9 Best Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes: Electric and Manual

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Why should you care about an eco-friendly toothbrush?

We all agree that brushing twice a day is essential for oral health. But what if I told you that the toothbrush you’re using might be doing more harm than good? By the end of this post, you’ll be aware of the issues with regular toothbrushes and equipped with a list of the best eco-friendly options. Let’s dive into the world of eco-friendly toothbrushes, learn why it’s the better choice for the environment, and introduce you to the best brands out there.

What’s wrong with regular toothbrushes?

Let’s face it. We have a landfill problem. 

And those landfills are stacked with one billion plastic toothbrushes annually in the US alone.1

And it’s not just landfills. These toothbrushes end up in our waterways, contaminating the oceans with microplastics.2 

So what can we do?

We can stop the cycle by choosing environmentally friendly toothbrushes.

What should you look for in an environmentally-friendly electric or manual toothbrush?

Look for brushes that are compostable, recyclable or exceptionally long lasting, use replacement heads to reduce waste, are BPA-free, plastic-free and come in sustainable packaging (compostable, recyclable or biodegradable). 

For material, look for bamboo. Bamboo is the world’s fastest growing naturally renewng resource.3

Or silicone, a long-lasting, hygienic, plastic-free material.

Not every eco-friendly toothbrush will have all of these features. Choose the type of toothbrush that’s right for your lifestyle.

Can you compost bamboo?

Yes, you can compost bamboo! It’s a great material for adding to your compost pile because it’s organic and breaks down over time.

Remember that bamboo is a “brown” material, high in carbon, so balance it out with “green” materials, which are high in nitrogen, to maintain a healthy compost pile.

Mixing it well with food scraps, grass clippings, and similar items will help bamboo break down faster.

The Best Eco-Friendly Electric and Manual Toothbrush Options

1. Foreo

eco friendly electric toothbrush in blue with a blue and white head
  • Foreo’s ISSA 3 is an eco-friendly, plastic-free silicone sonic toothbrush.
  • The brush head is made from medical-grade silicone with PBT polymer bristles that are bacteria-resistant to improve gum care and oral hygiene.
  • The replaceable brush heads last up to six months, twice as long as most other toothbrushes.
  • It works with sonic vibrations and offers 16 cleaning modes.
  • It has an impressive battery life of one full year on a single charge.
  • It’s 100% waterproof and free of BPA & phthalates.

2. Foreo (Kids Version)

eco friendly electric toothbrush for kids in blue
  • Foreo’s kid’s brush has features similar to those of the adult version.
  • Foreo’s kid friendly electric toothbrushes ingeniously reward users with a smiley face when they have met the 2-minute timer and remind them with a sad face when they haven’t brushed in over 12 hours.
  • The rechargeable battery on the children’s version lasts 265 days on a single charge.

3. Radius

eco-friendly manual toothbrush with removable head in white
  • Radius’ unique Big Brush manual handle is plant-based, biodegradable, and recyclable. It’s sourced from renewable timber.
  • The heads are replaceable and made with vegetable-based nylon bristles.
  • By reusing the toothbrush handle and replacing only the heads, waste is reduced by 90%.
  • The North American-made brush is 100% petroleum and BPA free, non-toxic, vegan, ADA accepted4, and cruelty free.
  • Radius is a certified B Corporation. A certified corporation meets rigorous social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency.5 It balances profit and purpose.

4. Zero Waste Store

eco-friendly manual toothbrush in bamboo
  • Zero Waste Store’s bamboo toothbrush is made with 100% sustainably sourced bamboo and castor bean oil bristles.
  • The bristles and handle are backyard compostable.
  • The packaging is cardboard and 100% compostable. 

5. Eco Roots

  • Eco Roots sustainable toothbrush bamboo handle is 100% compostable.
  • The bristles are recyclable nylon.
  • The brushes are cruelty-free, vegan and ship in plastic free and recyclable packaging.

