Davids blog
how our bamBOO toothbrush and supernatural toothpaste help you fight the frights of Halloween
Spooky season has arrived, and Halloween is creeping up! The spirit of this season is both exciting and nostalgic, and we want to help you savor it in the most sustainable, mouth-friendly way. It’s no secret that Halloween is supposed to be scary. But perhaps some of the scariest parts of it are lurking in the shadows. the scariest sides of Halloween Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins might steal the “scary” spotlight on Halloween, but you can be sure that cavities and plastic waste are waiting for their turn at a jump scare. sugar surge Many news outlets claim Americans buy 600 million pounds of candy on Halloween. This sugar surge can cause some damage, especially to little ones’ whose teeth are still developing. How does sugar cause cavities? It “feeds” the bad bacteria in your mouth, allowing them to deposit acids on your teeth and form a gooey, damaging coating on your teeth (plaque). This plaque (and the bacteria and acids in it) eats away at your enamel, leading to sensitivity and tooth decay. Candies that are sticky, chewy, or long-lasting (like lollipops) can keep the sugar coating on your teeth for even longer than normal, really fueling those bacteria in your mouth to do some damage to your pearly whites. plastic waste On top of the oral care impacts of Halloween, it’s also one of the more wasteful holidays out there! Here are just some frightening facts about the plastic waste generated on Halloween. 40 million pounds of candy waste: it’s estimated that every trick-or-treater generates one pound of trash on Halloween, and there are over 40 million of them. Most (if not all) candy wrappers end up in landfills because they’re so hard to recycle. 2,000 tons of plastic costume waste: a UK study found that nearly 84% of Halloween costumes are made from plastic-derived materials, and almost half of them are only worn once. If these were to end up in a landfill, it would equal roughly 2,000 tons (83 million soda bottles) worth of plastic waste. plastic decorations: while there’s no way to truly estimate the waste generated from synthetic Halloween decorations, just think of all the plastic jack-o-lanterns, spiders, webbing, and other scary props out there. We hope everyone is reusing these year after year, otherwise, the plastic waste from Halloween keeps growing. our tips to fight these frights Keep up with your holistic oral care routine and be sure your little ones are doing the same. don’t indulge all day long: it’s better to enjoy your candy in short bursts, so the sugar has less time to “plant roots” on your pearly whites. This can look like grabbing just a few pieces of candy at a time or making sure you avoid those chewy, long-lasting types. drink your water: water can loosen some of the bacteria that might be getting too comfortable on the surface of your teeth. It can also help you return the pH of your mouth to a healthy level after some sugary snacks. brush after a candy craze: have you ever felt a rough coating on your teeth after eating some sugary snacks? Your teeth are telling you they want a little refresh! Grab your Davids bamboo toothbrush and premium toothpaste to freshen up after indulging. This is one of the best ways to nurture your long-term oral health (while avoiding plastics, too)! Explore new ways to ditch plastics. upcycle your costume: it’s pretty shocking how much Halloween costumes can contribute to plastic pollution. We hope these facts inspire you to DIY your Halloween costume from upcycled fabrics or old costumes! make your own Halloween treats: we know this one might be a little unrealistic if you get hundreds of trick-or-treaters at your door, but you can always consider making some homemade treats and wrapping them in a sustainable/recyclable material such as aluminum or beeswax wraps. use natural and/or reusable decorations: pumpkins are one of the best Halloween decorations! If you’re carving yours, we recommend repurposing the scraps in a yummy recipe. You can also DIY other Halloween decorations by upcycling materials around the house, visiting the thrift store, or reusing your old decorations every single year. Now, let’s dive into how our bamboo toothbrush can help nurture your long-term oral health while reducing plastic pollution all year long. how our bamBOO toothbrush and supernatural toothpaste can help On top of the frightful Halloween waste, did you know that 1 billion plastic toothbrushes and 1.5 billion plastic toothpaste tubes make their way into US landfills every single year? By switching to our bamboo toothbrush and sustainable toothpaste, you can eliminate your contribution to this plastic pollution altogether. And you can do so while still effectively nurturing your long-term oral health....even during one of the most sugary holidays of the year! Let’s dive into some of the biggest bamboo toothbrush benefits first. a bamboo toothbrush is safe: unlike other plants, bamboo doesn’t require pesticides or harsh chemicals during the growing process. It’s safe to use in your daily oral care routine, and it’s a great way to avoid putting plastics in your delicate oral microbiome. bamboo is naturally bacteria-fighting: it’s harder for bad bacteria to grow on the surface of a bamboo toothbrush, so you’re already starting with a cleaner slate. a bamboo toothbrush cleans