Have you ever celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd? If not, this year can be the one that you make a couple of eco-friendly changes to do your part. You don’t have to make big and expensive alterations to your life by purchasing a bunch of solar panels either; start your changes off small! Read on for a list of four eco-friendly oral hygiene products you could use to reduce plastic waste.
Bamboo Toothbrush
If you’re using plastic single-use toothbrushes, a simple change you could make is to use a bamboo toothbrush. They’re durable, come with soft-bristles, and will get the job done just as well, minus the waste. Since it’s recommended that you change out your toothbrush every three months to reduce bacteria accumulation, that means that the average person will use 280 plastic toothbrushes in their lifetime. Bamboo grows quickly, is incredibly sturdy, and is biodegradable, making it a great eco-friendly toothbrush material.
Eco-Friendly Dental Floss
Traditional dental floss along with the container are made of plastic, and even though flossing picks are easy to use and convenient, they’re also made from plastic and aren’t good for the environment. To help reduce your waste over the next year, try switching to an eco-friendly, biodegradable floss. There are flosses made from silk that are packaged in glass or cardboard containers.
A Water Flosser
If you currently use flossing picks because they’re simple to maneuver, an even better eco-friendly alternative other than silk dental floss would be a water flosser. They have bulky handles, which makes them easy to hold, and jet a high-powered stream of water across your teeth, cleaning them in the same way that your car goes through a carwash. It’s incredibly effective and isn’t just a single-use item. Water flossers can last for years and even have interchangeable heads.
Zero-Waste Mouthwash
A newer product on the market is zero-waste mouthwash, which comes packaged in biodegradable materials as a tablet. All you need to do is put it in a glass of water and swish! Traditional mouthwash packaging uses a lot of plastic because it’s so large, but with this zero-waste mouthwash, you’ll be able to feel like you’re actually making a difference this Earth Day.
Eco-friendly changes don’t have to be completely life-altering or expensive. By simply swapping out everyday, single-use items for a more sustainable option, you can have more of an impact than you think.
About the Author
Dr. Vince Fava has over 25 years in the dental field and is passionate about helping his patients maintain good oral health for a lifetime. By taking the time to listen to and educate his patients, he hopes to build meaningful connections and a positive relationship with them so they don’t feel hesitant coming back to the dentist’s office. For questions or to schedule a checkup and cleaning, visit Torbram Dental’s website or call 905-792-7163.
Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.
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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.
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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.
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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.
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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.
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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.
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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.
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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.
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