Motion settings, pressure detectors, and ionisation... When you’re browsing hundreds of science-fiction style dental inventions, it can be hard to imagine the modest origin of the toothbrush.


As early as 3000 BC we had ‘chew sticks’ for our teeth; a thin twig with a frayed end for cleaning. It might be hard to believe but this style of toothbrush is still common in some areas of the world today. 

The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 AD in China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a hog’s neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo. Delicious! 

Surprisingly, boar bristles were used until 1938, when nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont de Nemours. The first nylon toothbrush was called Doctor West’s Miracle Toothbrush.

If boar bristles don’t sound appealing, you might not have enjoyed living in Medieval Germany. They believed kissing a donkey would cure dental problems! 



In the industrial years of the 1800s lots of smart cookies were inventing new products to make life that little bit better.  It was in 1880 that Dr Scott advertised the first electric toothbrush, with just one small hitch - it was not, in fact, electric. Unsurprisingly, this did not catch on. 

A mere 50 years later electric toothbrushes made a resurgence, this time with more success- and electricity! They were initially created for patients with limited motor skills but expanded to the general public. 

Throughout the last 50 years the market has been saturated by brushes of all shapes and sizes. From hands-free to a $4,000 titanium toothbrush, there are an overwhelming variety to choose from. 

At the end of the day, it doesn’t need to be the most high-tech or gold-plated. The most important thing is to get a toothbrush that is gentle and one you enjoy using. Find a toothbrush that makes cleaning your Pearlii whites effortless!



Take our quiz to find out what kind of toothbrush you are. 

As early as 3000 BC we had ‘chew sticks’ for our teeth; a thin twig with a frayed end for cleaning. It might be hard to believe but this style of toothbrush is still common in some areas of the world today. 

The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 AD in China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a hog’s neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo. Delicious! 

Surprisingly, boar bristles were used until 1938, when nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont de Nemours. The first nylon toothbrush was called Doctor West’s Miracle Toothbrush.

If boar bristles don’t sound appealing, you might not have enjoyed living in Medieval Germany. They believed kissing a donkey would cure dental problems! 

In the industrial years of the 1800s lots of smart cookies were inventing new products to make life that little bit better.  It was in 1880 that Dr Scott advertised the first electric toothbrush, with just one small hitch - it was not, in fact, electric. Unsurprisingly, this did not catch on. 

A mere 50 years later electric toothbrushes made a resurgence, this time with more success- and electricity! They were initially created for patients with limited motor skills but expanded to the general public. 

Throughout the last 50 years the market has been saturated by brushes of all shapes and sizes. From hands-free to a $4,000 titanium toothbrush, there are an overwhelming variety to choose from. 

At the end of the day, it doesn’t need to be the most high-tech or gold-plated. The most important thing is to get a toothbrush that is gentle and one you enjoy using. Find a toothbrush that makes cleaning your Pearlii whites effortless!

Take our quiz to find out what kind of toothbrush you are. 

Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?

Science Illustrated: Who invented the toothbrush?

Motion settings, pressure detectors, and ionisation... When you’re browsing hundreds of science-fiction style dental inventions, it can be hard to imagine the modest origin of the toothbrush.  Early inventions As early as 3000 BC we had ‘chew sticks’ for our teeth; a thin twig with a frayed end for cleaning. It might be hard to believe but this style of toothbrush is still common in some areas of the world today. 

The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 AD in China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a hog’s neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo. Delicious! 

Surprisingly, boar bristles were used until 1938, when nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont de Nemours. The first nylon toothbrush was called Doctor West’s Miracle Toothbrush. If boar bristles don’t sound appealing, you might not have enjoyed living in Medieval Germany. They believed kissing a donkey would cure dental problems!   The Electric Toothbrush In the industrial years of the 1800s lots of smart cookies were inventing new products to make life that little bit better.  It was in 1880 that Dr Scott advertised the first electric toothbrush, with just one small hitch - it was not, in fact, electric. Unsurprisingly, this did not catch on.  A mere 50 years later electric toothbrushes made a resurgence, this time with more success- and electricity! They were initially created for patients with limited motor skills but expanded to the general public.  Throughout the last 50 years the market has been saturated by brushes of all shapes and sizes. From hands-free to a $4,000 titanium toothbrush, there are an overwhelming variety to choose from.  At the end of the day, it doesn’t need to be the most high-tech or gold-plated. The most important thing is to get a toothbrush that is gentle and one you enjoy using. Find a toothbrush that makes cleaning your Pearlii whites effortless! So how do you think you scrub up? Take our quiz to find out what kind of toothbrush you are. 

