Use more sustainable dental floss

Photo by Oana Cristina on Unsplash.

Description

For strong, healthy teeth and gums, cleaning between your teeth is an important part of dental care. Most conventional dental floss is made from nylon or other synthetic plastics that are not biodegradable and can persist in the environment for long periods. Reducing how much you throw away or avoiding plastic-based options can help reduce a bit of waste and plastic pollution.

There are a few options to consider depending on your preference.

1. A water flosser avoids daily string waste.

2. Verified bamboo or other cellulose-based floss in refillable, plastic-free packaging.

3. Reusing ordinary disposable floss or floss picks prevents waste also. However, be careful about them fraying, and they need to be cleaned well after each use to avoid carrying bacteria back into the mouth.

Keep your teeth healthy while reducing a small amount of daily plastic waste.

Tips

• Browse options online to get a sense of what is available with water flossers and bamboo floss. You may not find the best option right away, but once you do, you will hopefully be set for life.

• If you go for a water flosser, consider purchasing a used one to avoid waste and save some money.

• If these items are inaccessible or not comfortable for you, do not worry. Your dental health is more important, so do what you think is best.