothpaste tablets that come in compostable bags. 

By making some simple eco-friendly swaps in the bathroom, you can have a plastic-free dental routine. Look below for the best sustainable oral care products for a healthy mouth and a healthy planet!

Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes

eco-friendly toothbrushes

According to National Geographic, most of us will use around 300 toothbrushes during our lifetime. All of the toothbrush brands below feature sustainably sourced, biodegradable handles that can be composted after use. If the bristles are made from nylon, they can be plucked out with pliers and recycled (check your local recycling guidelines first).

Tip: Look for a toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent gum recession. Brush in small circles around the gum line and as far in between your teeth as possible for a gentle yet effective brushing experience.

Gaia Guy Natural Boar Bristle & Bamboo Toothbrush– Bamboo handle and natural boar bristle toothbrush. 100% biodegradable and compostable toothbrush.
Key Materials– Natural boar bristles and bamboo handle

Wellnesse Biodegradable Toothbrush– Firm bristles and a slightly smaller head reach the far places in the mouth where other brushes just won’t fit into. Get a deeper clean for a brighter gleam.
Key Materials– Bamboo handle. The bristles can be removed and recycled.

The Humble Co. Bamboo Electric Toothbrush Replacement Heads– Philips Sonicare Compatible. Sustainable, BPA-free electric toothbrush heads made from bamboo. Removes bad breath and plaque. If you’re you’re in need of a regular toothbrush, try a Humble Co. Bamboo Toothbrush.
Key Materials– Bamboo handle. The bristles can be removed and recycled.

F.E.T.E. Bamboo Toothbrush– 100% sustainable bamboo that feels as good in your hand as they do in your mouth. For each purchase of this product, a tree is planted.
Key Materials– Bamboo handle. The bristles can be removed and recycled.

Mable Bamboo Standing Toothbrush– The small head is well suited to all, and it features an ergonomic handle and self-standing design.
Key Materials– Sustainably harvested bamboo handle and BPA-free nylon bristles.

Greenzla Kids Bamboo Toothbrushes– Features soft bristles and comes in 6 kid-friendly colors.
Key Materials– Bamboo handle. The bristles can be removed and recycled.

Eco-Friendly Toothpaste

eco-friendly toothpaste

Most drugstore toothpaste comes in a plastic tube. A lifetime of brushing your teeth creates a lot of plastic waste. I’ve found 5 brands of sustainable toothpaste that use eco-friendly packaging – they all keep your teeth healthy and fight cavities while being kind to our planet. 

Davids Sensitive + Whitening Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste– This eco-friendly toothpaste is made using sustainably sourced, naturally derived ingredients. It’s EWG VERIFIED with certified healthy ingredients.
Key Ingredients: nano-hydroxyapatite, xylitol, calcium carbonate
Sustainable Packaging: Recyclable metal tube
Free From: Fluoride, SLS, Artificial Flavors, Artificial Preservatives, Artificial Colors, and Artificial Sweeteners

Kaylaan’s Toothpaste Tablets– These tablets come with or without fluoride. If you’re a fan of fluoride, these sustainable tablets are just what you need to prevent cavities. Pregnant women and small children should use a toothpaste without fluoride.
Key Ingredients: Xylitol, Calcium carbonate
Sustainable Packaging: waterless tablets that come in a recyclable metal container.
Free From: SLS, Parabens, Artificial Flavors, Artificial Preservatives, Artificial Colors

Chomp Toothpaste Tablets– These tablets whiten teeth and freshen breath. They come in an eco-friendly, endlessly recyclable aluminum bottle. They help fight sensitivity and are naturally flavored with no harmful additives.
Key Ingredients: Nano-hydroxyapatite, Calcium phosphate
Sustainable Packaging: Waterless tablets that come in a recyclable metal container. Refills come in a compostable paper bag.
Free From: Fluoride, parabens, SLS, Sulfates, Xylitol (xylitol is dangerous to pets)

Wellnesse Toothpaste– This mineralizing toothpaste relies on hydroxyapatite and natural ingredients to clean teeth, soothe gums, and freshen breath.
Key Ingredients: hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, xylitol, green tea, sodium bicarbonate
Sustainable Packaging: The tubes are 100% sugarcane bioplastic and can be composted.
Free From: Fluoride, parabens, SLS, Sulfates, Glycerin, Silicone