Go back in time and learn how our trusty toothbrush came to be.  

A brief history of the humble toothbrush

The holidays are here and it’s time to start purchasing that special gift for your loved ones! No matter the occasion, a Pearlii gift will make it extra special. Not only will you be delighting your loved ones with eco-friendly oral care products, you will also be helping the vulnerable people and communities receive much needed dental care.

What’s the big problem with dental care?

The lack of access to dental care is sadly still a global health issue. According to the World Health Organisation, it is estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people around the world. Oral diseases can make life difficult (imagine feeling pain in your teeth every time you had a crunchy snack!) and even life-threatening in some cases.

Despite having a world-class health-care system, not everyone can afford or conveniently access a dentist in Australia. This is mainly because dental care is not fully covered by the government. As a result, many individuals who cannot afford a private health insurance or expensive dental bills are left on long waiting lists on the public system if they want to see a dentist.

4 in 10 people delay or avoid seeing a dentist because of the cost

1 in 4 children (aged 5 to 10) have untreated decay in their baby teeth

1 in 25 people (aged 15 and over) have no natural teeth left.

Additionally, certain population groups really struggle to access dental care. These include people who are socially disadvantaged or on low incomes (such as refugees and individuals experiencing homelessness), people living in remote areas, and people with specialised health care needs.

This is a real shame because oral health diseases are largely preventable with regular check-ups at the dentist.

So what is the Pearlii Foundation (and what is a “Dental truck”)?

We decided to do something to tackle this issue. Through the Pearlii Foundation, we donate 50% of our profits to community dental projects that will help vulnerable people and communities access dental care.

People living in some states and territories have generally poorer oral health than others. For example, it has been found that the prevalence of cavities in children were significantly higher in the Northern Territory and Queensland than other states and territories.

Dr. Jalal Khan, an ambassador of the Pearlii Foundation, has sought to fix this problem. In 2018, Dr. Khan purchased his very first dental truck, a fully equipped and operational dental clinic on wheels. Since purchasing the dental truck, Dr. Khan has been driving his truck to remote regions in Queensland and NSW so that he can provide dental care to those who need it.

In an interview, Dr. Khan expresses that he finds his work in remote communities in Australia to be extremely fulfilling. By doing this job, he has been able to help individuals who have experienced years of teeth pain, fulfilled a dying man’s last wish to eat his favourite food and helped a young mum living in the outback to conveniently get her fillings done. When asked about a memorable experience, he recounts:

“I once had a patient that was in palliative care in his 70s with only a few months to live. He was really struggling to eat steaks and sausages because of the dental pain he was experiencing in his lower mouth. It was upsetting him because he had only had a few months to live because of a cancer, and all he wanted to do was to “eat a steak”.

In about an hour, I was able to do a few fillings and give his teeth a general clean. This helped to get him up and running for the rest of his days. He was so happy to comfortably be able to eat food for the rest of his days.”

At Pearlii, we’ve made it our mission to help build a whole fleet of Pearlii Dental Trucks. Our Pearlii Dental Truck will provide dental services to even more communities and locations all around Australia, so that many more people can receive the oral care they need. By 2023, we hope to have our first operational Pearlii Dental Truck!

This is why Pearlii products are the perfect gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Not only can you gift someone sustainable oral health products that will help keep their smile healthy and bright, but you are truly giving smiles to others in need.

