Changing to a bamboo toothbrush is a simple and effective way to do more for the environment without compromising on oral health.
Here are the best bamboo toothbrushes for 2021.
✅ Best Bamboo Toothbrush for 2021: Brush With Bamboo
This bamboo toothbrush is made by Brush With Bamboo, a company fully dedicated to the highest environmental standards.
This brush has:
- A handle made from organic bamboo
- Bristles that are uniquely bio based and not made of nylon, unlike most other brushes
- Packaging that is plant based and eco friendly
Our posts contain affiliate links to products we use and believe in. This simply means that at no extra cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Best Bamboo Toothbrushes for 2021
reviews, comparisons, and recommendations
Let’s compares different types of bamboo toothbrushes so you can make a more informed choice.
Bamboo Toothbrush Best Buys
What Are Bamboo Toothbrushes?
A bamboo toothbrush has a bamboo handle instead of a plastic handle. It feels nice and smooth in your hand. Most handles are ergonomically designed for a nice easy grip and the bamboo feels both light and natural.
How Long Does A Bamboo Toothbrush Last?
A bamboo toothbrush will last you just as long as a standard brush.
The bristles of most bamboo toothbrushes are actually made of nylon so they keep the same amount of time as standard ones.
The company Boobalou has tried using a bamboo toothbrush for over 8 months (not that we suggest you do that) and it lasted fine.
This was the bamboo toothbrush they tried and tested and that has been shown to last.
Dentist generally recommend you change any toothbrush every 3-4 months. (Studies have shown that a worn out toothbrush removes less plaque than a new one).
Compare other brushes that have proven to be long lasting here.
Is a Bamboo Toothbrush Sanitary?
Yes, bamboo actually has natural antimicrobial/antibacterial properties (which is why there is no need for pesticides during its cultivation) so if anything, bamboo is perfect for the bathroom.
Do Bamboo Toothbrushes Mold?
I’ve had mine for several months now and it has never swollen up or taken on water, let alone shown any sign of mold whatsoever. (If it did I would certainly not recommend it!)
You can see in the photo that I’ve had it long enough for the bristles to slightly lose shape (this happened only after about 5 months… don’t judge me!) but the bamboo handle looks as good as new.
It is a brush by Bamboo It, you can see it here.
Find other brushes that have proven themselves to remain mold-free.
Which Is The Best Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrush?
Charcoal is a natural way to whiten teeth.
Here are the best bamboo toothbrushes with charcoal infused bristles. They will clean your teeth better and over time they will whiten your teeth, using a natural method.
Best for: Highest number of 5 star ratings
Numbered 1-4 so you can tell them apart within your family.
Best for: Stylish Design and Travel Accessory
Comes with a bamboo holder/case which can otherwise be very hard to find!
Best for: Excellent Value
Great price for an eight pack! Also numbered 1-4.
Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Really Eco-Friendly?
The handles, yes.
The bristles? No.
The bristles of most bamboo toothbrushes are actually made of nylon.
And nylon is a type of plastic and is not compostable. Sadly, fully plant based biodegradable bristles do not yet exist (and any website claiming to have them are misguiding you). Unless you want to brush with pigs hair? No, thank you?
There are some amazing companies that genuinely care about our planet and are trying hard to come up with completely plastic-free, compostable, vegan, cruelty-free bristles. As of now, these have not been invented yet.
So there aren’t any toothbrushes that are 100% eco friendly – yet.
The only bamboo toothbrush that comes close to having biodegradable bristles is this one by Brush With Bamboo.
The bristles are made from a vegetable oil base.
This company is working hard at inventing fully sustainable, environmentally friendly bristles. Neither they nor anyone else have quite succeeded yet.
And please remember,
Just because we can’t be 100% perfect doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start.
The nylon of the bristles is less than 1gram. It’s the handle that makes up 96% of a toothbrush.
So if you switch now you’re 96% more eco friendly than before. That’s huge!
It might not seem like you’re making much of a difference switching to bamboo toothbrushes. But here’s the thing:
“It’s only one toothbrush.”
Said 1 billion people.
Yes, 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the U.S. alone! That is enough to stretch around the earth four times. Because after only a few months of use, most toothbrushes end up in a landfill (50 million pounds of toothbrushes go to landfills every year in the U.S.) and go on polluting the earth for 400 years. That’s how long they take to decompose.
I’m now kicking myself for not making the change sooner!
Summary: What Makes A Bamboo Toothbrush The Best?
The best bamboo toothbrushes are:
Panda friendly: Handle made from organic Mosu bamboo, a type of bamboo that pandas don’t eat
Anti mold: Handle doesn’t grow mold or take on any moisture
Free from BPA (a chemical used to make certain plastics that can possibly lead to an increased risk of health problems)
Bristles made from nylon-4 (not nylon-6) or vegetable oil based. (Or, in future, fully plant based biodegradable bristles. As of now, these do not yet exist.). Nylon-4 is a type of plastic that is possibly biodegradable (yes, those types of plastic exist)
Come in biodegradable, compostable/recyclable, plastic free packaging
So here are the Best Bamboo Toothbrush Buys In 2021
In The US
✅ Best for: Bristles that are uniquely bio based and not made of nylon, unlike most other brushes
✅ Best for: Charcoal Infused Bristles for a better clean
✅ Best for: Kids Kids can use bamboo toothbrushes too! Note that the bristles for kids should always be soft.
If you prefer to order directly…
… from a great company with an excellent environmental record then I recommend ordering with Wowe Lifestyle.
Wowe Lifestyle are a little cheaper plus if you use the code 10%OFF you’ll get 10% off every order (not just your first order)!
