The 10 Best Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes: Cleaning up the planet, one sustainable swipe at a time

A short report, by the numbers

A report by National Geographic in 2019 pointed out that 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away annually in the United States alone. This contributes to 50 million pounds of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or worse in large water bodies or other sensitive ecosystems.

A further 3.5 billion toothbrushes are sold each year to a global market exceeding 7 billion people, and it is estimated that the average person uses 300 toothbrushes within their lifetime.

An average toothbrush is made up of a plastic mold of either polypropylene or polyethylene and nylon bristles. Of the 3 materials, nylon takes the shortest time to compost between 40-50 years. The implication of this is that every single plastic toothbrush made since 2000 is still somewhere on the earth's surface completely intact.

A ray of hope

With sustainability and oral care in mind, the shift toward eco-friendly toothbrushes and brands is exactly what we need to stop this pile-up of plastics while improving our own quality of life. Plastic toothbrushes consist of toxic chemicals that make them threatening to the environment. However, a shift towards sustainable living has brought about substituting a conventional toothbrush with a sustainable toothbrush, reducing its impact on the planet. 

Bamboo toothbrushes

Using bamboo to replace the bulk of plastic waste is a really popular approach to dealing with the plastic crisis. These toothbrushes are a great choice to opt-in for when in search of a plastic-free toothbrush.

Green Hive’s 10 top picks for the Best Eco-friendly Toothbrushes

Let's explore some of the best sustainable oral care brands, and the benefits each option. 

Eco Roots - Natural Bamboo Toothbrush

Eco Roots natural toothbrushes are made from ethically sourced materials. Eco Roots has provided a means for you to have four sets of this bamboo toothbrush that is safe for both your teeth and the environment.

The EcoRoots Bamboo Sustainable Toothbrush is an excellent alternative to plastic toothbrushes, which typically end up in landfills or the oceans.

Price Range: $14 - $17

Key Features:

• Biodegradable Toothbrush Handle
• Cruelty-Free
• Recyclable Soft Nylon Bristles 
• Plastic-Free Shipping
• Packaging made from recycled materials

With over 130 reviews and 4.8 customer ratings, eco-roots is one of the best sustainable bamboo toothbrushes available in the market.

Pros: Eco Roots uses recyclable nylon in the bristles which makes it animal friendly. The natural toothbrush is vegan, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, and 100% biodegradable.

Cons: Customers have reported that the toothbrush bristles were not compostable, but can be recycled.

Overall, you'll contribute to a reduction in plastic waste by switching to this eco-friendly toothbrush made from sustainably grown bamboo.

Etee Bamboo Toothbrush with Replaceable Head

Etee's eco-friendly toothbrush is made of bamboo and the bristles are made from castor bean oil. It's the most eco-friendly alternative on the market today.

The eco-friendly toothbrush is made of two fully assembled parts. A detachable toothbrush head and a rounded toothbrush handle.

Price range: $5 to $20 (Pack of 4).

Key Features:

• 100% plant-based bristles
• FSC-certified
• Fully compostable handles

With over 30 reviews and 4.4 overall ratings, the Etee Bamboo brush is one of the best eco-friendly options available today.

Pros: You will love our toothbrush because it is gentle on your teeth and gums. The bristles are soft and will remove plaque and bacteria without damaging your teeth or gums.

Cons: The bristles are wearing out after 8 weeks, although, the American Dental Association recommends replacing toothbrushes every three months. 

Overall, an excellent eco-friendly option with a natural bamboo handle.

Georganics Beechwood Eco-friendly Toothbrush

Georganics Beechwood Eco-friendly Toothbrush is made with FSC-certified wood and is compostable. The company offers other personal-care products like bamboo charcoal dental floss that contains activated charcoal and is coated with candelilla wax, Charcoal fluoride-free tooth tablets, containing activated charcoal, and are non-toxic when compared to conventional toothpaste.

The toothbrush comes in plastic-free packaging and is also available in a variety of colors to choose from!

Price Range: €3 to €14 (Set of 4).

Key Features:

• BPA-free
• Plastic-free Packaging
• Sourced from FSC-certified Beechwood

Customers have rated 4.8 stars with more than 60 total reviews.

Pros: You will love this toothbrush because it is eco-friendly, has BPA-free Nylon bristles, and removes plaque and tartar effectively. These sustainable toothbrushes handles are completely biodegradable and can be composted in your home compost bin. While Bristle have to be recycled separately. 

Cons: Some customers prefer a bit harder bristle toothbrush.