Oral Health and Dental Care in Australia - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Dental Health - Australian Government - Department of Health and Aged Care

Dr Jalal Khan and the Dental Health Truck

The holidays are here and it’s time to start purchasing that special gift for your loved ones! No matter the occasion, a Pearlii gift will make it extra special. Not only will you be delighting your loved ones with eco-friendly oral care products, you will also be helping the vulnerable people and communities receive much needed dental care.  What’s the big problem with dental care? The lack of access to dental care is sadly still a global health issue. According to the World Health Organisation, it is estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people around the world. Oral diseases can make life difficult (imagine feeling pain in your teeth every time you had a crunchy snack!) and even life-threatening in some cases.  Despite having a world-class health-care system, not everyone can afford or conveniently access a dentist in Australia. This is mainly because dental care is not fully covered by the government. As a result, many individuals who cannot afford a private health insurance or expensive dental bills are left on long waiting lists on the public system if they want to see a dentist. Statistics show, that, in Australia: 4 in 10 people delay or avoid seeing a dentist because of the cost 1 in 4 children (aged 5 to 10) have untreated decay in their baby teeth 1 in 25 people (aged 15 and over) have no natural teeth left. Additionally, certain population groups really struggle to access dental care. These include people who are socially disadvantaged or on low incomes (such as refugees and individuals experiencing homelessness), people living in remote areas, and people with specialised health care needs. This is a real shame because oral health diseases are largely preventable with regular check-ups at the dentist.  So what is the Pearlii Foundation (and what is a “Dental truck”)? We decided to do something to tackle this issue. Through the Pearlii Foundation, we donate 50% of our profits to community dental projects that will help vulnerable people and communities access dental care. People living in some states and territories have generally poorer oral health than others. For example, it has been found that the prevalence of cavities in children were significantly higher in the Northern Territory and Queensland than other states and territories. Dr. Jalal Khan, an ambassador of the Pearlii Foundation, has sought to fix this problem. In 2018, Dr. Khan purchased his very first dental truck, a fully equipped and operational dental clinic on wheels. Since purchasing the dental truck, Dr. Khan has been driving his truck to remote regions in Queensland and NSW so that he can provide dental care to those who need it.  In an interview, Dr. Khan expresses that he finds his work in remote communities in Australia to be extremely fulfilling. By doing this job, he has been able to help individuals who have experienced years of teeth pain, fulfilled a dying man’s last wish to eat his favourite food and helped a young mum living in the outback to conveniently get her fillings done. When asked about a memorable experience, he recounts: “I once had a patient that was in palliative care in his 70s with only a few months to live. He was really struggling to eat steaks and sausages because of the dental pain he was experiencing in his lower mouth. It was upsetting him because he had only had a few months to live because of a cancer, and all he wanted to do was to “eat a steak”. In about an hour, I was able to do a few fillings and give his teeth a general clean. This helped to get him up and running for the rest of his days. He was so happy to comfortably be able to eat food for the rest of his days.”  Building more dental trucks At Pearlii, we’ve made it our mission to help build a whole fleet of Pearlii Dental Trucks. Our Pearlii Dental Truck will provide dental services to even more communities and locations all around Australia, so that many more people can receive the oral care they need. By 2023, we hope to have our first operational Pearlii Dental Truck!  This is why Pearlii products are the perfect gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Not only can you gift someone sustainable oral health products that will help keep their smile healthy and bright, but you are truly giving smiles to others in need.

Give smiles to those in need through the Pearlii Foundation!

Oral care gifts that give back this holiday

Take this quiz to find out how you scrub up! You won’t believe how accurate it is! 

A) Meat Pie
B) Smoked salmon blini
C) Chips
D) Falafel

A) Whiskey neat
B) Champagne
C) Anything on tap
D) Kombucha

A) Ex-police sniffer dog
B) Cavoodle
C) Border collie
D) Rescue greyhound

A) Super speed
B) Shape shifting
C) Ability to fly
D) Can speak to animals

A) “Late? I’m never late!”
B) “I was getting my hair done...“
C) “I lost track of time, oops!”
D) “Flat tyre on my bike, sorry…”

A) Royal Blue
B) Eggshell
C) Navy Blue
D) Turquoise


A) An eagle
B) A lion
C) A sloth
D) A panda

Mostly As: You are a hands-free toothbrush: You work smarter, not harder. Spreadsheets and automation are your jam. Efficiency is your middle name.

Mostly Bs: You are an electric toothbrush: You are all class and you know what you want. You like the finer things in life and nothing feels better than fresh, clean linen sheets.

Mostly Cs: You are a traditional toothbrush: You are down to earth and easy-going. You always get the job done without ruffling any feathers. Everyone wants to be your friend.

