It’s 2019 now and we seem to have way more options! Yay! Though nothing perfect for us floss pick loyals… I found some Humble Co cornstarch floss picks that come in a paper package instead of plastic, which is in the right direction. I also found this awesome reusable handle that you string your dental floss onto. It’s plastic, but maybe someone can find one made of stainless steel? At least it’s super reusable.

Here’s the link to the handle:
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-clean-Dental-Cleaner-Flossers/dp/B0105DIBCU

you cant be environmentally friendly and not be vegan

hair (horse or human) makes a great floss,
all natural, biodegradeable, no factiry/packaging/shipping,
ethically and sustainably harvested.
i used to use mine when i grew it long,
now i stay close cropped and get some from ladyfriends.

Hi,
I have a vegan, Biodegradable, Charcoal infused bamboo dental floss in a little glass vial.
https://ommade-organic-skin-care-natural-products.myshopify.com/products/charcoal-infused-bamboo-fibre-dental-floss

Not having a good option to buy, I’m currently using a DIY floss. I bought a spool of organic cotton thread in the heaviest weight I could find. I pop open the plastic container from store-bought floss and put it on the bobbin winder of my sewing machine. I tried just using a stainless bobbin, but my machine uses a smaller hole than the floss box. Once it’s wound, I put a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil on the spool, which distributes throughout the spool on its own, then I reload it into the emptied plastic container. This prevents me from throwing away the plastic, but uses a completely organic and compostable floss inside.

I don’t know how far this is interesting. My dad always uses rubber bands to floss. Washes them well after each use and use it up to a week or two. Not as abrasive as thread from spool, they are gentle on your gums.

I just found your, blog in search of an eco-friendly floss minus the plastic and unfortunately I am unable to afford the Eco-Dent, but stumbled on this brand WooBamboo! Eco-Awesome Floss from Bridgeable Silk, waxed natural mint flavor. Have you ever tried or heard of it ? What are your thoughts, also thought of a gum stimulator but they all come wrapped in some plastic .:(

Reading the section of floss made me remember something. When I was young, we never bought floss, I just use regular cotton thread from the spool, I actually felt it scrubbed better, but it was harder to hold and prone to breaking xD.

great to see people still reading this,even in 2017! I’m on the hunt for the ‘best’ ethical, sustainable, eco-friendly floss as well :)

I am also looking for alternatives for dental floss but I couldn’t find a more organic one here in my country (Philippines). But then I discovered this portable water flosser, called Pocket Flosser, in Kickstarter and I think it’s a great alternative! Water flossers works just as good, or even better, than dental floss. It’s basically water pressure pushing food debris (and even plaque) off. What’s great about this is that it doesn’t need any electricity or even batteries so you don’t have to worry about energy. It only requires easy manual hand pump to accumulate pressure then it’s just as good. While this doesn’t necessarily fit in your pockets (as the name may suggest, the pocket actually refers to spaces in between the teeth), I still think it’s a better alternative to those pricey and stationary water flossers, and it’s very still handy when traveling. While the pump may be made in plastic (the developer didn’t specify the exact material), at least it’s BPA-free. It’s also better because it’s only a one-time purchase and you don’t have to worry about running out or disposing anything.

If you love this product, you can get them here and help the developer produce this awesome invention:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1781019896/pocket-flosser-flossing-made-simple-and-pain-free/description

STIMUDENT-Wood, minimal plastic packaging. Unsustainable point of interest: wood grown in USA, made in China.

You are environmentally conscious about plastics but not vegan? So the environment doesn’t matter if a personal preference of taste (since it is NOT a necessity to eat meat) comes to question?

oh, and as far as toothpaste, this stuff is amazing, except going the wintergreen route is by far the best, b/c it’s got that rootbeerish taste while still being minty, but isn’t so harsh on the tastebuds, so you can actually eat food right after no problem. you can use the recipe below as a starting point, and just look at the photo of the earthpaste container online to see what ingredients are in the wintergreen flavor. it really is the best. the xylitol does come in a plastic bag, but it lasts a long time. or maybe someone knows how to find xylitol sold in some other packaging? … : anyway, it sure does beat bunches of toothpaste tubes. actually, i mostly just use baking soda by itself, but my wife hates it, so we have both on hand.

https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2014/03/homemade-toothpaste-thats-just-like-earthpaste/

has anyone ever tried just using cotton sewing thread? i saw someone online mentioning it. i am still using regular dental floss, but thinking maybe i can switch to cotton thread… i bet that it being more abrasive is actually helpful. now i just wonder if i can get it between my teeth without it breaking? hmmm… even if i can’t, and had to use the polyester sewing thread, it’s still a lot less packaging than dental floss. oh, and i am going to switch to using licorice root as my toothbrush!