effectively: our soft-bristle bamboo toothbrush can break down plaque, freshen your breath, and lower your risk of tooth decay when used daily. It does so without damaging your enamel or irritating your gums like some other toothbrushes. a bamboo toothbrush is easy to maneuver: bamboo is textured, so it doesn’t slip around like plastic. This makes it easier to reach all the tight corners of your mouth. a bamboo toothbrush is gentler on the planet: instead of a fate inside a landfill, your eco friendly toothbrush can decompose within weeks. You can send it to a commercial composter, put it in your home compost bin, or even plant it in your garden. No matter which way, it will eventually decompose and return to the soil, instead of contributing to plastic pollution. why Davids is the best bamboo toothbrush: our bamboo toothbrush is made with a comfortable bamboo handle coated with vegan wax to make sure it feels good in your hand and mouth. Unlike many other toothbrushes on the market with plastic bristles derived from petroleum, our bamboo toothbrush is made with BPA-free bristles derived from all-natural castor oil. You can brush happily knowing you’re using a truly eco friendly toothbrush. Now, let’s cover some of the many ways our premium toothpaste can help you minimize the impacts of the Halloween sugar craze, while also reducing your environmental impact. ultra-pure micro-abrasives: the micro-abrasives in our toothpaste are derived from sandstone and quartz powder. They work to safely “exfoliate” your enamel, removing bacteria, plaque, and other pathogens....without damaging your enamel or using any chemicals in the process. While other toothpaste brands might use low-quality imported micro-abrasives, ours are the highest-quality micro-abrasives sourced here in the USA. baking soda: the baking soda in our toothpaste works to kill the bad bacteria in your mouth, in turn, reducing plaque and taming bad breath. It also works to remove surface stains to whiten and polish your pearly whites! xylitol: this natural sweetener is very different from sugar, as it actually helps to kill the bad bacteria in your mouth. It does so by stimulating saliva production in your mouth, so it can naturally flush out bad bacteria to avoid the formation of plaque and restore your mouth to a healthy pH. premium mint essential oils: in addition to their fresh flavor, the peppermint oils in our toothpaste can actually fight bacteria. Research shows that peppermint oil is antibacterial against certain strains, including those that can cause cavities. nano-hydroxyapatite: hydroxyapatite is the hero ingredient when it comes to restoring and remineralizing damaged enamel (aka, reversing the damage that can lead to cavities). The nano-hydroxyapatite particles in our sensitive+whitening toothpaste work to repair your damaged enamel at the source, blocking exposed nerve passageways to relieve sensitivity and fight cavities. Not to mention, these particles already exist in your body, so this star ingredient is completely safe and biocompatible. Are you ready to outsmart the scariest parts of Halloween? Buy Your Premium Toothpaste Now.
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throw it "away" with care: your bamboo toothbrush can decompose within weeks
At the risk of sounding like a broken record....did you know that, in the US alone, roughly 1 billion (with a “b”) toothbrushes end up in landfills every year? Did you also know that it can take 500-1,000 years for a plastic toothbrush to decompose? Now, we don’t like to harp on the negative, but we feel that this is a devastating amount of plastic waste that many people don’t even think twice about. But we’re here to change that. As a company founded on the motto, “sustain nature+you” we’re always looking for new ways to clean up the oral care industry and provide healthy, natural, and sustainable options to optimize your oral care routine! One of these options is our amazing bamboo toothbrush, a sustainable alternative that can decompose within weeks. We know that opting for new, more sustainable products can be overwhelming. So to make things a little easier, we’re covering some of the most common ways to dispose of your bamboo toothbrush, so you can make sure it decomposes in as little time as possible. upcycle it Now, we couldn’t dive into the different composting options without mentioning all of the ways you can upcycle your bamboo toothbrush. Believe it or not, your bamboo toothbrush can live a long happy life once you’re done using it! We’ve outlined a few of our favorite upcycling ideas below. Use it to clean crevices and stubborn spots around the house. Whether you use it on the grout in your bathroom, stubborn spots on an old pan, a stain on your favorite pair of jeans, or the crevices in your favorite pair of shoes, your bamboo toothbrush can help you keep things sparkling clean. Remove the bristles to make garden markers. You can paint your bamboo toothbrush a fun color and use it to tell your herbs apart when you’re starting your garden! Since it’s recommended to replace your toothbrush every 3 months, it’s easy to collect these throughout the year. Then, come springtime, you’ve got plenty of garden markers for your new seedlings. Use it in a fun crafts project. Get creative here! Maybe you have a little one who’s working on a school art project, or you simply want to channel the low-waste artist inside you. We