Mostly Ds: You are a bamboo toothbrush: You’re an animal lover and know your way around a recycling bin. You have ambitions of owning a worm farm and growing organic vegetables.

Take this quiz to find out how you scrub up! You won’t believe how accurate it is!   What's your favourite finger food? A) Meat Pie
B) Smoked salmon blini
C) Chips
D) Falafel What's your Friday night drink? A) Whiskey neat
B) Champagne
C) Anything on tap
D) Kombucha  Where do you holiday? A) Tokyo
B) Paris
C) Hawaii
D) Byron Bay What's your dream dog? A) Ex-police sniffer dog
B) Cavoodle
C) Border collie
D) Rescue greyhound What's your superpower? A) Super speed
B) Shape shifting
C) Ability to fly
D) Can speak to animals What's your excuse for being late? A) “Late? I’m never late!”
B) “I was getting my hair done...“
C) “I lost track of time, oops!”
D) “Flat tyre on my bike, sorry…”   What shade of blue are you? A) Royal Blue
B) Eggshell
C) Navy Blue
D) Turquoise
 What's your spirit animal? A) An eagle
B) A lion
C) A sloth
D) A panda   Mostly As: You are a hands-free toothbrush: You work smarter, not harder. Spreadsheets and automation are your jam. Efficiency is your middle name.  Mostly Bs: You are an electric toothbrush: You are all class and you know what you want. You like the finer things in life and nothing feels better than fresh, clean linen sheets.  Mostly Cs: You are a traditional toothbrush: You are down to earth and easy-going. You always get the job done without ruffling any feathers. Everyone wants to be your friend.  Mostly Ds: You are a bamboo toothbrush: You’re an animal lover and know your way around a recycling bin. You have ambitions of owning a worm farm and growing organic vegetables.

 Take this quiz to find out how you scrub up! You won’t believe how accurate it is!   

What type of toothbrush are you?

As we grow up, we all develop little personal care habits that quickly become ingrained in our routine.  How you tie your shoelaces, or how you get dressed, are personal preferences that don’t have a right or wrong answer.  

When it comes to your dental health, however, there is a particular order of doing things that is backed up by scientific research.  The first step in your dental routine should be (drum roll) flossing.  

Here’s a fun fact for you: that soft plaque between your teeth can turn into hardened tartar after just 24 hours.  Yikes!  

This is why it’s important to floss every day, and not just do a ‘panic floss’ before your next dentist appointment.

Flossing helps loosen the larger pieces of trapped food, which can then be swept away by your toothbrush bristles.

Flossing + Fluoride = Best friends forever

Did you know that each tooth has five surfaces?  The three sides you can see, plus the two sides pressing up against neighbouring teeth. 

Brushing only cleans the surfaces you can see, while flossing wiggles into those hidden spots to clean the other two surfaces.  When you clear out those spaces between your teeth, you create tiny grooves that allow your toothpaste to infiltrate.  

Why does this matter?  Because the fluoride in your toothpaste helps to strengthen your enamel, which prevents tooth decay. 

Our busy life means it is easy to get distracted, and rush through your dental health routine at the end of a long, hard day. 

But here’s the rub: if you floss your teeth after brushing, then you are more likely to forget. 

While we know it might be tempting to think ‘I’ll just do it tomorrow’, it’s essential to clear away that plaque before it hardens.  Otherwise, it’ll take you a trip to the dentist to get your tartar build-up removed. 

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you to adopt the ‘floss first philosophy’.

As we grow up, we all develop little personal care habits that quickly become ingrained in our routine. How you tie your shoelaces, or how you get dressed, are personal preferences that don’t have a right or wrong answer.  

When it comes to your dental health, however, there is a particular order of doing things that is backed up by scientific research. The first step in your dental routine should be (drum roll) flossing.  

Here’s a fun fact for you: that soft plaque between your teeth can turn into hardened tartar after just 24 hours. Yikes!  

This is why it’s important to use dental floss every day, and not just do a ‘panic floss’ before your next dentist appointment.

Dental flossing helps loosen the larger pieces of trapped food, which can then be swept away by your toothbrush bristles.

Did you know that each tooth has five surfaces? The three sides you can see, plus the two sides pressing up against neighbouring teeth.

