Now is the perfect time to take an extra moment to be thankful for our planet and reconsider the way we use its resources. Perhaps you’re thinking about saving energy (and cutting down on that electric bill before the summer heat hits) by turning off the TV for a few more hours or investing in some energy-efficient lightbulbs. You may even be organizing a carpool, dusting off your bike, or breaking out the reusable tote bags for grocery trips. But don’t forget that it’s easy to be green with your oral care routine as well! In honor of Earth Day, here are just a few ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle for a healthy smile and a healthy planet.
1. Conserve Water While You Brush—We all know it’s important to turn off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth, but it bears repeating. Running the water while brushing takes up about 12% of your home’s water usage and can waste up to 10 gallons of water a day. That’s more than 200 gallons a month—enough to fill a fancy fish tank. To save even more, rinse by filling a Dixie cup with water instead of cupping your hands!
2. Recycle Your Toothbrush—No, we don’t mean keep using the same old brush! You should be replacing your toothbrush every three months, and this creates the perfect recycling opportunity. You can look into local recycling initiatives or join one like Colgate’s Oral Care Recycling Program to repurpose your toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, cartons, outer packaging, and floss containers. You ship these recyclables from your home where they are reformed into other plastic products. Win-win!
3. Choose Green Products—Green products aren’t only about being made from recyclable materials. Search out companies with eco-friendly business practices for less waste, chemicals, and processing. Companies like WooBamboo and Tom’s of Maine use non-petroleum-based plant materials, manufacture their products with sustainability in mind, and use eco-friendly packaging and natural ingredients. Plus, they’re widely available at most of your favorite stores, so you won’t have to go out of your way to make the switch.
These are all easy efforts that can pay off big for the earth and your family. Turning off the faucet will cut down your water bill, recycling will help companies like Colgate build recycled-plastic playgrounds, and choosing green products can ease your mind about where your products come from and what they’re made of.
Birmingham Orthodontics is committed to sustainability in our practice as well. You can always ask us about our green initiatives as we continue to strive toward an ecofriendly office.
At Birmingham Orthodontics, our mission is simple: we create smiles. Not only do we straighten the crooked grin, fix the bite, and adjust the jaw, we also brighten yearbooks, help young people come to like their looks, and give adults the confidence they have wanted for a long, long time. We also believe in our staff. Our culture of continuous learning has allowed us to host monthly training sessions for each team and bring in leading industry consultants to help keep us ahead of the curve. Contact us for a free consultation, or any questions you might have.