know that upcycling can seem hard at first, but once you start, we hope the creativity starts flowing....and finding second-life ideas for your bamboo toothbrush becomes second nature. how to compost a bamboo toothbrush If you know you don’t have any reason to upcycle it, make sure you remove the bristles with pliers and get to composting. Our bamboo toothbrush handles are 100% biodegradable, meaning no matter what you do, they will eventually decompose. This is one of the many bamboo toothbrush benefits to consider next time you need a new toothbrush. To speed up the process, we’ve outlined some of the most effective ways to dispose of it. send it to your commercial compost Commercial compost heaps are most effective at breaking down items such as bamboo toothbrushes because they’re operated at much higher temperatures than at-home compost. They also contain a wider range of materials and microorganisms that aid in the breakdown process! This means that when you send your bamboo toothbrush to an industrial compost like this, it will break down in a matter of weeks (versus the months or years it might take to decompose in an at-home compost bin or garden). If you’ve never sent something to a commercial compost in your area, don’t worry....it’s easy to figure out! Just start by searching “commercial compost near me” to see your options! The search should return facilities in your area as well as rules + regulations to be aware of. throw it in your at-home compost Do you have an awesome at-home compost going? If not, rest assured that summer is a great season to start! It’s not only the perfect place to dispose of biodegradable products like your bamboo toothbrush, but it’s an amazing way to make use of your food scraps, so you can avoid contributing ~120 billion pounds of food that end up in landfills each year. Did you know that experts estimate 30-40% of the entire food supply in America ends up as waste? All the more reason to give your food scraps a second life. To get your home compost started, we recommend this simple 5-step process outlined by NPR. Once your home compost is up and running, you can place your bamboo toothbrush inside and expect it to decompose in roughly 4-6 months. The actual time will depend on the temperature of your compost as well as the other items and microorganisms present in the heap. To speed things up, it can help to (safely) cut the toothbrush into smaller pieces using a saw. plant it in soil If you don’t have a home compost (apartment life or city living doesn’t always allow for this), you can also plant your bamboo toothbrush in soil. If you have a friend with a garden, you can plant it horizontally in the garden, and it will decompose in about three years. It’s not the most effective route, so we recommend trying out the first two options before this! Remember, a commercial compost facility is probably within reach, you just have to find it. last ditch effort: toss it in your garden Last and actually least: if you simply throw your bamboo toothbrush (without the bristles) into your garden, you can have peace of mind knowing it will eventually decompose. We don’t recommend this route....it’ll probably take 5-10 years to decompose this way. But at least that’s a teeny tiny amount of time compared to the 1,000+ years it could take for a plastic toothbrush to decompose! What makes Davids’ the best bamboo toothbrush To us, a bamboo toothbrush is a no-brainer. But things get tricky when it comes to choosing from the countless options on the market. We may be biased, but there are a few matter-of-fact things that set our bamboo toothbrush apart from the rest. First and foremost, our soft performance bristles are BPA-free and derived from castor oil. Unlike most toothbrushes out there that use bristles derived from petroleum, our plant-based bristles have soothing capabilities, as castor oil is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. The softness of our bristles allows for gentle, effective cleaning. We do not take shortcuts when it comes to bristle production, so you can brush happily knowing these high-quality bristles are good for your enamel and gums. Second, our bamboo handle is easy to maneuver and known for its smooth and gentle mouthfeel. So you can get to those hard-to-reach places in your mouth without causing any discomfort. And last but not least, our bamboo toothbrush comes in FSC-certified, sustainable packaging. So you can brush in peace knowing that Davids’ is the best bamboo toothbrush to sustain nature+you. buy now
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an easy eco-upgrade: how to use and care for your bamboo toothbrush