This means that bamboo toothbrush of yours only cleans the surfaces you can see, while flossing wiggles into those hidden spots to clean the other two surfaces. When you clear out those spaces between your teeth, you create tiny grooves that allow your toothpaste to infiltrate.

Why does this matter? Because the fluoride in your toothpaste helps to strengthen your enamel, which prevents tooth decay. 

While we know it might be tempting to think ‘I’ll just do it tomorrow’, it’s essential to clear away that plaque before it hardens. Otherwise, it’ll take you a trip to the dentist to get your tartar build-up removed. 

Get your hands on some Biofloss Easy Picks to enhance your dental routine. 

Is it Best to Floss Before or After Brushing Your Teeth?

Dental Plaque and Tartar: Causes, Prevention, and Removal

As we grow up, we all develop little personal care habits that quickly become ingrained in our routine. How you tie your shoelaces, or how you get dressed, are personal preferences that don’t have a right or wrong answer.   When it comes to your dental health, however, there is a particular order of doing things that is backed up by scientific research. The first step in your dental routine should be (drum roll) flossing.   Want to know why?  Flossing loosens Here’s a fun fact for you: that soft plaque between your teeth can turn into hardened tartar after just 24 hours. Yikes!   This is why it’s important to use dental floss every day, and not just do a ‘panic floss’ before your next dentist appointment. Dental flossing helps loosen the larger pieces of trapped food, which can then be swept away by your toothbrush bristles.  Flossing + Fluoride = Best friends forever Did you know that each tooth has five surfaces? The three sides you can see, plus the two sides pressing up against neighbouring teeth. This means that bamboo toothbrush of yours only cleans the surfaces you can see, while flossing wiggles into those hidden spots to clean the other two surfaces. When you clear out those spaces between your teeth, you create tiny grooves that allow your toothpaste to infiltrate. Why does this matter? Because the fluoride in your toothpaste helps to strengthen your enamel, which prevents tooth decay.   Floss first to fight against forgetting Our busy life means it is easy to get distracted, and rush through your dental health routine at the end of a long, hard day.  But here’s the rub: if you floss your teeth after brushing, then you are more likely to forget.  While we know it might be tempting to think ‘I’ll just do it tomorrow’, it’s essential to clear away that plaque before it hardens. Otherwise, it’ll take you a trip to the dentist to get your tartar build-up removed.  Hopefully, we’ve convinced you to adopt the ‘floss first philosophy’. Get your hands on some Biofloss Easy Picks to enhance your dental routine. 

Should you brush or floss first?

With 3.5 billion toothbrushes sold each year, toothbrushes account for a heck of a lot of waste!

Which is one reason why we’ve strived to minimise waste with our sustainable dental-care product range, by using biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable materials in our products.

But before we give you some tips on how to dispose of your used Pearlii products, do we all know what these words actually mean?

Let us first give you a quick breakdown before offering some disposal recommendations.

Biodegradable vs compostable - what’s the difference?

I have this memory which has always stuck with me.

I remember being a young kid and going for a drive with the rest of my family. My sister was eating an apple, and after finishing, proceeded to throw her apple core out the window. Much to the displeasure of my Dad, who firmly told her ‘not to litter’, her response was “it’s okay Dad, it’s biodegradable!!”.

And she wasn’t wrong. That apple core would eventually naturally break down on the side of the road and ‘biodegrade’, thanks to all those cute little microorganisms eating it up. Thanks, microorganism pals. nomnomnom

But, depending on the material, the process of bio-degrading and disintegrating back into the earth can take a long, long time. Unlike my sister’s apple core, which would biodegrade in months; a plastic toothbrush can take up to 500 years or more to decompose!

Unlike my sister’s apple core, which would biodegrade in months; a plastic toothbrush can take up to 500 years or more to decompose!

On the other hand, something which is compostable, will break down in a specific timeframe, when under defined conditions (a moist, warm and aerobic environment). This compost can then be used for soil health to invigorate plant life.

So, everything that is compostable is biodegradable. However, just because something is biodegradable, does not mean that it’s compostable.

So how should you dispose of your Pearlii products?

As mentioned, our products vary from being recyclable, to compostable and biodegradable. So let us narrow down each of our products, and fill you in on some ways to dispose of them… starting with our bamboo toothbrush: the ‘Mosobrush’.

