Best Bamboo Toothbrushes: 3 Great Options
When someone gets the urge to start living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, they often think of how they can make large sweeping improvements. They set their goals high and focus on large items like replacing their gas guzzling car with a bike and giving up meat cold turkey (pun intended!).
But, sometimes the biggest changes come from the smallest things.
Not everyone can realistically give up their car. You can switch to electric, but maybe you still need a car. It might take awhile to go completely meat-free. But, you can still make a big difference by changing some of the small but common products you use, like toothbrushes. That's right. Replace those old plastic toothbrushes with biodegradable bamboo ones.
Quick Review Chart
Product | Specs | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  WowE | # of Brushes 4 | ||
  Mother's Vault | # of Brushes 1 | ||
  The Green Root | # of Brushes 4 |
*Clicking on parts of the chart above takes you to product pages on Amazon.com
Why Bamboo?
Most of the world's toothbrushes are made from plastic. That plastic is made through a process that can use toxic chemicals. And, as the plastic from discarded toothbrushes decays over time, it can release toxic chemicals like BPA into the environment.
Bamboo on the other hand is a grass. It grows all over the place naturally and is not produced in a factory. It's also considered a sustainable resource due to how much there is and how quickly it grows.
And, due to the supply and speed of regrowth, it's not too pricey.
Reviews of Our Top Choices
We picked a few of the bamboo toothbrushes we feel are the best of the best, but that doesn't mean these are your only option. Please take a look, but even if you don't feel these picks are right for you, don't give up on the idea. Remember, small changes can make big differences.
WowE Natural Bamboo Toothbrushes
Click the image above to purchase item from Amazon.com
WowE is the perfect name for this product. I mean, just look at those beautiful toothbrushes. WowE! But, in all seriousness, they really are awesome.
They come in packs of four, and each brush is individually numbered making them perfect for families (You won't get confused about what toothbrush is yours!). Or, if the pack is only for you, it can last up to an entire year.
Major Features
The WowE toothbrushes contain two main parts: a smooth water-resistant bamboo handle and BPA-free bristles. They don't require any special handling, so you can easily replace your old plastic brushes with these. The only thing you'll notice is that they look much nicer.
The nylon bristles are soft and 100% BPA free, so you don't have to worry about them bleeding toxins into waterways once you dispose of the brushes.
And, if all that wasn't enough, WowE donate 1% of all sales to OneTreePlanted.org, a non-profit focused on reforestation.
Features include -
- Zero Waste Packaging - Like the actual toothbrushes, WowE made sure to be eco-friendly with their packaging as well. They don't overdo it with the materials, and what little material they do use are plastic free and recyclable.
- Ergonomic Design - They don't just look great, they feel great too.
- Biodegradable & Recyclable Components - The bamboo handle is sustainable making for a mostly biodegradable toothbrush, and the nylon bristles are recyclable.
Pros & Cons
Mother's Vault Mao Bamboo Toothbrushes
Click the image above to purchase item from Amazon.com
Mother's Vault also offer a nice 4-pack of eco-friendly & biodegradable toothbrushes. The handles are made from Chinese Mao bamboo and the bristles are made from BPA-free nylon.
Though the bamboo comes from China, these toothbrushes are packaged in the USA. They are also fully guaranteed, so there's no reason to not give them a try.
Major Features
Toothbrushes are not a complicated tool, and these Mother's Vault ones are no different. That doesn't mean they aren't a quality product though.
They also come in two different sizes. There are the regular-sized adult brushes, and there is a smaller 6 inch long child-size model.
Features include -
- Charitable Cause - Aside from being an eco-friendly product, Mother's Vault donates a portion of each sale to Earthjustice.
- Completely Recyclable - From the handle to the bristles to the packaging, everything is 100% recyclable.
- Durable - One brush lasts on average about one month, which is similar to all the standard plastic brushes.
Pros & Cons
The Green Root Biodegradable Toothbrushes
Click the image above to purchase item from Amazon.com
If their name doesn't already make it clear, The Green Root is a company focused on eco-friendly design. Their excellent bamboo toothbrushes do just that.
Like many other similar products, they come in convenient packs of four. That's good enough for a year's worth of solo use, or for a few month for a family of four.
Major Features
The Green Root eco friendly toothbrushes feature individually numbered bamboo handles, nylon bristles, and paper-based biodegradable compostable packaging. Talk about eco-friendly!
The also have a unique 15 degree curved head. The Green Root claims this allows for up to 25% more plaque removal than other popular bamboo toothbrush options.
Features include -
- Soft Bristles - The bristles are great for children and anyone with sensitive gums and should not hurt or cause any bleeding.
- BPA-free - Like many other comparable toothbrushes, these use a BPA-free nylon.
- Recycled Packaging - Aside from the packaging being biodegradable, it's made from organic recycled paper.
Pros & Cons
Additional Considerations
You won't go wrong with any of the three choices reviewed above. They all use bamboo for the handles, BPA-free nylon for he bristles, and eco-friendly environmentally responsible packaging.
Although they are all biodegradable, if you plan to compost the brushes you should consider removing the bristles by tweezer and disposing or recycling them separately. They are nylon and can biodegrade, but nylon and bamboo degrade at vastly different rates.
An additional bonus on using a bamboo handle over a plastic one is that bamboo is naturally antimicrobial. That is a great thing for an item you use daily that often ends up sitting in a damp and dark place.
And, it's important to note that all three of the choices above go great with some natural cruelty free toothpaste.
Conclusion
All three of the bamboo toothbrush reviews should show that at the core, they are all good products made from environmentally conscious companies. You can feel good about not contributing to the already out of control landfill problem no matter where you live.
And remember, that small changes add up. While the amount of plastic in one toothbrush might not seem like a lot, if one person switches from plastic to bamboo, they can reduce plastic waste by nearly a pound a year. Over 40 years, that can make a real difference. For a family of four, that would equate to a reduction of close to 160 pounds!
Now is the best time to switch to bamboo for good.