At Davids, our motto is to sustain nature+you in everything we do. From recyclable aluminum tubes to intentional ingredients, every decision and product we make....we make with nature+you in mind. That’s exactly why we’re adding a bamboo toothbrush to our product lineup! Consider it a late Valentine’s Day gift from our family to you. Not only do bamboo toothbrushes help us fight plastic pollution, they’re actually great for your oral health. And today, we’re going to talk about all the reasons why. So sit back, relax, and allow all the natural benefits of bamboo toothbrushes to grow on you. bamboo toothbrush benefits Every year, over 1 billion plastic toothbrushes make their way to landfills....often ending up in waterways and land habitats along the way. We’ve decided to ditch plastic toothbrushes, and we hope to inspire you to do the same. We’re eco-upgrading our oral care offerings with the addition of our 100% natural bamboo toothbrush. Now, you might be wondering....what makes a bamboo toothbrush so special? Well, here are a few bamboo toothbrush benefits. end up in landfills or the ocean and we wanted to do better. Davids ditched the plastic handles and switched to 100% natural bamboo for an eco upgrade a bamboo toothbrush nurtures your oral health: using this soft-bristled toothbrush daily can help to nurture your oral health, prevent bad breath, freshen your breath, and lower your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. a bamboo toothbrush is safe and effective: unlike many other plants, bamboo actually doesn’t require pesticides or harsh chemical fertilizers, making it a safe material to use in your oral care routine. Using a bamboo toothbrush is one super easy way to avoid putting plastic in your mouth every single day! a bamboo toothbrush is easy to use: unlike plastic toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrush handles are easier to grip and maneuver. This might make it a bit easier to reach all the nooks and grooves of your mouth. bamboo is naturally antimicrobial: bamboo exhibits antimicrobial properties, meaning it’s harder for harmful bacteria to grow and multiply on the surface of a bamboo toothbrush. better for nature: as we mentioned, over 1 billion toothbrushes end up in landfills and delicate ecosystems every single year, contributing to the 400 million tons of annual global plastic waste. These plastics harm marine and land animals and end up back in our food and water supplies as microplastics. We’re proud to do anything we can to help sustain nature+you through healthy holistic oral care, and adding the best bamboo toothbrush to our product lineup is one of the easiest ways to do that. Now, adding our bamboo toothbrush to your oral care routine is one of the easiest ways to eco-upgrade your self-care! why Davids is the best bamboo toothbrush With so many bamboo toothbrushes on the market, it can be overwhelming to pick the best one for your mouth. At Davids, we’re committed to creating the highest quality oral care products out there....challenging the status quo by putting your oral (and overall) health first. Here are a few things that set our 100% natural premium bamboo toothbrush apart from the rest. BPA-free bristles: most toothbrush bristles out there are made of plastics derived from petroleum. Our bamboo toothbrush is made with BPA-free bristles derived from castor oils. soft bristles: our high performance ‘soft’ bristles are designed to help you maintain good oral health. comfortable handle: our handles are coated with vegan wax, creating a smooth and gentle mouthfeel sustainable packaging: just like the rest of our products, our bamboo toothbrush comes in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified packaging. This means the paper used in our packaging comes from responsibly managed forests and does not contribute to deforestation. USA family-owned & operated: Davids is a small, family-owned company. Many other toothbrushes on the market are produced overseas by large multinational corporations or owned by foreign companies. You can brush in peace knowing all of our products are made right here in the USA with the intention of nurturing your holistic health....rather than just turning a profit! tips for using and caring for your bamboo toothbrush Now, caring for your bamboo toothbrush looks a little different than the usual plastic toothbrush routine. Here are a few tips to get you started. Thoroughly rinse your toothbrush bristles before your first use. This will get any (harmless) bamboo dust off the surface. After every use, make sure to rinse off and store your toothbrush in an open-air holder in a dry area. Closed containers are not ideal for your bamboo toothbrush, as it needs to air dry. Don’t brush too hard! Let the bristles do the heavy lifting, you don’t want to harm your gums, enamel, or toothbrush. When you’re done with your bamboo toothbrush (we recommend you replace any toothbrush at least every three months), you can choose to compost or upcycle it. For tips on this, we encourage you to read our previous article: why you should add a bamboo toothbrush to your oral care routine. But to summarize, here are some tips for composting your bamboo toothbrush. Remove the bristles with pliers (not your teeth). Compost it in your at-home composter or send it to your area’s commercial compost. Not sure how to go about this? Check out these tips from earth911. Note: in your at-home compost, it should take about 4-6 months for your bamboo toothbrush to decompose. In a commercial composter, it should take just a few weeks. Plant your toothbrush. Sounds weird, right? But it works. If you plant your bamboo toothbrush horizontally in your garden (it has to have good soil), it will take roughly 3 years to decompose. That’s way better than the thousands of years it takes for plastic to break down! We hope this breakdown (pun intended) of bamboo toothbrushes inspires you to take the leap to eco-upgrade your oral care routine. With the same ease and effectiveness of a conventional toothbrush (if not better) minus all the downsides associated with plastic waste, what’s not to love about a bamboo toothbrush? Buy Premium Bamboo Toothbrush Now.