Have you considered Stim-u-dent? They are biodegradable wooden picks made from managed US forests and even the packaging is compostable/recyclable. No plastic involved whatsoever :)

Argh! So I just received my order today, and, instead of receiving the refill spools packaged in cardboard boxes that I ordered, I received 200-yard spools in plastic dispensers! >:[ They didn’t even call me before shipping to let me know about the change. Made in China, too, so probably extra toxic. In the future, I will buy POH’s refill spools since POH specifically aims to reduce plastic packaging (so I know they won’t switch things out from under me). Their floss is made in the USA, too.

Dental floss are not good for your gums, they can harm them and They are not necessarily doing a good clean up.I use a device calles “Silonit”, it’s a local product in my country (but I’m sure there is other companies that manufacture such a product). basically it cleans your teeth with the water pressure, “Silonit”=jet. And it is an excellent cleaner and you can see and feel a difference. but .. there is waste of water and it is made out of plastic (although I’m with my Jet years!)

Why can’t floss be made out of cotton?

Shortly after I posted my previous comment, I decided to buy 200-yard spools of unwaxed nylon floss (the kind typically used in dentist offices). It’s nylon floss, but that’s the same as any other floss (unless you buy silk floss) and better than toxic PTFE floss. I buy unwaxed floss, so I don’t need to concern myself over whether it was coated with plant- or petroleum-based waxes. Additionally, each spool is packaged in a cardboard box, and I reason that I am reducing packaging by buying 200-yard spools. It’s cheap, too!

I just discovered POH NoWax floss. It’s a nylon floss that comes in a hard plastic case with a metal screw top. You can buy refill spools though, so you don’t have to worry about discarding plastic/metal cases every time you need to replenish your dental floss. The refill spools are sold in a cardboard box (three 100-yard spools per box). According to The Soap Dispensary’s September 2012 review, each refill spool is wrapped in paper tissue, but I think it’s possible that “paper” could be polypropylene. I am not sure about that or the cylinder around which the floss is wrapped, but I like it better than the Eco-DenT GentleFloss.

You can buy or make an essential oil blend that is a very healthy option to replace toothpaste (use oil blend straight on your toothbrush) and mouth rinses (use with a mouthful of water or whatever other liquid you prefer) and to enhance the effectiveness of any floss or toothpicks you are using (just touch the dropper lightly to your finger and rub the floss or pick).

If making your own, remember that it is important to store them in either dark brown or (to be super-protective) to use a Violiv purple glass bottle, and a dropper top. If you don’t have a bottle yet, you can buy one at many health food sections/stores or online. Or buy something that comes in a dropper bottle and reuse it.

I sometimes add an essential oil blend to a tiny jar of coconut oil to swish with before brushing, then to brush with (don’t spit oil in sink or toilet, though – it can clog things over time). You can make your blend as strong or mild as you like. I agree that baking soda is too rough on teeth to be a regular dentifrice, but rinsing with water and baking soda will help bring down the acid level in your mouth quickly after a meal.

To buy a pre-made essential oil tooth blend – or to learn what ingredients you can use to make your own, visit:

https://store.orawellness.com/collections/home-page/products/orawellness-starter-kit

I’ve tried different gentler powder combo’s – arrowroot, bentonite, calcium carbonite, etc. – they seem to aggravate my propensity toward tartar, though a lot of people do great with it.

I tried a brush with a replacable head, but didn’t like how harsh the bristles were, nor that the total length was not compatible with my little reusable mesh organizer bags that I use both in my bathroom and when I travel.

I’ve experimented with neem toothpicks that, when chewed on enough, become like miswaks with a brushy, fibrous end. They don’t get all the stuff from between my teeth, though, and mine came in a plastic container.
there are places that sell the original miswak sticks online. From an environmental standpoint, I like the miswak idea best of all, but it is very time consuming. I’m also intrigued by the blotting method, which is a whole other topic.

I’ve used different natural brands of floss, but can’t seem to get around the difficulty of the plastic box. The one on my desk right now (that prompted my internet search) can be popped open,so….why couldn’t these companies sell the tiny replacement spools to pop inside of them? You could have all the floss you need for the foreseeable future, and buy it in a cloth bag with a drawstring,( or to be hygienic, in a small, re-usable plastic box to keep them dry in different storage settings). Even wrapping each tiny spool in a tiny sliver of sealed plastic would be a huge improvement over the current wasteful packaging. I realize that might not be good for business for the floss manufacturers, but it is a thought.

