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Your bathroom routine is one of the easiest places to cut back on everyday plastic, and you don't need to change everything at once. Here are five simple swaps, what to check before you make them, and how to dispose of things properly afterwards.
A quick note on wording: we say lower-plastic, not plastic-free. Most of these swaps reduce plastic rather than remove it completely, and we'd rather be accurate than make claims we can't back up.
Before you swap anything
Use up what you already have. Throwing away a half-used tube or a nearly new toothbrush just to replace it creates more waste, not less. Make each swap when the old item runs out.
Swap 1: A bamboo toothbrush
A bamboo handle replaces the plastic one you'd normally throw away several times a year. Things to check:
- What the bristles are made of. Most toothbrush bristles, including on bamboo brushes, are still a type of nylon. Truthbrush says its bristles are made from castor oil, which means "less petroleum-based plastic" (Truthbrush FAQ).
- How to dispose of it. The handle and bristles need separating. Truthbrush advises snapping off the head or pulling out the bristles with pliers, then putting the handle in garden waste or a home compost (Truthbrush FAQ).
- When to replace it. Dental guidance suggests replacing a toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed (American Dental Association).
For children, there's a smaller version: the Tiny Truthbrush.
Swap 2: Bamboo heads for your electric toothbrush
If you use an electric toothbrush, you don't have to go back to a manual one. Replacement heads are the part you throw away, so that's the part to swap.
Truthbrush Bamboo Electric Toothbrush Heads are made to fit most Philips Sonicare models. Check your handle's model against the brand's compatibility list before you buy.
Check price at Truthbrush → (#ad)
Swap 3: Toothpaste tablets
Toothpaste tablets come in refill pouches or jars instead of tubes. You bite one, then brush as normal. The most important thing to check is fluoride.
The NHS says adults should use a toothpaste with "at least 1,350 parts per million (ppm) fluoride", and advises not to rinse straight after brushing so the fluoride stays on your teeth (NHS). Some tablets on the market are fluoride-free, so read the label.
Truthbrush lists its Truthtabs Wild Mint tablets at 1,450 ppm fluoride. They're included in the Keep Smiling set and the Journey set below.
Swap 4: Bamboo interdental brushes
The NHS notes you can use interdental brushes instead of flossing, especially if you have gaps between your teeth (NHS). If you already use them, a bamboo-handled version is an easy switch. Ask your dentist or hygienist which size suits you.
Truthbrush Bamboo Interdental Brushes
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Swap 5: Storage that lasts
A glass jar for tablets and a bamboo case for travel mean fewer single-use containers over time. They also look calmer on a shelf than a row of tubes.
- Truthbrush Glass Apothecary Jar for storing tablets. Check price → (#ad)
- Truthbrush Bamboo Travel Case. Check price → (#ad)
Want to start with one purchase? Try a set
Truthbrush Sustainable Journey Set
A bamboo toothbrush, a month's supply of Truthtabs with fluoride and a bamboo travel case, according to the brand. It also works as a small gift.
Check price at Truthbrush → (#ad)
Keep Smiling Set
A bamboo toothbrush with a three-month supply of Truthtabs Wild Mint with fluoride.
Check price at Truthbrush → (#ad)
Truthbrush describes itself as a B Corp certified company (Truthbrush).
Prices and offers are set by the retailer and change often, so check the current price before you buy.
Quick summary
- Use up what you have first, then swap one item at a time.
- Bamboo brush: separate the bristles before composting the handle.
- Toothpaste tablets: check for at least 1,350 ppm fluoride, and don't rinse after brushing.
- Electric brush users: swap the heads, not the whole brush.
- "Lower-plastic" is honest. Be wary of anything that promises to be completely plastic-free without explaining how.
Photo: Harold Hisona on Unsplash.