It is almost like the flagship of a sustainable lifestyle: the toothbrush made of bamboo. But how good is their environmental record really? And is the cleaning performance convincing?
You should change your toothbrush every few weeks - over time, a whole lot of garbage accumulates. So that this is at least not plastic waste, environmentally conscious people use models with a bamboo handle. But is this the most sustainable choice?
sustainability
A study published in the British Dental Journal in 2020, referred to by the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) Hessen, examined the effects of different types of toothbrushes on health and the environment. The result was that clip-on toothbrushes, where you only change the head or the brushes, perform just as well as bamboo brushes.
When it comes to the sustainability of the brush, the material is less important than the amount of waste. The BUND Hessen also points out the long transport routes of bamboo, which worsen the environmental balance.
FSC seal for wooden brushes
His tip: Alternatively, use toothbrushes made from local wood. And the product should bear the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) mark. It stands for sustainable and socially responsible forest management.
By the way: On bamboo and wooden toothbrushes, only the handle is made of these materials and the bristles are usually made of plastic. That means they are not biodegradable. You should therefore detach the heads when disposing of the toothbrush and dispose of them separately.
dental health
Electric toothbrushes have the worst environmental balance due to the resources for the battery and charging cable and the energy consumption. According to Prof. Christoph Benz, President of the German Dental Association, these are the most reliable when it comes to cleaning.
"Nevertheless, I can work well with the manual toothbrush if I proceed sensibly - and that can also be transferred to the bamboo toothbrush," says the expert. So of course you should brush like you would with other toothbrushes.
A good indication of the quality of any toothbrush are rounded bristles. "It's important so that I don't injure myself," explains Prof. Benz. You can rely on the large, established toothbrush manufacturers, but there is still a lack of studies on bamboo and wooden brushes.
Whether the bristles are rounded is usually written on the toothbrush packaging. The expert also advises that when looking for more sustainable toothbrushes, make sure that the bristles are made of nylon. These are more hygienic than natural bristles made from animal hair.
Dry bamboo or wooden toothbrushes well
Even with children, there is basically nothing to be said against brushing with bamboo or wooden toothbrushes, says Johanna Kant, chairwoman of the Federal Association of Pediatric Dentists. "Regardless of the type of toothbrush used, it is important that the teeth are clean afterwards and that neither tooth structure nor gums are damaged during brushing."
But she advises when buying any toothbrush to make sure that the handle of the brush is a bit thicker so that children can hold it well. And parents should dry toothbrushes made of bamboo and wood thoroughly after cleaning to prevent germs from forming.