Compostable ✔️
Biodegradable ✔️
Recyclable packaging ✔️

This thing can go straight into the compost. Yep, that’s right. Your Mosobrush will break down alongside your other food waste. This is because the handle is made from Moso bamboo, and the bristles from castor bean oil. That makes for a 100% plant-based toothbrush (no pandas were harmed in the making of this toothbrush).

But if you’re not ready to say goodbye to your Mosobrush just yet, why not try upcycling it? Works great as a ‘moss stick’ for your smaller plants, to help them grow up nice and straight. We call this the Moso Stick. Get it?

Your Mosobrush packaging (along with all our packaging) can go straight in the recycling bin.

Yes, all the above are ticked. But not fast!

Before you go chucking your Biofloss Easy Picks into the compost, be sure to remove the floss from the handle first. Whilst the pick handles are 100% biodegradable and toxic-free, the floss thread itself will need to be binned.

As far as the packaging goes, please kindly place these in your recycling bin and dispose of the sheaths in your general waste bin.

You have a couple of options for recycling your Zero-Waste Whitening Toothpaste tubes.

You can recycle it along with your other recyclables for roadside collection! Our tubes are made from platina, which is sustainable and completely recyclable tube. But please check your local council’s website first, to confirm they accept HDPE #2 plastic.

Alternatively, feel free to send us your empty tubes. We recycle our products through TerraCycle, using their Zero Waste Box system. Our postal address can be found on your product packaging. Please make sure to squeeze out any excess toothpaste from the tube first!

Feel free to chuck both these items into your compost heap - though we hope these trusty toothbrush companions will last you many years before you need to do that!

Before you dispose of your Home Teeth Whitening Kit, remember that the mouth tray can be used again, and again, and again!

If you are wanting to keep up your new whitening routine, keep hold of your mouth tray and cable, and stock up on our Gel Refills. Our Gel Refills include three new syringes, to use with your already-owned mouth tray. If you do need to get rid of your mouth tray however, please send it back to us, and we can have it recycled through TerraCycle.

The syringes on the other hand aren’t able to be recycled, due to being considered ’medical waste’. But that doesn’t mean you can’t think of your own unique ways to upcycle them.

They’re great for kids! Try filling them up with paint, and let your little ones create masterpieces that would make Jackson Pollock proud. Because who needs to apply a paintbrush to a canvas to make art?!

They’re also lots of fun for the little ones in the bathtub. After giving them a clean, fill the syringe with bathwater, and let them squirt their little hearts out.

Or for those of us with plant babies rather than actual babies, try using them for watering your smaller sized plants.

The options are endless really, so let your creativity run wild.

And your sturdy box can be reused for… anything you might want to store in a box? If not, in the recycling bin it goes.

All of our products are a mixture of being biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.

If you ever get stuck on what to do with them, we have handy little tips on all our packaging to guide you in the right direction, or feel free to bookmark this page for future reference.

And as always, we at Pearlii are always here to answer any questions you might have.

Biodegradability, compostability and bioplastics - Science Learning Hub

EPL’s Platina fully recyclable packaging tube - Packaging South Asia

Moso bamboo: The fast growing hardwood alternative!