I make my own toothpaste using bentonite clay, arrowroot powder, coconut oil, and a few drops of peppermint, cinnamon and eucalyptus oil, plus a little birch xylitol. I ignore the recommendations about toothbrushes and use mine until the bristles start to seem broken, dipping it in Everclear to keep it germ free. Lasts about a year. I’d be willing to switch to the recycled plastic one you mention, imho the other options are just a lot of green hype. I don’t bother with mouthwash, and use doubled cotton thread for dental floss. Does come with a plastic spool these days, although I’ve still got some old stuff on wooden spools I’m using up.

There are 100% Biodegradable and Vegan toothbrushes readily available on the market, most commonly Bamboo-based! :)

Thanks for a great blog idea. May I suggest a few ideas:
Using a miswak (a tree twig-wiki) instead of a toothbrush.
Using toothpowder instead of a toothpaste, I suppose since they’re not pre-mixed with water they come in smaller packages with more # of uses.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide (mix 1:1 with water) instead of mouth wash. I hear mouth washes can harm the digestive and immune systems by killing too many good bacteria and H2O2 is supposed to be healthier (I haven’t actually verified this rumor).
And about dental floss I’m in the search myself, but did you know little hunter gatherer 3year olds use real natural flosses in their jungles? Cute scene from a documentary I watched. I thought floss was a modern invention and that’s what wiki claims too!

It’s not hard to make your own toothpaste. If baking soda is too harsh you can use bentinite clay or salt instead or just leave it out all together. I’m using a mixture of calcium carbonate, coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils. It’s cheap to make and so far been very effective for me.

As usually very good information i used to use A. Vogel Herbal Mouth Wash besides being in a glass container it was great mouthwash but the last time i check it is no longer available so will check out https://www.dentalherb.com/. i have used Eco-Dent floss for years and love it. But i had avoided bamboo toothbrushes because of the boar bristles. i am sure you are very busy but hope you will update this blog to promote the great work of Brush With Bamboo as other vegans might be more open if they saw an alternative without boar bristles (i have no problem with using used leather or local, humanely harvested honey but know a lot of vegans that are not so open.) i would like very much to share this blog but will wait and see if the update to add info on Brush with Bamboo is something you can do. Also thank you for the info about Tom’s of Maine i did not know about his take back program If i did not have very sensitive teeth would switch from Eco-dent tooth powder to his but i have to use Eco-dent as it really helps. My husband uses Tom’s and i will be sure he knows about the take back program. Have you checked out this? https://tv.greenmedinfo.com/homemade-coconut-oil-based-toothpaste/#sthash.K2L78m8k.dpuf

As far as mouthwash goes, I use coconut oil once a day, swishing for roughly 5 or 10 minutes and have noticed a definite improvement in my teeth since I started. Coconut oil is known for having great antibacterial and antifungal properties.

This may not be as effective, but one alternative I’m used to floss is Stim-U-Dent plaque removers. They are small wooden flexible sticks.
https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/stim-u-dent-plaque-removers-mint/ID=prod6015932-product#descriptionNamedTab

So, I”ve read that the fluoride and the glycerine in many toothpastes actually prevent a tooth from remineralizing; and some who used nice, healthy oils in their homemade tooth cleaners found better tooth healing after leaving them out. And easy does it on the baking soda, per some, as you don’t need to scrape off any more enamel. Google Dr. Judd or Dr. Phillips on “blotting technique” and “good teeth from birth to death.” Fascinating. Saliva and a tiny touch of essential oil may be all that is needed on a daily basis, with weekly or monthly baking soda polishing.

Thanks for the post..It is really great. There are also non-toothpaste brushes called ionic brushes that use
titanium dioxide to kill bacteria around it. Kind of amazing if they
work like the tests show. anyone could tell me about

As for floss, possibly consider something like the sonicare airfloss? it’s expensive and plastic, but you’d be able to use to for a long while

Hi there, I am from Germany and have found a plastic-free dental floss in an online shop that also ships internationally. It is rather pricey in that particular shop but there are others that sell it cheaper, at least here in Europe. Maybe there are shops like in the US as well who carry that brand. It’s called “Le Negri” dental floss. It is natural finish and comes in a metal tin.
I am not sure if I can post links here but if so this is what it looks like: https://www.manufactum.com/dental-floss-p1402108/

Please update on the Bryton Pick. I’m looking into getting them since my boyfriend uses those ‘hard to reach angle’ floss picks 10+ times a day. Please review them, or at least let us know if your dentist thinks they’ll work like floss. Thanks!

Hello. I found this post while searching for some way to cut down on the huge amount of plastic floss casings I use that I seem to drown in sometimes. It’s sad that there aren’t that many options out there…barely anyone who doesn’t use them. Thank you for making such a comprehensive post and helping out my search.

