Because there are so many ways to go green, there are ways you can go green in every area of your life. Most people consider what they put in their recycling bin and what kind of clothing they buy, but did you know you can also go green with your dental routine?
Although it’s a routine you don’t normally think about, it can be very wasteful. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make your dental routine greener without compromising your health.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
The first thing you can do to go green is to visit your dentist regularly. If you don’t, you can expect increased dental care in the future, which means using more resources. You’ll use a lot less when getting your teeth cleaned twice a year than if you end up having to spend hours in the chair getting your teeth pulled and having dentures made.
Brushing at home isn’t enough because your dentist has powerful dental tools that can get your teeth cleaner in the office than you can get at home. Spend a few minutes getting your teeth cleaned regularly and you can save hours in the chair, as well as important resources, later.
Ask Your Dentist How They Are Eco-Friendly
The dentist you choose to visit regularly matters. Although every dentist should be able to get your teeth clean and maintain your smile, how they do it can have a big impact on the environment.
Ask your dentist about the things they do to be more eco-friendly. You may be surprised to learn that the office already participates in eco-friendly practices. For example, the office manager may purchase eco-friendly scrubs and they may have removed the office from junk mail lists.
If you aren’t happy with the steps that your dental office is taking towards being more eco-friendly, don’t be afraid to look for another dentist. There are a lot of offices out there that take their duty to minimize their carbon footprint seriously.
Find Recyclable, Eco-Friendly Products
The products you use at home matter too. Most dental products have to be thrown in the garbage. When you consider that your toothbrush should be replaced every few months, it’s easy to see how the landfills are full of discarded plastic toothbrushes!
Instead, look for recyclable, eco-friendly products. For example, did you know you can find recyclable toothbrushes? Some are made with wooden handles and bristles that are biodegradable.
Floss is an especially big problem for wildlife when it ends up in the landfill. You can find silk dental floss that is completely biodegradable. Not only is it easier on the environment, you may find that it's gentler to use than traditional floss.
Turn off the Water
Wasting water is a big deal. It may be a bigger deal in some areas compared to others, but no matter where you live, you should look for ways to reduce your water consumption. It ensures there’s clean water tomorrow, and it reduces the resources needed to process clean water.
One of the most common ways people waste water is by leaving the faucet on when brushing their teeth. A few seconds each day can add up to minutes every year and hours in a lifetime. That’s a lot of water that’s going down the drain for no reason!
Turn on the water to rinse your brush, then turn it off again until you’re ready to rinse away the toothpaste. If you like to wet your brush multiple times during brushing, put water in a small cup instead of leaving the faucet on.
Recycle and Reuse What You Can
No matter how hard you try, chances are, there’s going to be something that needs to get tossed in the trash. Before you throw it in the bin, think about whether it can be recycled or reused.
For example, the box that the toothpaste tube comes in can be recycled. Unfortunately, the floss box probably can’t, because it’s made out of a unique kind of plastic, but it can be reused!
A few ways to get creative reusing your floss boxes include:
- Turn them into mini sewing kits.
- Use them to hold ear plugs when you go on vacation.
- Use them to store the smallest Legos that get lost easily.
- Decorate them and let the kids use them as Barbie purses.
If you’re looking for new ways to be more environmentally-conscious, look no further than your dental routine. There are many ways to get a bright smile while going green!
