5 Best Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes from Sustainable Bamboo (2024)

Did you know that Americans throw away one billion plastic toothbrushes every year? Like all plastics, they don't biodegrade and simply add to our growing plastic waste problem.

If you don't have space or a socket for an Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrush, or don't like the thought of using the energy, then a high-quality manual toothbrush is a great alternative.

Bamboo is the material of choice for sustainable toothbrushes in 2024.It's eco-friendly, biodegradable, and suitable for home composting after use.

I'm a bit obsessive about my dental care, so I was more than happy to brush a few extra times a day to test out the top biodegradable toothbrushes on the market.

Best Eco-Friendly Toothbrush Brands of 2024

• Handle: 100% Certified Organic Bamboo
• Bristles: 100% Castor Bean Oil

They Say: Vote against plastic pollution with Brush with Bamboo's Adult Toothbrush, made from 100% Certified Giant Moso bamboo harvested in the wild mountain ranges in South China. The easy-to-grip handle is paired with plant-based bristles made from 100% Castor Bean Oil and is USDA Certified 100% Biobased. Plus, when you're ready to get a new brush, simply remove the bristles and you can commercially compost the handles!

We Say: Bamboo is a great choice for a zero-waste, eco-friendly toothbrush, but it's the head and bristles where many brands let themselves down.

There is little point in having a super eco-friendly, compostable toothbrush handle if the head is going to end up on a landfill site, slowly leaching toxins into the environment for hundreds of years.

As you will see with a number of the additional recommendations further down this article, a small amount of nylon is almost unavoidable when it comes to eco-friendly toothbrushes.

However, I felt that the overall winner needed to be nylon-free to be as zero waste as possible. Step forward the Brush with Bamboo dental company.

Over the years, they’ve been slowly increasing the biobased content of their bristles, and I’m happy to report that their smart new design is made from 100% castor bean oil and certified 100% biobased by the USDA.

These BPA-free toothbrush bristles are as eco-friendly as can be, but still, a small amount of care is needed when the toothbrush comes to the end of its life.

Although the bristles are 100% biobased, they’re not certified compostable and will not break down as quickly or as environmentally friendly as the handles.

To ensure you dispose of this toothbrush as sustainably as possible, you need to pull out the bristles and recycle them with Terracycle or an appropriate local recycling service.

This process applies to all ‘zero waste’ toothbrushes, but Brush with Bamboo made it as the overall winner because the bristles are not made from nylon.

The handle is certified to be commercially compostable. You can even toss it in your home compost bin if you have one.

These toothbrushes are shipped in a folded recycled paper box containing no glue or tape. There is no unnecessary inner wrap either, making the packaging 100% sustainable and zero waste. Simply dispose of it in a recycling or green waste bin.

I feel this is currently the best bamboo toothbrush on the market. Switch today and help save the planet with your dental routine.

• Handle: Bamboo
• Bristles: 100% Compostable Boar-Hair

They Say: No need to cut out the head, this toothbrush is 100% compostable. No nylon. Its bristles are all natural as they are made of boar hair that have been thoroughly disinfected. This hair is a byproduct of the meat industry in China. Rather than discarding the hairs, this supplier cleans and uses them to build brushes. You might think "yuk, pig hair!", but worry not, the pig hair is completely cleaned before being used to make the brushes.

We Say: So this is actually my unofficial runner-up. I love this toothbrush, and it so nearly made it as the overall winner because the entire toothbrush, head and all, can be composted. This is because the bristles are made from natural boar hair.

Proper zero-waste credentials!

It didn’t quite make it as the overall winner because, in my experience, the boar bristles did not last as long as the 100% castor bean oil bristles used by Brush with Bamboo. They also need extra care and attention to keep them clean and hygienic.

The boar hair used is a fully sustainable byproduct of the Chinese meat industry, which is fine from an environmental perspective. However, it means this product is not vegan and, therefore, not suitable for many of our readers.

Saying that, if you can get over the fact that you’re brushing your teeth with pig hair, this is a really good toothbrush that's worthy of consideration.

This BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, lead-free, fully compostable, eco-friendly toothbrush is shipped in a recyclable cardboard box.

I’ve recommended the ten-brush option because this makes your life easier (it will last you over two years) and reduces the impact of shipping one brush every three months.

• Handle: 100% Biodegradable Bamboo
• Bristles: Nylon (Removable)

They Say:When it's time for a new brush, simply remove the bristles and compost the wooden handle. Plus, this product supports the Humble Smile Foundation, supporting oral health initiatives for those in need worldwide!

We Say: The Humble Co. is a dental care company founded by dentist Noel Abdayem in 2013. They offer a wide range of zero-waste oral care products, including the Humble toothbrush.

Their range of eco-friendly bamboo brushes comes in soft and medium. There are many bristle color options and even activated charcoal-infused bristles if that’s your thing.

Bamboo toothbrushes for kids are also available, as is a bamboo tongue cleaner.

The Humble Smile Foundation, a Swedish non-profit organization, has been set up to carry out projects in vulnerable communities in 37 countries worldwide. All funded by the purchase of Humble Co products.

