Green and Healthy Mouths- Toothbrushes

Just the Facts: 

• 50 Million Pounds of Toothbrushes end up in Landfills 
• An average American uses 3 toothbrushes a year 

Toothbrush Trivia: 

• 3000 B.C. ancient Egyptians constructed crude toothbrushes from twigs and leaves to clean their teeth. 
• Excavation have shown toothbrushes made with bird feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills 
• The first ‘modern’ Toothbrush is believed invented in China (1400’s) which used stiff hairs from a boar attached to a bamboo stick.
• The first mass produced toothbrush was by N.H. Wadsworth in 1857  and mass produced in 1885

Getting More Life out of your Toothbrush

• Use for Dirty Cleaning Cleaning- great for around sinks, window casements, bike chains. drainers, garlic presses, jars, coils, spot clean clothes, faucets, window screens, around hard to get areas in your car, spot clean carpet, shower doors, tile, can openers, jar threads, cheese graters,  
• Use in the Garden (marker for bulb placement) 
• Use as a bottle Cleaner 
• Use to Clean your Combs and Brushes 
• Melt the plastic and make a bracelet
• Keep outside to scape off your shoes before coming inside 
• Clean your jewerly (use toothpaste for a real sparkle
• Use as an Eyebrow Brush 
• Use as Fingernail Cleaner 
• Clean the keyboard on your computer. 
• Use to paint

Fun and Games with Toothbrushes- Go to Dr. Peterson’s website– lots of info 

Recommended Recycled Toothbrushes – order through Amazon

Radius Source: replaceable head toothbrush- keep recycled plastic handle forever- Price- $5.21 )93% recycled materials. 

Recycline- Toothbrushes made from recycled yogurt cups (partnership with Stoneyfield Farm). They offer a great program- you can send your #5 plastics back to them (free) and they will recycle them! Available at Target and other retailers. – Also order through Amazon 

Cebra Online; (Germany) offers Fair Trade Wooden Toothbrush with natural bristles. ($6.94 for toothbrush holder and 4 toothbrushes) 

Gaim Preserve Toothbrush: Available on line 6 pack $26.00 100% recyclable 

Smile Brite– just released a new toothbrush with a replaceable head – Order through Amazon