When it comes to “doing my bit”, toothbrushes never crossed my mind.

I should add that yes, although I’m a Brit, I do still have all my teeth and I look after them. I also change my toothbrush at regular intervals, because when brushes get that splayed-out look, they’re no good to anyone (unless they want something to clean the chain of their bicycle – my upcycling tip of the day). But since modern toothbrushes are made of plastic, suddenly they don’t look so inconsequential.

Fortunately, there’s RADIUS. They’ve invented a toothbrush called Source where 80% is made from renewable materials – more specifically, recycled wood fiber or flax (or, most recently, recycled dollar bills), mixed with recovered & recoverable polypropylene. The heads of the brushes are the throwaway part, and yes, they’re plastic – but represent just a fifth of the disposable material of a standard toothbrush.

It’s a sign that Radius want to take their eco-responsibilities seriously, and in his letter to me, Radius’s Tamu Kemp noted: “We regrind our toothbrushes. We recirculate our water. We walk to work. We design our products to last longer. We design out products to waste less.”

More than that, they make products that do the job better than any I’ve seen (barring electric toothbrushes, that is). The Radius brushes have an unusually wide head with extra bristles, and they really explore your gums when you brush – getting around the age-old problem of teeth getting more attention than the rest of your mouth. I also have to mention the floss they sent, which is natural silk coated in beeswax (not a hint of plastic), and by far the best I’ve ever used, smooth without being sharp.

They also sent me a second brush, and for a second, I thought the whole thing was a green bust. Their Original brush is a translucent stick of curiously-molded material that looks like plastic, hence my misgivings – but it’s actually cellulose. It fits beautifully into the palm of your hand – but only one of them. Each brush is either right-handed or left-handed, because of the central recess where you slot your thumb. The difference in brushing? Quite remarkable – literally a whole new angle on things.

Yes, this is a glowing review – but then I feel these are glowing products. The eco-friendliness aside, Radius’s range seem to lead the field in functionality  – but these definitely are greener products, containing far less waste material than normal. They’re a little more expensive, as you’d expect from innovative new products, but in this case I’m quite happy to put my money where my mouth is.

Images: RADIUS

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The next time you take a swig of that cool, minty-fresh mouthwash, read the label.

ACT, one of the top sellers contains ingredients such as sodium saccharin, sorbitol, green dye #3, and yellow dye #5. It’s more bad news for standard mouthwash, which recently was revealed to increase the risk of cancer.

Enter The Natural Dentist, where colors are derived from vegetable juices such as red cabbage, purple carrot, beet, tomato, and annatto.

Instead of sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient that acts as a detergent and produces foam in toothpaste, The Natural Dentist uses a coconut-based ingredient.

Product labels and printed materials are produced with soy ink, which has low VOC levels (volatile organic compounds) that contribute to air pollution; and all products are vegetarian/vegan and have earned the cruelty-free product seal from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Other options include JASON Natural Cosmetics; Dr. Ken’s; and Eco-DenT oral care products.

Now go ahead – rinse and brush with a good conscience!

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