Proper Care & Disposal

Learn how to get the most out of your bamboo toothbrush. You can also learn more about why the future is now for eco-friendly toothbrushes and why wooden toothbrushes beat plastic alternatives!

How to Take Care of Your Bamboo Toothbrush

Bamboo is a natural material that keeps best when kept in a dry area. Enclosed toothbrush cups that collect water are not ideal. It’s best to keep your toothbrush in an open-air toothbrush holder or any other dry area.

Before First Use

As with any toothbrush, please thoroughly rinse the toothbrush handle and bristles with water before first use. This especially important with bamboo toothbrushes as compared to plastic toothbrushes. There may be some bamboo dust that remains on the toothbrush head and handle after manufacturing. This is harmless but needs to be washed off. You can wash and care for our soft plant-based bristles just like a conventional toothbrush.

Your Bamboo Handle

Bamboo is natural woody material that will fade over time. The bamboo on the top portion of your toothbrush that goes in your mouth may begin to appear lighter and faded with use. This is normal! It will not affect your brushing experience.

How Long Do Bamboo Toothbrushes Last?

Your bamboo toothbrushes will last 3 to 4 months. With proper care, our ecological bamboo toothbrush will last just as long as a conventional plastic toothbrush. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 months, or when the bristles have frayed.

How Do I Clean My Bamboo Toothbrush?

The two main things you need to do to clean your bamboo toothbrush: wash it thoroughly, dry it thoroughly, store it in a clean container or holder and you’ll have a higher success rate at keeping your toothbrush in the best condition possible for longer.

How to dispose of your bamboo toothbrush

You can dispose of your bamboo toothbrush by composting the bamboo handle and recycling the bristles. Read more about how to properly dispose of your bamboo toothbrush below. To learn how you can help your community move towards zero waste, learn a few advanced tips here!

How to Compost a Bamboo Toothbrush

Every toothbrush is composed of three parts: a handle, bristles, and metal staples that are used to clamp the bristles to the handle. Metal staples are in all toothbrush manufacturing and are also present in all plastic toothbrushes. The metal staples used in Brush with Bamboo toothbrushes are aluminum – aluminum staples are the most common type of staples found in any type of toothbrush worldwide. The bamboo handle of the Brush with Bamboo toothbrush is compostable and biodegradable. The USDA Certified 100% Biobased bristles are biobased but not biodegradable. Although these bristles will eventually return to the soil, you may recycle them at your local recycling facility or with Terracyle®. If you would like to remove the aluminum staples from your toothbrush, you may remove the bristles from the head of the toothbrush – this will also remove the metal staples holding the bristles into the handle. Aluminum will break down through chemical reactions in the environment, just like any metal. Aluminum is also highly recyclable. 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.

Reuse or Compost the Handle

The bare toothbrush handle can be disposed of in a commercial composting bin and will safely return to the soil within 6 months. Or you can compost it in your own home. However, the handle is a perfectly good piece of high quality bamboo – feel free to reuse it! Find more creative recycling tips for your bamboo toothbrush here!

Disposal of Packaging

The outer box is biodegradable and made from 100% paper. You may find some creative reuses for the box. Dispose of the box in a recycling or green waste bin.

How Do I Remove Bristles From a Bamboo Toothbrush?

  1. Using a set of pliers, grab 1 bunch of the bristles.
  2. Pull up on the bristles, removing them 1 bunch at a time.
  3. Repeat until all of the bristles are removed from the brush.
  4. Compost or reuse the handle.