Purchase the Georganics brushes and brighten your pearly whites with these minimal-impact toothbrushes recommended by dental professionals.

Zero Waste Store - Bamboo Toothbrush for Sustainable Oral-Care

Zero Waste eco-friendly Toothbrush is made of organic bamboo and castor bean oil. It's gentle on your teeth and good for the environment!

These plant-based toothbrushes are also available in bundles.

Price range: $4 to $29.50 (pack of 8).

Key Features:

• Castor bean oil
• Organic Bamboo brush handles
• BPA-free

The overall product rating is 4.8 and the reviews have crossed 140.

Pros: These toothbrushes are made from 100% natural bamboo handles, and are completely biodegradable. It comes in a paper box which can be composted after use!

Cons: A few customers have reported that these are hard-bristle brushes.

Keep your pearly whites clean and fresh with the Zero Waste Toothbrush!

Life Without Plastic - Compostable Bamboo Toothbrushes for Adults

The compostable Bamboo brushes make a great one for a family toothbrush set. These are Boar bristle toothbrushes made from disinfected boar hair. This boar hair is a byproduct of the Chinese meat industry.

Moso bamboo, which grows quickly and is regarded as a renewable and sustainable resource, is used to make these toothbrush handles.

Price Range: $35 (pack of 4) to $60 (pack of 10)

Key Features:

• Made of boar bristles
• lead-free
• phthalate-free
• PVC-free

Some customers are really impressed with these sustainable brushes and have given a 4 (out of 5) rating for 9 reviews.

Pros: These compostable Toothbrushes are recommended for anyone with soft or sensitive gums. This is a fully biodegradable toothbrush.

Cons: The bristles might be hard at the beginning but can also be softened by soaking in hot water.

Include this eco-friendly brush in your dental routine and enhance your dental hygiene with this natural oral care product.

Earth Hero Bamboo’s Adult Toothbrush

Toothbrushes are one of the most commonly used items in the world, and they often end up in landfills. Earth Hero adult toothbrush will make it easy for you to reduce your impact on the environment. That's why this brush comes with a handle that's compostable and biodegradable.

You can feel good about using this toothbrush knowing that you're helping to reduce plastic waste.

Price Range: $4.99 - $9.99 (2 packs)

Key Features:

• USDA Certified
• FSC Certified
• Certified Vegan
• Cruelty-free

With 4.7 ratings and over 40 reviews, Eco roots have marked its position as offering one of the best eco-friendly toothbrushes available online.

Pros: Earth Hero toothbrush is made from Moso bamboo, which grows quickly and doesn't require any pesticides or fertilizers. The bristles are made from plant-based materials, so they're compostable. 

Cons: Some customers have reported that the brushes are a bit too long for them.

Let's say no to plastic pollution and switch over to this sustainable eco-brush!

No-Tox Eco-friendly Toothbrush

Bamboo is a great material because it is water-resistant, renewable, and biodegradable, making it the perfect option for those who are looking for an eco-friendly toothbrush. No-tox Life toothbrush is perfect for those who are looking to make more sustainable choices when it comes to their everyday life.

The toothbrush is available in a bundle family pack of 10.

Price Range: $12.98 - $14.98

Key Features:

• Lightweight
• Anti-bacterial
• Compostable packaging

Based on 19 reviews and 4.6 ratings you can definitely say that these eco-friendly toothbrushes have a presence in the market.

Pros: Not only is this toothbrush non-toxic and eco-friendly, but it’s also incredibly durable. You can use it for up to 3 months before needing to replace it, and the packaging is recyclable or compostable.

Cons: A few customers have complained that the bristles are hard.

Overall, you can feel good about using our product knowing that you are helping the environment.

Meow Meow Tweet Eco-friendly Toothbrush

Meow Meow uses compostable bamboo in these toothbrushes, which makes them more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic toothbrushes. Plus, the bristles are incredibly soft and gentle on sensitive gums.

This toothbrush has anti-bacterial and water-resistant properties.

Price Range: $6 to $8

Key Features:

• BPA-free
• Vegetable-based paint
• Recyclable Packaging

Pros: You can feel good knowing that every component of this toothbrush is biodegradable and will decompose naturally. They are also packaged in a way that doesn’t contribute to the growing problem of plastic waste.

Cons: Comparatively new in the market.

Join the movement to go eco-friendly and switch to a Meow Meow Tweet Toothbrush today!

