These toothbrushes have a bamboo handle and soft castor oil-based bristles that are gentle on sensitive teeth, according to the brand. As I mentioned above, manufacturers use castor oil to make bioplastics, which can still release microplastics, but are typically considered more environmentally friendly compared to plastics made from chemicals. Davids’ toothbrushes come wrapped in paperboard packaging.
Suri reduces its reliance on plastic by building its electric toothbrush out of plant-based materials — the brush heads are made from cornstarch, the bristles are castor oil-based and the handle is made from aluminum. The brush heads are also recyclable. Each brush comes with a prepaid compostable mailer bag, so once you’re done with a few heads, you put them in the bag, send it pack to Suri and the brand recycles them. The toothbrush has a 40-day battery life, according to Suri, a two-minute quadrant timer and two brushing modes, plus it’s water-resistant, so you can use it in the shower. It comes with a magnetic mirror/wall mount, and you buy a compatible UV-C cleaning travel case separately.
Some toothpastes were previously made with microbeads, teeny tiny plastic balls that helped scrub grime off teeth, says Khan. “It was a big issue because dental hygienists started noticing the plastic microbeads getting lodged inside patients’ gum tissue, which created inflammation,” she says. Plastic microbeads also don’t dissolve in water, so when you spit toothpaste out, they’d go down the drain and contaminate bodies of water like lakes and oceans.
In 2015, the U.S. government passed a federal law banning plastic microbeads in “rinse-off” cosmetics, including toothpaste. The FDA says the law “does not address consumer safety, and we do not have evidence suggesting that plastic microbeads, as used in cosmetics, pose a human health concern.” However, the dentists I spoke to agree that microbeads are harmful to oral health, so the ban is positive for people and the planet.
Microbeads in toothpaste aren’t a concern anymore, but traditional toothpaste is still packed in plastic squeeze tubes. If they’re made from mixed plastic, the tubes aren’t recyclable, but a handful of brands, like those under Colgate-Palmolive, including Colgate and Tom’s of Maine, now make toothpaste tubes and caps from single materials so they can be recycled. Overall, however, the best plastic-free alternative is toothpaste tablets packed in containers made from recyclable or biodegradable materials, like glass and paper. You chew the tablets, wet your toothbrush and use it to scrub the paste onto your teeth before spitting it out. Toothpaste tablets can effectively clean your teeth, but only buy those formulated with fluoride to ensure they’re strengthening enamel and preventing cavities, says Khan. You also have to distribute the toothpaste tablet’s remnants on all surfaces of all your teeth and use proper brushing technique.
All of Tom’s of Maine’s full-sized toothpastes now come in recyclable tubes made from 100% high-density polyethylene plastic (#2), according to the brand. Once you finish a tube, just squeeze out as much leftover toothpaste as possible, screw the cap back on and put it in your recycling bin. Tom’s of Maine’s Whole Care Anticavity Toothpaste has fluoride in it and comes in four flavors: peppermint, cinnamon clove, spearmint and wintermint.
The Humble Co.’s toothpaste tablets have fluoride to fight cavities and a sweet minty flavor from ingredients like sorbitol and mint oil to freshen breath. They’re free from parabens, dyes and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can make toothpaste foamy, but commonly causes sensitivity. The toothpaste comes in a recyclable, plastic-free cardboard container.
Floss thread is traditionally made from nylon or polyester, materials that can release microplastics, and packed inside a plastic container. Some brands sell floss thread derived from plastic-free materials, like bamboo fibers and silk, but they’re not as effective. “You need tensile strength to wrap the thread around your fingers or extend it between the two ends of a floss pick, which you don’t really get from plastic alternatives,” says B. Lau.
There’s currently not enough evidence showing that plastic floss thread releases a dangerous or toxic amount of microplastics to draw definitive conclusions about human health or environmental implications, so dentists still recommend using it. If you’re interested in low-plastic floss, however, you can buy floss picks whose handles are made from biodegradable materials like corn and wheat, as well as floss that comes in recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
Additionally, it’s important to note that some brands use Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to coat floss thread, making it slippery so it’s easy to insert into the tight spaces between teeth, says Khan. PFAS are forever chemicals, which have been linked to serious human and environmental health concerns, according to the EPA. However, the FDA has not taken a stance on safety risks as these chemicals relate to dental care products (or cosmetics in general) due to a lack of research. The same goes for the ADA, which I reached out to for a statement via email: “The ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs is monitoring publication of peer-reviewed studies on the issues of microplastics and PFAS in dental products, and presently there are few studies published on these matters.” That said, states like Minnesota, Connecticut and Maine have already banned, or are in the process of banning, the sale of select products made with PFAS, including dental floss.
Many brands have recently stopped coating floss thread in PFAS. Common alternatives include plant-based waxes and oils like coconut oil and beeswax. These coatings don’t let floss thread slip between teeth and under the gumline as easily as PFAS, says B. Lau, but the tradeoff is worth it — it’s better to do a little extra work to slip floss between your teeth than put forever chemicals in your mouth.
I learned about brands coating floss in PFAS when I reported on nonstick cookware earlier this year. I checked the floss I was using and realized it contained forever chemicals, causing me to switch to these PFAS-free picks, whose thread is coated in candelilla wax instead. SmartLifeco also reduces how much plastic is in the picks’ handle by making it out of a gluten-free straw wheat and bioplastic blend. The floss thread fits between my teeth, effectively cleans gunk out and never shreds after use. The bottom of the tool also looks like a toothpick, helping me remove extra stuck debris.
Better & Better’s floss thread is made from a castor oil-based material and coated in vegetable oil to glide between teeth. It’s also infused with jojoba and peppermint oils that moisturize and soothe gums while leaving your mouth feeling fresh, according to the brand. The floss spool comes inside a recyclable glass jar that has a little blade on its opening to cut off pieces of thread. You can buy a new spool when you need one and refill the jar.
Mouthwash itself isn’t made with plastic, but it usually comes in a mixed plastic bottle, so you can’t recycle it and it doesn’t biodegrade. Some brands now package their liquid mouthwash in single plastic or glass bottles, making them recyclable. Mouthwash tablets packed in tin, paper or glass jars are also promising alternatives, says Khan. You chew the tablets, which causes you to produce saliva. Then, you swish that mixture around in your mouth and spit it out. Some mouthwash tablets simply temporarily freshen breath, while others are made with active ingredients like fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite to address bacteria, tooth decay and other issues.
Each of Boka’s mouthwash tablets are packed with hydroxyapatite to remineralize teeth and probiotic powder to soothe gums, as well as peppermint oil, mint oil and xylitol to freshen breath and add flavor, according to the brand. They come in a refillable, reusable tin, and are available in a citrus mint flavor, too.
Mouthwash tablets aren’t for everyone, so if you want to stick to liquid options while cutting back on your plastic exposure, Davids is ideal. Its alcohol-free, gentle, non-burning mouthwash concentrate comes in a refillable glass bottle, which you pour into the included large glass bottle and mix with a specified amount of water. The final product is a mouthwash made with hydroxyapatite that strengthens and remineralizes enamel, as well as freshens breath with peppermint and spearmint oils. Once you run out of mouthwash, you can buy a new bottle of concentrate for refills.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has been covering dental care and oral health for over five years. I’ve written articles about numerous types of toothpaste, teeth whitening treatments, whitening strips, mouthwash, floss, water flossers and more. I’ve interviewed dozens of dentists throughout my career, and constantly test dental care products to learn what’s new on the market. To write this article, I talked to three experts, including dentists and engineers, about microplastics in dental care products, and rounded up alternatives for plastic dental care products that align with their guidance.
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