5 Ways to Green Your Dental Routine for Earth Day & Every Day

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
Save water! Don’t keep the sink on while you brush your teeth.

As Earth Day approaches, we are reminded of the importance of being environmentally friendly. Things like cleaning up after you visit a park or taking public transit from time to time can go a long way in keeping our planet healthy. And there are also a few things you can do along the way to keep your mouth healthy too. These 5 tips can help you keep your teeth clean and healthy while saving the environment:

  • Turn off the water! Do you mindlessly brush your teeth with the water running? Turn on the water only to rinse your mouth and toothbrush.
  • Go natural.  Try a toothbrush made from recycled or renewable materials and recycle it when it’s time for a new one.
  • Compost. Yes, you can do it! A biodegradable toothbrush (typically made of corn starch) won’t clog our landfill and can even help your garden grow.
  • Slow down. Don’t brush so hard and be gentle on your gums. It will make your toothbrush last longer, saving you money and reducing waste.
  • Floss! By flossing regularly, you’ll help prevent major dental work, saving you money and reducing your carbon footprint.

Earth day is still going strong 52 years after it launched thanks to people across the world taking action. For those of us in the valley there are some fun Arizona Earth Day celebrations taking place this year. If you are in Arizona and want to learn more about how you can help our planet, check out these Earth Day events.

Previous article7 Oral Health Books to Read to Your Child
Next articleMouth Healthy Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Ashlee Hackney
Ashlee Hackney serves as the fundraising associate for Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. Prior to working for the Foundation, Ashlee worked as a community relations coordinator at a dental office in Texas, where she learned how important oral health is to overall health. After noticing the oral health disparities in low-income families, she decided that she wanted to continue to work in the oral health industry and educate those on the importance of good oral hygiene. Ashlee is wild about satin floss and wishes they made it in strawberry shortcake and blueberry flavors. In her spare time, she enjoys pampering her dogs, African drum dancing and horseback riding. [Editor's Note: Ashley is no longer a current DDAZ employee.]