6. Suri

  • Suri’s sonic high-vibration toothbrush handle is aluminum and designed to be taken apart and repaired when needed.
  • The recyclable plant-based heads are made from sustainably sourced corn starch and the bristles from castor oil.
  • The heads are compostable or can be returned in a pre-paid recycling mailer.
  • The brush lasts 40 days on a single charge.
  • Suri is a certified B Corporation.

7. Humble Co.

eco-friendly manual toothbrushes in bamboo with give different color heads
  • Humble’s toothbrushes are made from bamboo with BPA-free nylon-6 and caster bean oil bristles.
  • They are vegan and cruelty-free certified.

8. Humble Co. Electric Brush Heads

electric toothbrush earth-friendly replacement heads
  • Want to be more eco-friendly but not give up your Philips Sonicare? 
  • ​Humble Co.’s electric brush heads fit over 50 different types of Philips Sonicare toothbrushes.
  • While the heads are not pure bamboo [Bamboo outer casing (88%) with a Polypropylene inner casing (12%)], the heads use 88% less plastic than traditional electric toothbrush heads. The bristles are BPA-free Nylon-6.

9. Etee

  • Etee’s manual bamboo toothbrush uses replaceable heads with 100% plant-based bristles.
  • The bamboo is FSC-certified meaning it’s been harvested in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council’s standards for responsible forest management assuring environmental sustainability.6
  • The heads last three months and are compostable, following the directions here.
  • The base is dipped in water-based paint to prevent water damage.
  • Etee is cruelty-free.

10. Sustainable Tomorrow 

  • Sustainable Tomorrow’s electric toothbrush is made of either compostable, biodegradable, or recyclable parts.
  • The handle is made of recyclable plastic to prioritize safety and durability.
  • The bamboo electric toothbrush heads are made from 95% raw bamboo, 4% sustainably sources cornstarch PLA. 
  • The soft bristles are made from castor bean oil.
  • It has 5 sonic brushing modes up to 38,000 vibrations per minute and a 2-minute timer.
  • The battery lasts 30 days on a single charge.
  • The brush is 100% organic, plastic, and BPA-free.

Help me get started!

Do you want to live a less-toxic, more eco-friendly lifestyle but have no idea where to begin? Here’s our “Non-Toxic 101” guide to get you started today!

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Are electric toothbrushes more environmentally friendly than manual ones?

There is no cut-and-dry answer to this question. 

On one hand, electric toothbrushes, with their plastic, batteries, and electronic components, carry a heavier burden in terms of resource extraction, manufacturing, and eventual disposal. 

They demand more from the planet to make and dispose of, not to mention their reliance on electricity (and, by extension, potentially non-renewable energy sources) for their daily operation. 

However, they are often more effective at cleaning, might promote better dental health, and thus reduce the need for resource-intensive dental treatments. They also only require replacing the heads rather than the entire brush.

On the flip side, manual toothbrushes are simpler and require fewer resources to produce. 

However, they still contribute to plastic waste, a significant environmental concern. They also need to be replaced more frequently than an electric toothbrush.

Thus, the question of which is more environmentally friendly isn’t black and white—it’s a nuanced debate that requires weighing immediate impacts against long-term outcomes and personal health benefits. 

Without a clear-cut answer, I would choose the toothbrush type that works best for you and your lifestyle while also choosing one that is eco-friendly, whether electric or manual.

Final thoughts on the best eco-friendly electric and manual toothbrushes

With so many terrific types of eco-friendly toothbrushes, it’s easy to make the switch.

Whether you choose a long-lasting electric toothbrush with sonic technology or a compostable manual brush, you know your choices will benefit you and the planet by reducing plastic pollution.

Over to you

Have you already embraced eco-friendly toothbrushes? Or are you curious to give them a try? Share your thoughts, experiences, and recommendations in the comments.

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Sources

  1. National Geographic ↩︎
  2. National Institute of Health ↩︎
  3. United Nations ↩︎
  4. American Dental Association ↩︎
  5. B Corporation Certification ↩︎
  6. Forest Stewardship Council ↩︎

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