The bristles are nylon, so these toothbrushes cannot be considered 100% zero waste, and they are not as good for the environment as the previous products. But they are certified vegan and cruelty-free.

The handles are made from 100% biodegradable bamboo. The bristles will need to be removed and recycled with Terracycle or an appropriate local recycling service.

• Handle: Bamboo
• Bristles: Nylon (Removable)

They Say: EcoRoots Bamboo Toothbrush is a great alternative to plastic toothbrushes that usually end up in landfills or oceans. By making the switch you will help to protect and preserve our beautiful planet from plastic pollution. Quit single-use plastic & brush sustainable with our natural toothbrush!

We Say: Eco Roots are another brand producing many zero waste products, including bamboo toothbrushes.

I like the fact that these toothbrushes come in a pack of four. This means you can place one order per year, and your toothbrush needs are covered.

The nylon bristles used are BPA-free and non-toxic, but they still need to be removed before the bamboo handle is tossed in the compost.

Eco Roots are based in Aspen, Colorado and take their eco-credentials very seriously.

All their products are certified cruelty-free and shipped in 100% recyclable materials. They’re also a member of 1% for the planet.

• Handle: Bamboo
• Bristles: Nylon (Removable)

They Say: The original that took the world by storm. Cleans just as well as a plastic toothbrush but made from mother earth’s best invention, bamboo. Equipped with the highest quality nylon bristles to ensure dentist approved results, the iconic toothbrush has to date sold in excess of 35 million pieces.

We Say: I recommend isshah toothbrushes as an alternative in my eco-friendly electric toothbrush article here, and my opinion on them hasn't changed.

These vegan toothbrushes are shipped in 100% biodegradable craft paper.

The soft bristles are charcoal-infused to help keep teeth whiter for longer.

The handle is fully compostable once the bristles have been removed and disposed of separately.

The range of products appears to be growing as there is now an eight-pack and a ten-pack, offering even better value for money. You can also keep one of your toothbrushes in a travel bag permanently and the rest in your bathroom.

There are also children's toothbrushes, interdental brushes, natural dental floss, and cotton swabs.

Click here to view the entire product range.

Why All Toothbrushes Should Be Zero Waste

If you’ve read my Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrush article, you’ll know that one billion toothbrushes are thrown away in the U.S. every year. This is madness and simply has to stop!

Adding an environmentally friendly toothbrush to our daily oral care routine is a small act that can have a big impact on the planet.

I feel I need to add a caveat here. Although moving to a more zero waste lifestyle is the ultimate aim, it’s not always possible to be 100% zero waste in everything we do.

Eco-friendly toothbrushes are one such example where a small amount of leniency is needed.

Those pesky nylon bristles just pop up time and time again.

Why Bamboo is the Perfect Material for a Biodegradable Toothbrush

I didn’t set out to only recommend bamboo toothbrushes. It just happened organically when I started testing/researching and learned even more about the beauty of bamboo.

Bamboo is an incredibly sustainable material. It’s fast-growing and needs little water.

Bamboo is also naturally anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial. All perfect qualities for something that goes into your mouth for two minutes, twice a day.

It’s no wonder that the leading makers of sustainable toothbrushes are all turning to bamboo.

What are Some Good Materials for Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes?

Bamboo is, in my opinion, by far the best material for an eco-friendly toothbrush. If you decide that bamboo is not for you, then you might want to consider 100% recycled (and recyclable) plastic.

Why Are Plastic Handles Bad for the Environment?

Plastic handles are not environment friendly because they are petroleum based and are not compostable or biodegradable.

The planet already has a severe problem with plastic waste. The one billion plastic toothbrushes being thrown away in the U.S. annually are just adding to the plastic waste caused by other products (bags and bottles, for example). Switching to an eco-friendly toothbrush option is such a simple switch to make.

What Type Of Toothbrush Do Dentists Recommend?

According to WebMD, “For the vast majority of people, a soft-bristled toothbrush will be the most comfortable and safest choice. Depending on how vigorously you brush your teeth and the strength of your teeth, medium- and hard-bristled brushes could actually damage the gums, root surface, and protective tooth enamel. For even more tooth protection when you brush, be sure the bristles on the toothbrush you select have rounded tips”.

How Often Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?

According to Dr. Sienna Palmer, DDS, dentist at Meridien Dental in Santa Monica, CA, “The average person should be swapping out for a new toothbrush every three to four months”. The same applies to the replaceable heads on an electric toothbrush.

The Final Word

When I started researching this article, I expected to be comparing bamboo, recycled plastic, and other eco-friendly materials.

However, in the end, there was only one clear winner. It turns out that the best eco-friendly toothbrushes are all made from bamboo.

In all honesty, it wasn't even a fair fight. Bamboo is DEFINITELY the material of choice when you're next in the market for a sustainable toothbrush.

Remember that when considering sustainability in your oral hygiene routine, your toothbrush is only half the battle. Switching to zero waste toothpaste and all natural mouthwash are just some of the other things you can do to care for your teeth without harming the environment.