As I continue on my plastic free journey, I have been playing around with various options for my dental hygiene over the past 6 months. And I am pleased to announce that I am finally ready for my recommendations around toothpaste, dental floss/ picks and toothbrushes.

Here are my Toothpaste options:

If you want an experience that is closest to your current toothpaste experience, I would highly recommend David’s Premium Natural Toothpaste which is made in the USA. The founder worked tirelessly for several years to identify the best natural ingredients that are effective and safely white teeth, fight plaque and freshen breath. The item comes in a recyclable metal tube which brings me back to years past. It comes with a little “key” to roll up the tube which I am not sure is entirely necessary. Up until being introduced to this option, I was using toothpaste  in glass jars. Thank you Sustainability Concierge, Friday Apaliski for this recommendation during our hour long “Going Green Session”. If you are local in the San Francisco Bay Area and struggling with how to live more sustainably, check her out! David’s is definitely my top recommendation for a more sustainable toothpaste option!

The very first brand I tried was Uncle Harry’s Fluoride Free Toothpaste (glass jar). Uncle Harry’s Toothpaste refreshes the mouth with a powerful mineral clay, sea salt and pure plant essences. And when they say powerful, they are not kidding! This definitely was a very different experience as you take your toothbrush and get a little of the paste on it directly from the jar, add water and brush normally. It was noted that the ingredients have high antibacterial properties so doing so was fine. The flavor is strong and definitely felt like it was doing its job and once I got used to it, I really liked it. However, since the formula is made with a brownish clay, the rinsing to the sink did leave it quite messy. I will probably continue to use this brand for travel as it packs easier without the need to check or buy travel size toothpaste. So I think this is a great option for those open to a new experience.

The other brand I tired was  Native Essence Botanicals Toothpaste. This is similar in nature to the Harry’s Toothpaste coming in a glass jar. There was a difference on how they recommend you use this product.  They recommend to scoop a pea size amount of toothpaste onto brush with a clean utensil such as a small spoon, add water and brush normally. I used wooden popsicle sticks. For this brand it is not recommended to put your toothbrush directly into the jar and you also need to avoid water contact with the formula inside the jar. The experience from a taste perspective was better than Harry’s and did not leave a mess in the sink. I found Harry’s easier to use since I could use the paste directly from the jar and honestly, Harry’s just felt like it was working harder for me.

Dental Floss options:

Well, when you happen upon the best on your first go around, there was no need to look further. The first dental floss I tried was Dental Lace- Silk Dental Floss which is a refillable dental floss (Dental Lace- Refill). It comes in a glass jar with a tin cap which cuts the floss. I have always been the worst at flossing. Maybe my subconscious was not OK with the plastic container? Oddly, I floss more often with my Dental Lace Silk Floss. I can also compost the floss so that is an added benefit. I have one in my bathroom and one in my travel bag. I do have very narrow gaps between my teeth so once in awhile the floss breaks but I will take that knowing that I have found a fantastic zero waste flossing option.

My partner prefers the floss picks so I found him Lucky Teeth Charcoal Floss Picks which will biodegrade in 6 months because they are made of cornstarch. These floss picks are more of a medium grade so not ideal for me who has tight teeth but a great option for others. The picks arrive in a plastic bag so I would love to see them transition to a cardboard box to be more sustainable.

Toothbrush options:

I have to admit that I do use an electric toothbrush at home. I have very soft teeth that are prone to cavities so I have stuck largely with my electric toothbrush. You always have to remember that it is progress not perfection but every plastic free habit you develop and share helps to build the momentum.

However, when I travel I do bring my bamboo toothbrush with me and want to be as sustainable as possible. I love my Isshah Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrush which comes in a 4 pack. The box is made of craft paper and is recyclable. The bamboo is biodegradable. The nylon bristles unfortunately are not biodegradable as there is not a 100% biodegradable option yet to replace nylon. The bristles are on the softer side but it still feels like it works well.

If there is anything you want me to investigate or blog about regarding using less plastic, let me know! I definitely will dig into it and report back!

*disclosure: Some links in this blog are affiliate links, meaning I make a little bit of money but at no additional cost to you. I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase. This will help me to continue to explore and offer up recommendations to reduce your plastic usage.