5 Reasons Switching to Eco-Friendly Toothpaste Is the Right Move for a Natural Lifestyle

Making your oral care routine sustainable is easier than ever with more innovative eco-friendly toothpaste options on the market. If you're wondering how to choose the best sustainable toothpaste ingredients and packaging for your lifestyle, here is what you need to know before you buy your next tube.

Why Switching to Eco-Friendly Toothpaste Is Important

Conventional toothpastes impact the environment through both waste and ingredients. Let's start with the waste factor. Most conventional toothpastes are packaged in mixed-material plastic tubes that can't be recycled and end up in landfills to the tune of over 1 billion tubes each year.

Then there are the ingredients commonly used in mainstream toothpastes that make their way into our waterways and soil. Triclosan likely tops the list of conventional toothpaste ingredients of concern. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that triclosan should not be used in certain over-the-counter products, such as hand cleansers, because of evidence that it can disrupt hormones and lead to antibiotic resistance. But the FDA stood by evidence that the ingredient is effective in preventing gingivitis when used in toothpaste.

Information published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health states that there could be negative effects on human and animal health due to the accumulation of triclosan in the environment because of its prevalence in personal care products.

5 Reasons Eco-Friendly Toothpaste Is Right for a Natural Lifestyle

Eco-friendly toothpaste is a sustainable option for those looking to adopt a more natural lifestyle. There are a few important factors to consider when making the switch to natural oral care. Here are five ways a sustainable toothpaste works toward the goal of minimizing your impact on the environment.

1. It Reduces Landfill Waste

With all of those toothpaste tubes landing in landfills each year, it makes sense that recycling them is the way to go. Tom's of Maine created the first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube, meaning you can choose an eco-friendly toothpaste that bypasses the landfill and is recycled after use.

2. It's Easier to Recycle

No need to cut open or scrap your empty tubes or turn them into crafts. You can toss your recyclable tube right in the recycling bin. Easy as that!

3. It Contains Naturally Derived Ingredients

A sustainable toothpaste is likely made with naturally derived ingredients you can feel good about using. Natural flavorings, such as spearmint leaves, and natural sweeteners, such as xylitol derived from birch trees or corn, come from nature.

4. It's Just as Effective

Eco-friendly, natural toothpaste can still offer the same benefits you look for in a conventional toothpaste, including whitening and cavity prevention.

5. It's One Step on Your Journey to a More Natural Lifestyle

When you use an eco-friendly toothpaste, you're taking one step toward living a more natural, eco-conscious life. It's simple switches like these that add up over time and help to minimize your overall personal effect on our environment's health.

Are you inspired to make your personal care routine more sustainable? For more eco-friendly living ideas, follow the Thinking Sustainably board from @tomsofmaine on Pinterest!

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