Reducing plastic with biodegradable floss picks

Every year, we look forward to Sustainability Day. If you have not heard about Sustainability Day, it falls on the fourth Wednesday of October. It is a day when we can collectively think and reflect on how we can implement sustainable choices in our everyday living in preparation for the future of our world.

Many of us have made small steps to reduce our eco-footprint, particularly reducing plastic waste. We’ve made changes to our everyday routines, like moving away from products that use plastic packaging and using cloth bags for our groceries.

But, did you know that there are also small steps we can take in our oral health and beauty routines to help our environment?

Plastic waste continues to be a global issue. Approximately 380 million tons of plastic is being produced yearly and left in landfills around the world (that’s roughly the same as the entire weight of humanity!). Breaking down into tiny toxic particles, plastic contaminates our soil and waterways, affecting animals that ingest these tiny particles. Studies have shown that at the rate we are going, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. That is a worrying statistic.

Like many products, traditional oral health products are generally not plastic-free. For example, over one billion plastic toothpaste tubes are thrown away every year. Unfortunately, it’s not just toothpaste. The disposal of traditional dental floss packaging (generally made of un-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic) poses a genuine threat to our environment.

Does this mean we should skip flossing?

Not at all! Flossing is extremely essential to the long-term health of our teeth. The goal of flossing (and brushing) is to get rid of plaque. Plaque consists of active bacteria, which sticks to the surface of our teeth. Brushing only removes plaque from the front and back surfaces of your teeth.

Flossing, on the other hand, allows you to remove plaque and debris from between your teeth and underneath the gums. Failure to remove plaque from these areas can cause gum disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. In fact, some dental professionals have suggested that if you ever had to pick between flossing or brushing your teeth, you should definitely floss.

There are definitely sustainable alternatives out there, such as bio-degradable floss picks. Our Biofloss Easy Picks are convenient, safe and environmentally friendly. The floss pick handles are compostable and made from toxic-free, hardened corn starch, which breaks down much more easily than petroleum-based plastic. Furthermore, the floss pick packaging is 100% recyclable, so you can be sure you’re doing your bit for the planet.

It might be hard living in a world where many products are still made of plastic. But even the tiniest step of swapping our regular oral health products for more sustainable options can contribute to a better, cleaner and greener planet, while still maintaining a healthy and bright smile.