TerraCycle - Oral Care Waste and Packaging - Zero Waste Box

The Life Cycle of Plastics - WWF Australia

With 3.5 billion toothbrushes sold each year, toothbrushes account for a heck of a lot of waste! Which is one reason why we’ve strived to minimise waste with our sustainable dental-care product range, by using biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable materials in our products. But before we give you some tips on how to dispose of your used Pearlii products, do we all know what these words actually mean? Let us first give you a quick breakdown before offering some disposal recommendations.  Biodegradable vs compostable - what’s the difference? I have this memory which has always stuck with me. I remember being a young kid and going for a drive with the rest of my family. My sister was eating an apple, and after finishing, proceeded to throw her apple core out the window. Much to the displeasure of my Dad, who firmly told her ‘not to litter’, her response was “it’s okay Dad, it’s biodegradable!!”. And she wasn’t wrong. That apple core would eventually naturally break down on the side of the road and ‘biodegrade’, thanks to all those cute little microorganisms eating it up. Thanks, microorganism pals. nomnomnom But, depending on the material, the process of bio-degrading and disintegrating back into the earth can take a long, long time. Unlike my sister’s apple core, which would biodegrade in months; a plastic toothbrush can take up to 500 years or more to decompose! Unlike my sister’s apple core, which would biodegrade in months; a plastic toothbrush can take up to 500 years or more to decompose! On the other hand, something which is compostable, will break down in a specific timeframe, when under defined conditions (a moist, warm and aerobic environment). This compost can then be used for soil health to invigorate plant life. So, everything that is compostable is biodegradable. However, just because something is biodegradable, does not mean that it’s compostable.  So how should you dispose of your Pearlii products? As mentioned, our products vary from being recyclable, to compostable and biodegradable. So let us narrow down each of our products, and fill you in on some ways to dispose of them… starting with our bamboo toothbrush: the ‘Mosobrush’.  Mosobrush  Compostable ✔️
Biodegradable ✔️
Recyclable packaging ✔️ This thing can go straight into the compost. Yep, that’s right. Your Mosobrush will break down alongside your other food waste. This is because the handle is made from Moso bamboo, and the bristles from castor bean oil. That makes for a 100% plant-based toothbrush (no pandas were harmed in the making of this toothbrush). But if you’re not ready to say goodbye to your Mosobrush just yet, why not try upcycling it? Works great as a ‘moss stick’ for your smaller plants, to help them grow up nice and straight. We call this the Moso Stick. Get it? Your Mosobrush packaging (along with all our packaging) can go straight in the recycling bin.  Biofloss Easy Picks  Compostable ✔️
Biodegradable ✔️
Recyclable packaging ✔️ Yes, all the above are ticked. But not fast! Before you go chucking your Biofloss Easy Picks into the compost, be sure to remove the floss from the handle first. Whilst the pick handles are 100% biodegradable and toxic-free, the floss thread itself will need to be binned. As far as the packaging goes, please kindly place these in your recycling bin and dispose of the sheaths in your general waste bin.  Zero-Waste Whitening Toothpaste  Recyclable ✔️ You have a couple of options for recycling your Zero-Waste Whitening Toothpaste tubes. You can recycle it along with your other recyclables for roadside collection! Our tubes are made from platina, which is sustainable and completely recyclable tube. But please check your local council’s website first, to confirm they accept HDPE #2 plastic. Alternatively, feel free to send us your empty tubes. We recycle our products through TerraCycle, using their Zero Waste Box system. Our postal address can be found on your product packaging. Please make sure to squeeze out any excess toothpaste from the tube first!  Mosobrush Case and Mosobrush Stand  Compostable ✔️
Biodegradable ✔️
Recyclable packaging ✔️ Feel free to chuck both these items into your compost heap - though we hope these trusty toothbrush companions will last you many years before you need to do that!  Home Teeth Whitening Kit Before you dispose of your Home Teeth Whitening Kit, remember that the mouth tray can be used again, and again, and again! If you are wanting to keep up your new whitening routine, keep hold of your mouth tray and cable, and stock up on our Gel Refills. Our Gel Refills include three new syringes, to use with your already-owned mouth tray. If you do need to get rid of your mouth tray however, please send it back to us, and we can have it recycled through TerraCycle. The syringes on the other hand aren’t able to be recycled, due to being considered ’medical waste’. But that doesn’t mean you can’t think of your own unique ways to upcycle them. They’re great for kids! Try filling them up with paint, and let your little ones create masterpieces that would make Jackson Pollock proud. Because who needs to apply a paintbrush to a canvas to make art?! They’re also lots of fun for the little ones in the bathtub. After giving them a clean, fill the syringe with bathwater, and let them squirt their little hearts out. Or for those of us with plant babies rather than actual babies, try using them for watering your smaller sized plants. The options are endless really, so let your creativity run wild. And your sturdy box can be reused for… anything you might want to store in a box? If not, in the recycling bin it goes.  Conclusion All of our products are a mixture of being biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. If you ever get stuck on what to do with them, we have handy little tips on all our packaging to guide you in the right direction, or feel free to bookmark this page for future reference. And as always, we at Pearlii are always here to answer any questions you might have. The earth smiles widely upon you!

Some helpful tips on what to do with your used Pearlii products!

A brief history of the humble toothbrush

Early inventions

The Electric Toothbrush

References

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