There is so much information online about dental health: what is the best tooth paste to use, should you do oil pulling, whether using a water pick is as effective as flossing, how much fluoride is enough fluoride. I don’t know too much about dental health. I am not a dentist, but I have asked my dentist about the products I use. He approved of the tooth paste, reported that a water pick is adequate if preferred over floss, and emphasized the importance of a good routine (brushing twice daily and flossing/water picking daily) over anything. I am all about simplicity, a true less is more mentality. So for me, the less steps the better. Hence why I don’t do oil pulling or anything else accessory. It is out of pure laziness, not because I don’t agree that other routines are great for dental health too.
I use a compostable bamboo toothbrush from Green Panda. Their products and packaging are 100% biodegradable, so no worrying about materials sitting in landfills. Once I change out this tooth brush for a new one, I can chuck the old one in the compost.
There are so many options for tooth paste recipes vs tooth powder. I prefer the paste, and this recipe is much simpler than many you will find online. Just mix baking soda with enough water to form a paste, then add in about 20 drops of mint essential oil. The mint adds a nice taste and gives you that fresh breath feel. We store our tooth paste in a wide mouth small mason jar for easy access.
Lastly, I buy Eco-DenT floss. It is a vegan waxed, nylon floss. The wax is rice bran, no chemicals, and the nylon doesn’t require chemical sterilization like silk floss does. It comes in a paper box that is easily recycled. The 100 yards of floss is way more floss per package than other brands, saving more processing and packaging. The floss comes in a paper-fiber packaging that is plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable. There are many other floss brands that focus on sustainability, but this is one I like most and is available at our nearby Whole Foods. Whitney opts for using a water pick instead of floss, out of preference.
I am by no means an expert on either dental health or zero waste. If anyone has any recommendations or ideas, please feel free to comment below. I would love to hear from you!