Bite Toothpaste Bits– These toothpaste tablets are housed in a recyclable glass container, and refills come in compostable packaging. This non-toxic formula features enamel-building nano-hydroxyapatite.
Key Ingredients: Nano-hydroxyapatite, Calcium carbonate, Xylitol, Sodium bicarbonate
Sustainable Packaging: Waterless tablets that come in a glass jar. Refills come in a compostable bag.
Free From: Fluoride, parabens, SLS, Sulfates

Eco-Friendly Floss

eco-friendly floss

Dental floss that’s made of plastic and plastic floss dispensers contribute to plastic waste in our landfills. Eco-friendly dental floss is just as effective at removing plaque and debris as regular dental floss. The floss brands below use sustainable materials and eco-friendly packaging, plus they are all free of harmful chemicals like PFAS.

Etee Waxed Silk Floss– Made using ethically sourced silk and Candelilla wax. Compostable and biodegradable dental floss. Contains a total of 60 meters of floss in each box.
Key materials: silk floss, candelilla wax
Sustainable Packaging: Comes in a glass dispenser with stainless steel top. Refills come in compostable cornstarch bags.

The Humble Co. Natural Dental Floss Picks– Made primarily from sustainable cornstarch. Make flossing easy with these plant based, eco friendly flossers.
Key Materials– The picks are mainly composed of corn-starch and come packed in an eco-friendly paper bag. The floss is PP-mix polyethylene.
Sustainable packaging– Picks come in a paperboard box

Cocofloss Dental Floss– Cleanly woven from recycled water bottles. Cocofloss offers floss refills in compostable packaging to help cut down on single-use plastics. Free of BPA, parabens, SLS, and PFAS. Leaping Bunny–certified cruelty-free.
Key materials– recycled water bottles
Sustainable packaging– refills

Bambo Earth Pure Silk Eco Floss– Eco floss made of the highest quality natural silk thread. Coated with candelilla wax and mint-flavored, made to easily glide and leaving your teeth sparkling clean with fresh minty feeling.
Key materials– Natural silk thread. Coated with candelilla wax and mint-flavored
Sustainable packaging– Floss comes in a glass dispenser. Refills come in paperboard box.

Treebird Silk Eco Dental Floss– This silk floss is a compostable alternative to traditional plastic floss.
Key materials– Natural silk thread. Coated with candelilla wax and mint-flavored essential oil.
Sustainable packaging– Floss comes in a stainless steel dispenser. Refills come in a compostable craftpaper bag.

Eco-Friendly Mouthwash

eco-friendly mouthwash

With proper dental hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, you shouldn’t need to use mouthwash daily. That being said, most of us need a fresh, minty gargle every once in a while, especially after a garlic-laden meal. Look for alcohol-free mouthwash, since alcohol can dehydrate your mouth. The mouthwash brands below use sustainable packaging, and some of the brands offer eco-friendly waterless tablets.

OLAS Mouthwash– Developed by a dentist, this gentle, all-natural mouthwash is infused with sea salts, marine collagen, blue-green algae extract, and essential oils.
Key Ingredients: CoQ10, blue-green algae, sea salts, essential oils, calcium, magnesium
Sustainable Packaging: Comes in a recyclable glass bottle or a BPA-free, post-consumer recycled plastic bottle

Dr. Ginger’s Mouthwash Tablets– Bite, sip, and swish for a clean and fresh mouth.
Key Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, xylitol, baking soda
Sustainable Packaging: Waterless tablets packed in a recyclable tin.

Risewell A-HA Mints– Portable tablets to freshen your breath while you strengthen your enamel. No sugar and zero calories.
Key Ingredients: Hydroxyapatite, Peppermint Essential oil, Calcium Carbonate
Sustainable Packaging: Waterless tablets in a recyclable tin.

Huppy Mouthwash Tablets– Made with coconut, hydroxyapatite, peppermint, tea tree oil, and xylitol for fresh breath without the plastic packaging.
Key Ingredients: Coconut, Hydroxyapatite, Peppermint, Tea tree oil, Xylitol
Sustainable Packaging: Waterless tablets in a recyclable tin.

Basic Concepts Stainless Steel Tongue Scraper– Scraping the tongue promotes saliva production and gets rid of any yucky film on your tongue. It’s a great remedy for bad breath. Clean your tongue in seconds with this high quality, stainless steel tongue scraper.

eco-friendly oral care products