Is there a problem with beeswax? I was planning on making some beeswax coated cotton sheets to use instead of plastic wrap this weekend

Instead of using the plastic throw away floss pics I find that using a re-usable floss holder is a great solution. Their are a few of them on the market, but I find the E-Z Floss brand to work well for me. It’s small enough so easy to travel with but I can still get to the back of my teeth. It doesn’t solve the “floss problem”, but it can be used with any kind of floss. I have a friend who recommended this one who claims that he has been using it daily for more than 10 years. To me that seems to me to be an acceptable use of plastic.

I am also considering green dental floss, and am going to experiment with sinew/cured animal tendons.

I was trying the baking soda toothpaste recipes and they didnt work for me as well – too hard on my teeth and taste is bad. I ended up making the toothpaste out of white clay powder – it is much softer and healthier basis. I just add tea tree and mint essensial oils for desinfection and smell/taste. Thanks for the floss review!

Hi, I have been searching forever to find a good natural or reusable floss. I love the idea of harvesting floss from Agave plant. The leaves can be stripped to make strings that are stringer than dental floss and totally natural, if someone marketed this it would be amazing, I would buy a pack every month.
Video of someone flossing with Agave strings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmT3LTQ6Q88
Also Miswak sticks from the neem or peelu tree are a time tested natural way to clean your teeth, I wishIi could find some that are not individually wrapped in plastic.
Also check out these brushes..they use a titanium dioxide rod to kill bacterial around it..really amazing if it works.

My solution to the the dental floss problem is to reuse. But, my husband refuses to do so. We find dental floss at church rummage sales at the end, when it’s fill a sack for $1. By that point, if the floss hasn’t been purchased by someone else, it would likely be pitched anyway. When the floss is finished, we pull off the metal cutter and recycle it, and recycle the plastic case. We haven’t had to buy floss from the store or take samples from the dentist in many years.

I have a nail brush with bristles apparently made from cactus thorns. The bristles are surprisingly soft, and really gentle on my sensitive skin.
If they can use them for nail brushes, surely they would work for toothbrushes too…

Anyway, you should consider making your own toothpaste. There are recipes online!

I use the “Environmental Toothbrush” ….made from bamboo and polymer, which they claim is totally biodegradable. They come wrapped in paper in cardboard boxes. I stopped using any toothpaste and haven’t noticed a difference in whiteness. For a mouthwash, tea made from fresh thyme leaves is ok (and not as awful tasting as I thought it might be).

My dentist here in France laughed at me when I mentioned using floss everyday, saying that that is so American. Flossing is not common in France! My dentist doesn’t use floss himself. There are just some practices that we, Americans, have gotten so used to, we don’t even question them anymore. Same goes for mouth wash; if you want to use one, make your own with some water and a few drops of tea tree essential oil (or another antiseptic essential oil like lavender).

How do you buy the dental herb tonic? is it possible to do so without a dentist? it’s just mouthwash, right?

I was also skeptical about using the Butler gum stimulator in place of dental floss, as recommended by the Zero Waste Home. In the hopes of reducing waste, though, I decided to give it a try. After six months, and a follow-up visit to the dentist’s office, I have to say that it really does work. My dentist even marveled that my gums were healthier this time around.

There’s a trick to using the stimulator tool correctly as a floss substitute: you have to remember to guide the rubber tip around the entire gumline (front and back of each tooth), not just in between teeth. It sounds harder to do than it is, and once you get the hang of it, cleaning teeth this way will take the same amount of time as flossing.

I don’t think the rubber doodad mounted on a holder is for flossing – I think it’s for stimulating the gums. I love that thing with a passion, but still need to floss.

Damn those bad tooth genes!!

Check out the zero waste home bathroom. She had plastic free alternatives. Also read the comments someone talks about a compostable toothbrush.

Why not just use a heavier thread for dental floss. You can buy it at a sewing store on a wooden bolt.

My husband and I have been using Tooth Soap for years, and just recently we tried the (more accurately named) Tooth Shreds (from Rose of Sharon). Tooth Soap comes in reusable brown glass jars with plastic lids. Tooth Shreds comes in metal tins. Both are bits of soap, already shredded. You take out one shred and bite it, then scrub it with your toothbrush until it foams up. Because they’re already shredded, there’s little or no hygiene problem.

Using soap is a different experience from using toothpaste, but it’s one I’ve come to prefer. I don’t mind the slight soapy taste and my teeth feel considerably cleaner than they did when we were using regular (green, flouride-free) toothpaste, and neither of us has had any dental problems since we started using it.

Floss is something i use regularly but completely overlooked in my weekly challenge total.
thanks for the less plastic ideas, although i will use up what i already have first.
i have tried Tom’s toothpaste (and originally picked it for it’s non-plastic tube) but my husband complained about the taste.
We are currently using Jason Sea Fresh, but will probably switch back when it’s gone.