Zero Waste Outlet natural Toothbrush

The Zero Waste Outlet toothbrush has several unique benefits to make it stand out from other zero-waste products. Not only is this toothbrush made from 100% biodegradable and sustainable materials, but the handles are ergonomically designed for comfort and control.

The toothbrush provides a gentle brushing experience without putting too much pressure on the gums or enamel.

Price range: $3.99 -  $4.99

Key Features:

• Naturally Antibacterial
• Handle is Biodegradable
• Vegan
• 7.5" Tall

Based on 4.6 ratings and 14 reviews you can definitely say that this is one good zero-waste natural toothbrushes option in the market.

Pros: Zero Waste Outlet Toothbrush is made of bamboo and can be composted after its useful life. It also has contoured bristles to get into hard-to-reach places. You will love the feel of the handle. It is also made for comfort and durability.

Cons: Certain reviews shows that the toothbrush is a bit rough inside the mouth.

Finally, you can do your part in helping save the environment by making a small yet impactful change to your regular daily brushing routine with this highly-effective Zero Waste Outlet toothbrush.

SURI Sustainable Sonic Eco-friendly Electric Toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes are a staple of oral health routines and, unfortunately, they come with a considerable environmental footprint. Most traditional electric toothbrushes are made with hard plastic that is difficult to recycle, so often these items get thrown away and end up in landfills and oceans. Additionally, most electric toothbrushes require replaceable batteries which adds to the amount of waste generated. It is important to consider the environmental impact of our everyday items when deciding what we buy and use. 

Rethinking the materials utilized was the first step in redesigning the electric toothbrush at SURI. The recyclable toothbrush contains replaceable heads and bristles made with plant-based materials. The ergonomic body is sturdy but slim, made of aluminum, making it long-lasting and easy to recycle.

SURI toothbrush is available in three different colors: Midnight Black, Sea mist, and Winter Fern.

Price range - $65 to $90 (Depends on whether you choose Brush Only or Brush + UV case option).

The sleek design is perfect for travel and the brush can be used with any type of toothpaste. The SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush is the perfect way to keep your teeth clean and environment healthy.

Key Features:

• Plant-based heads made from cornstarch
• Bristles made from castor oil
• Magnetic Mirror Mount
• 40+ Day Battery Life
• 2-Minute Smart Timer
• IPX7 Rated Waterproof

Pros: SURI Sustainable Sonic toothbrush is made with recyclable materials and delivers a dentist-approved clean. Plus, our UV-C light travel case kills 99.9% of germs on your brush heads so you can keep your oral health on track while traveling. You’ll never have to worry about running out of battery life either – their brush lasts up to 40 days on a single charge! In the US and the UK, SURI recycles the heads at no cost.

Cons: Some customers have reported that they wished for a few more brushing modes other than the clean and polish modes.

With over 700 plus reviews and 4.9 customer ratings, SURI Sonic Electric Toothbrush is one of the best sustainable and eco-friendly electric toothbrushes available on the market.

Keep your smile looking good for years to come with our durable and sustainable electric toothbrush. Order yours today!

What makes an eco-friendly toothbrush different from a regular toothbrush?

A more sustainable and biodegradable material, such as bamboo or recycled plastic, is used to make an eco-friendly toothbrush instead of conventional plastics. These toothbrushes are made to have as little of an environmental impact as possible and frequently come in recycled packaging.

How often should I replace my eco-friendly toothbrush?

It is advised to replace your eco-friendly toothbrush every three to four months or whenever the bristles begin to fray, just like you would with a regular toothbrush. Your toothbrush will remain in good condition for a longer period of time if you take good care of the handle and bristles.

Are eco-friendly toothbrushes as effective as regular toothbrushes?

If used properly and have the appropriate bristles, eco-friendly toothbrushes can be just as effective as conventional ones. It's essential to brush for at least two minutes twice a day using a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles.

What are some common materials used in eco-friendly toothbrushes?

Bamboo, recycled plastic, and biodegradable plastic are a few materials frequently found in eco-friendly toothbrushes. Due to the plant's quick growth and capacity for regeneration without the use of pesticides or fertilizers, bamboo toothbrushes are particularly preferred.

Conclusion

Regardless of what you go for, ensure that your toothbrush is a great help and addition to your oral care routine and also friendly to the environment. To make your search for zero-waste toothbrushes easier, we have provided you with a list of trusted eco-friendly toothbrush brands, so you can now find any zero-waste toothbrush with a quick search.

Choose a toothbrush that would not only get your teeth cleaned but is also safe for the environment. So, take the leap, and let's make a big difference by creating a cleaner planet together, one toothbrush at a time.