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why you should add a bamboo toothbrush into your oral care routine
As a brand that’s committed to creating products that sustain nature+you, we’re so excited to add bamboo toothbrushes to our product lineup. Not only are bamboo toothbrushes the perfect complement to our natural toothpaste, they offer many benefits for your oral health....and the health of the planet. Read along to discover these amazing benefits as well as some tips and tricks to properly dispose of your bamboo toothbrushes to ensure they decompose quickly and effectively! bamboo toothbrush benefits for your oral health It’s no secret that bamboo toothbrushes are better for the planet. But did you know that they also offer a bunch of benefits when it comes to your oral + overall health? Let’s take a look at a few. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial. That’s why it’s a common material used for kitchen utensils and cutting boards. Unlike plastic, bamboo works naturally to kill bacteria that penetrate its surface. The handle is easy to grip. Bamboo toothbrushes tend to be easier to grip than plastic toothbrushes, as plastic gets very slick when wet. This makes it easier to get to those harder-to-reach spots of your mouth. The bristles are soft and effective. The bristles on bamboo toothbrushes are the same as their plastic counterparts, so you can rest assured that the bristles are just as soft and effective as conventional toothbrushes. Bamboo toothbrushes look great. As you can probably tell from the packaging of our natural toothpaste, we actually care about the aesthetic of your oral care products. They’re often the first thing you see in the morning, so we want the look to bring you a sense of calm and joy. The natural look of a bamboo toothbrush accomplishes this effortlessly. The benefits don’t stop there. Let’s take a look at exactly how bamboo toothbrushes are better for the planet, too. bamboo toothbrush benefits for the planet A sustainable alternative to conventional toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes can help you on your journey to reduce your impact on the environment. Bamboo toothbrushes reduce landfill waste. It’s estimated that 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the US alone. That translates to 50 million pounds of landfill waste! Bamboo toothbrushes are a great way to combat this, as they are compostable and biodegradable! When disposed of properly (which we’ve outlined in the next section), it can take just a few months for a bamboo toothbrush to decompose and return to the earth. Bye-bye, BPA. Good news for you and the planet: using a bamboo toothbrush can help you reduce your exposure to BPA (bisphenol A), an industrial chemical that’s been linked to many health issues. A lot of conventional plastic toothbrushes still contain BPA, unless otherwise specified. With our bamboo toothbrush, you don’t have to worry about BPA at all. It won’t be a part of your oral care routine, and it won’t end up in your trash can once you’re ready to replace your toothbrush. Seeing your bamboo toothbrush can inspire more sustainable choices. Your toothbrush is often one of the first things you see in the morning....and one of the last things you see before bed. A sustainable toothbrush can serve as an important reminder to make sustainable choices all day long. Now, let’s get into the specifics of disposing of your bamboo toothbrush in a way that’s good for the environment. how to “throw away” your bamboo toothbrush To ensure that you get the most out of your bamboo toothbrush, and it breaks down as quickly as possible when you’re finally done with it, we recommend following these steps. Consider upcycling your bamboo toothbrushes. You can use it as a tool to scrub tiny crevices in your bathroom or consider using the handles for something like garden markers/plant labels. But when your bamboo toothbrush finally reaches its end of life... Remove the bristles. We recommend using pliers to pull them out. Compost your bamboo toothbrush handles. The handle of your bamboo toothbrush is 100% biodegradable, but the time it takes to biodegrade will depend on your disposal method. Here’s a breakdown (pun intended). Commercial compost: In an industrial composter, your bamboo toothbrush will decompose in just a few weeks. This is much faster than an at-home composter because temperatures are much higher, and there are more microorganisms breaking down the compost. To get your toothbrush into an industrial composter, put it in your “yard waste” bin. Not sure if you have a yard waste bin or how to register for one? Check out this guide by earth911. At-home compost: If you have an at-home composter, you can dispose of it there, where it will take about 4-6 months to decompose. Plant it: You can actually plant your bamboo toothbrush horizontally in your garden soil where it will take roughly 3 years to decompose. Throw it in the garden: Don’t worry, your bamboo toothbrush will still decompose even If you simply throw it in your garden But it’ll take 5-10 years to fully break down. We recommend checking to see what compost options and facilities are available in your area. If you don’t already compost at home, we hope your bamboo toothbrush inspires you to start! sustain nature+you As you may know, all of our products are created to sustain nature+you. Our natural toothpaste was developed using intentional ingredients that promote your oral+holistic health and the well-being of the planet. Because all of our zero waste toothpaste ingredients are sourced and derived from nature, they do not harm the environment when they return through your sink’s drain. On top of that, we use recyclable and sustainable packaging to ensure we do not contribute to landfill waste. (Have you seen our aluminum toothpaste tubes?) The bamboo toothbrush is a natural addition to our product assortment. It’s the perfect tool to pair with our natural toothpaste for a holistic oral care routine that sustains both nature+you. buy now.
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