Millions of people worldwide brush their teeth daily, unknowingly adding to a massive plastic waste problem. In the United States alone, over one billion plastic toothbrushes are discarded each year, with global figures exceeding 23 billion. This routine self-care practice contributes to environmental contamination through non-recyclable materials that persist for centuries.
The simple act of brushing teeth every morning and night seems harmless, yet it generates significant plastic pollution. According to estimates, more than one billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away annually in the United States, while the global total surpasses 23 billion. The American Dental Association recommends replacing toothbrushes every three months, leading an average 30-year-old to discard about 90 in their lifetime. For a family of five, this equates to roughly 20 toothbrushes per year, and a K-12 school with 500 students might see around 2,000 discarded yearly.
These toothbrushes, often made from mixed plastics and nylon bristles, are largely non-recyclable. As a result, nearly all end up in landfills or oceans, where they take hundreds of years to break down, as noted in a 2019 National Geographic report. A single toothbrush weighs up to 30 grams, but scaled to billions, the plastic burden is immense. Over time, these items fragment into microplastics and nanoplastics, polluting soil, water, and food sources. Studies have even detected microplastics in human blood, sparking concerns about health risks.
This issue contrasts with dentistry's ethical principle of nonmaleficence, or "do no harm," which may inadvertently harm the environment. A 2020 study in the British Dental Journal, using life cycle assessments, identified electric toothbrushes as having the highest environmental impact, while those with bamboo handles and replaceable heads proved most sustainable. Other options include refillable toothpaste tablets to cut tube waste and silk-based biodegradable floss as an alternative to nylon.
Brands like Colgate Keep and Nada offer aluminum handles with replaceable heads, reducing plastic use by up to 80%. The Colgate Keep starter kit, including a handle and two heads, costs about $9—more than a $2 plastic version but offers long-term savings through reusability.
As pediatric dentist Akanksha Tyagi writes, sustainability starts with small changes. Echoing Vincent Van Gogh, she notes, “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Switching to eco-friendly products supports oral health without compromising the planet's well-being.