Pin for later
Bamboo Toothbrush Best Buys In 2021
In The UK
✅ Best for: 5 star reviews from a trusted UK company with outstanding environmental commitment.
Different colours so you can tell them apart within your family.
Comes with nice extras like plastic-free cotton buds and dental floss.
✅ Best for: Charcoal Infused Bristles for a better clean.
From a trusted UK company with outstanding environmental commitment.
Comes with nice extras like plastic-free cotton buds and dental floss.
Kids can use bamboo toothbrushes too!
Parents are raving about these.
Note that the bristles for kids should always be soft.
If you prefer to order directly…
… from a great company with an excellent environmental record in the UK then I recommend ordering with The Vegan Kind. They’re a supermarket, selling pretty much everything online that is environmentally friendly.
The Vegan Kind Supermarket offers Adult Soft Bristles, Adult Medium Bristles, and Child Soft Bristles. Plus you get 10% off your entire first order if you sign up to their newsletter.
Australia
Bamboo Toothbrush Best Buys In 2021
In Australia
If you prefer to order directly…
… from a great company with an excellent environmental record in Australia then I recommend ordering with Biome Eco Stores. They sell pretty much everything online that is zero waste, toxin free, and ethically sourced.
Biome Eco Stores sell the only toothbrush with uniquely bio based bristles, not made of nylon, unlike most other brushes.
Bamboo Toothbrushes Reviewed in Detail
Are Bamboo Toothbrushes Really Any Good?
Here is what one reviewer said after switching: “I had my 6 monthly dental check up yesterday and the dentist said my brushing was “exemplary”, which he’s never said before and didn’t know I’d switched brushes so these perform just as well, if not better, than electric toothbrushes.”
Why use bamboo toothbrushes?
While they clean your teeth just as well as standard brushes, bamboo is much more environmentally friendly than plastic. The plastic handle on your standard toothbrush ends up in a landfill and pollutes the earth for 400 years.
And it’s not just *your* brush. It is estimated that we use over 2 billion plastic toothbrushes worldwide per year!
Go green and reduce your environmental footprint now. Clean mouth, clean conscience as they say at Brush With Bamboo.
Bamboo Toothbrush Benefits
The natural material and ergonomic design of the handle make it feel good in your hand. The bristles are effective at reaching every crevice of our teeth and your mouth feels clean after use.
The bamboo handle is compostable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly. Bamboo is a sustainable resource (it grows up to 4 feet a day without the use of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, is more efficient at taking CO2 from the air and producing more O2 than trees. Plus the variety of bamboo used is not the one that pandas eat so the brushes are panda friendly as well).
All brushes mentioned above are also free from BPA. (BPA stands for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics that can possibly lead to an increased risk of health problems. Something you stick in your mouth twice a day if you use a plastic toothbrush. Just saying). Bamboo toothbrushes are better for you, and better for Mother Earth.
Are bamboo toothbrushes really better for the environment?
While you can literally put the handle of your bamboo toothbrush in your compost bin, the bristles of a bamboo toothbrush are not made of bamboo. They are mostly made of nylon.
There are different types of nylon and nylon-4 is said to be biodegradable (although there is some debate around this). Most toothbrush bristles are made of nylon-6 and this type of nylon is not biodegradable. It can in theory be recycled wherever nylon is recycled (but that does seem unlikely with such fine bristle hair!)
No manufacturer has yet come up with bristles that last a long time, are hygienic, cruelty-free, not too hard on your gums nor too soft on your teeth and plaque, AND are compostable/biodegradable/recyclable.
Brush with Bamboo’s toothbrush is a rarity as it has plant based bristles: 62% Castor Bean Oil, 38% nylon. But due to the nylon even these bristles are still not biodegradable.
No fully biodegradable bristles exist (bar those made of pigs hair and who wants that in their mouth?)
So there is still a part of most bamboo toothbrushes that is not 100% environmentally friendly.
However, just because we can’t be perfect doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start.
We should make a difference today as best we can. We don’t have to have it all figured out to make a valid contribution. Just imagine how many more toothbrushes you’re going to use if you live for say another 50, 60, 70 years? Make those brushes have the least environmental impact as possible.
Bonus Tip 1:
Customize your brush
If you buy a pack of toothbrushes to be used by all the family all brushes might look the same – so you can’t tell which one is yours.
Fortunately, they are easy to mark – any pen, even a biro will do.
Just write your name or initial on the handle. You could also be more creative and use nail polish with different colors for example.
Bonus Tip 2:
Life after life
In theory, nylon can be recycled. Check if your local recycling facility can handle these fine bristles. (Remember, a toothbrush with fully biodegradable bristles has not been invented yet. Any website saying otherwise is misguiding you.)
Better news for the handle though: it can go on the compost or safely into landfill.
OR why not use the stick in more creative ways? Here are some ideas:
– Garden markers
– Stirring stick for mixing paints
– Fire starters
– Popsicle sticks
Bonus Tip 3:
Bamboo clothing
If you want to go one step further in being a conscious consumer why not wear clothing made from bamboo.
I personally wear bras and tops made from bamboo and they’re the softest I have ever had on my skin. They last long, keep their shape, and are all round troopers!
Cotton is considered the world’s dirtiest crop because it uses 16% of the world’s pesticides (!), so wearing bamboo is a great alternative.
Now over to you!
Leave a comment and let me know if you have made the switch? Which bamboo toothbrush did you choose and what was your experience? And if you haven’t please tell me what is holding you back?
And if you’ve found this article helpful please share it to help others.
