ONE PLANET EARTH, LET’S LOOK AFTER IT TOGETHER
DID YOU KNOW?
The global economic burden of poor oral health and disease amounts to US$545 billion in direct and indirect costs (WHO 2022, Rightholt et al. 2018).
Public and private expenditure on global oral health care is US$390 billion (WHO 2022).
THE SCALE OF PLASTIC WASTE IN ORAL HEALTH CARE
We all recognise plastic pollution as a major global issue, but let’s put it into context with some key facts:
- Recycling requires energy, transportation, and resources, adding to its environmental footprint.
- Oral care products contribute significantly to plastic waste, with millions of interdental brushes, floss picks, and toothbrushes discarded every year.
- Limited recycling options mean that much of this waste ends up in landfills or oceans.
- Even when plastic is recyclable, it can only be recycled a limited number of times before becoming waste.
Real-life photo taken by Dip on Tofo Beach in Mozambique
WHY PREVENTION AND REDUCTION MATTER
40 of The Teeth Keeper vs. 40 of the rest
Since recycling has constraints and limitations, prevention and reduction are at the top of the waste hierarchy. Reducing the need for plastic in oral care is a logical and necessary step in sustainability efforts.
- Preventing oral disease reduces the need for excessive dental treatments, lowering environmental impact (WHO 2022).
- Most interdental brushes currently on the market contain significant amounts of plastic, both in the product and packaging. These brushes are often impossible to recycle, leading to a constant cycle of waste.
Let’s put it into perspective:
If an individual uses five sizes of interdental brushes and each brush lasts one week, that person will dispose of over 250 interdental brushes every year.
THE TEETH KEEPER’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
We’ve designed our interdental brushes to minimise plastic waste while ensuring effective oral health care.
- Minimal or no plastic – While we strive for a plastic-free design, complete elimination is not yet feasible.
- Reusable handles and replaceable heads – A solution proven to reduce environmental impact (Abed et al. 2012).
- Plastic-free packaging – No unnecessary plastic waste.
- Aluminium handles – Infinitely recyclable without requiring new raw materials.
[Source: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling)]
THE INDIRECT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF BETTER ORAL HEALTH
Oral health improvement doesn’t just benefit individuals, it also reduces environmental impact in ways we might not immediately consider:
Fewer dental visits means less travel – Reduced patient travel significantly lowers the carbon footprint of dentistry (Wilson et al. 2020).
Less single-use plastic – Dental treatments generate large amounts of single-use plastic waste, which can be reduced by preventing oral health issues (Martin et al. 2022).
HOW TO RECYCLE AND DISPOSE OF THE TEETH KEEPER PRODUCTS
- Packaging – Recyclable with household paper and cardboard.
- Brush heads – Currently they can only be disposed of in general waste.
- Aluminium Handles – Recyclable at local metal or scrap dealers.
By choosing The Teeth Keeper, you’re making an informed decision to improve both oral health and the environment.
JOIN THE TEETH KEEPER MOVEMENT
Interested in offering The Teeth Keeper products at your dental practice or becoming an affiliated authorised dealer?
Contact us today to learn more about our products and to place an order.