The Lifespan of a Bamboo Toothbrush

Isn't it disturbing to realize that your childhood toothbrush is still out in the world? If you never thought about replacing your plastic toothbrush with a better alternative, now is the time to do so! In the US alone, 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year. This results in a total of 50 million pounds of plastic waste ending up in landfills or our oceans every year! Plastic is difficult to recycle, therefore, a large amount of plastic waste inevitably enters the environment, causing more plastic pollution. It can take up to 1,000 years to break down microplastics that end up buried in soil or water.

So, given the negative impact plastic has on nature and our own health, what are the sustainable alternatives to plastic toothbrushes? The answer: bamboo toothbrushes. Bamboo contains natural cellulose fibers, the same fibers found in cotton, jute, and hemp. Bamboo naturally has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties - that's why it's known as a super plant. Products made from bamboo, such as bamboo toothbrushes, are eco-friendly and have 100% biodegradable handles that ultimately return nutrients to the soil. Let's take a look at the life of a bamboo toothbrush from the bamboo forest to the soil:

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants and is native to China, Asia, and South America. While this plant is strong and hardy, it doesn't need a lot of water and can grow as fast as 35 inches a day, which is pretty darn fast! Bamboo plants grow naturally without the use of artificial chemicals such as pesticides. Best of all, bamboo plants absorb more carbon dioxide and produce 30% more oxygen than other plants.

Not only is bamboo environmentally friendly, but so is the production process!

Bamboo is first harvested and then left to dry. Depending on the season, the amount of drying time required will vary depending on whether it is hot and dry or cold and rainy. After letting the bamboo dry, cut it into small pieces. For flat and stiff bamboo toothbrushes, the reeds are cut horizontally to obtain a flat shape. The cutting process is relatively simple to achieve the length of a handy bamboo toothbrush.

Each piece of the bamboo reed is hand shaped on a sander. This is a quick process and allows rounded shapes to get smooth edges. Once the bamboo toothbrush handle is formed, it is treated with organic material such as beeswax to help nourish the wood and add smoothness.

For the bristles, they are implanted with special machines in a process called tufting. The toothbrush head is drilled with holes, and then the bristles are implanted. In our factory, this process requires someone to feed the toothbrush into a bristle implanter. They also put the Dupont bristles in the machine, and the bristles implant themselves. While our factory has employees managing the productivity of each machine, they also manually inspect each product to ensure quality.

Bamboo toothbrushes require different handling and care, as bamboo is an organic material and will start to break down if left to dry. When it comes to bamboo toothbrushes with painted handles, these are the best. The paint provides a temporary seal for up to four months and prevents premature breakdown - unlike unsealed bamboo toothbrush handles. The only difference with using a bamboo toothbrush is to let it dry vertically.

Dentists recommend that bamboo toothbrushes last up to 3 to 4 months. Even though bamboo toothbrush handles are made from organic materials, they still stand the test of time compared to plastic. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush no more than every 4 months. Therefore, even though bamboo toothbrushes and plastic toothbrushes can be used for more than 4 months, they should not be used from a health and hygiene point of view.

The next time you need a new toothbrush, pass the plastic toothbrush on and grab the bamboo toothbrush! This simple change isn't just good for your health, it's also good for the planet. Welcome to contact us to get an eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush.

Established in July 1998, JIANGQIAO is a custom bamboo products manufacturer in eco-friendly consumer electronics. The company is headquartered in China, covering an area of 34514.5 square meters, with a production workshop and R & D center of 14515 square meters. The company has 20 years of bamboo processing experience, and is the first environmental protection enterprise at home and abroad to use bamboo products for consumer electronics. Our products are divided into two categories: consumer electronics and household products. Consumer electronics products mainly include bamboo speakers, keyboards, mice, calculators, etc. Household items mainly include bamboo computer folding tables, breakfast tables, shelves, and so on. With annual export sales of 20 million US dollars, it is deeply loved by users.