A new wave of eco-friendly options
Have you always been concerned about the oral health and hygiene of your family? Have you or your kids experienced some oral problems just because you failed to maintain proper oral hygiene? Yes, regular brushing can help but it’s not 100% effective at preventing plaque build-up in between teeth – the main cause of deteriorating oral health. Regular flossing is the way out! And, if you are equally concerned about the environment as your oral health, you should look for the best eco friendly, biodegradable options.
Regular floss is, generally, plastic and it contributes to the increasing environmental pollution, particularly contaminating the ocean and marine life. Besides, it is toxic as well and may prove to be a greater health risk for you and your family. Fortunately, plastic free floss picks make a perfect alternative. However, these biodegradable floss picks are not widely adopted yet despite the fact that they are eco friendly and can help seriously reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean. They break down easier compare to regular plastic. Furthermore, biodegradable PLA plastic used in these picks helps reduce carbon emissions in the manufacturing process as well.
So, overall, they are a more environment-friendly option compared to traditional floss.
What’s the problem with regular dental floss?
The main issue with the regular dental floss is with the material used in it. Conventional floss is not biodegradable and may take a lifetime to decompose, making it a big risk for the environment – particularly the ocean.
A typical dental floss commonly uses one of the following materials:
- Nylon
- Teflon
- Polyester
- Gore-Tex
All these are plastics and aren’t biodegradable. In addition to that, it comes with a toxic PFC coating that actually serves to glide the floss seamlessly between the teeth. PFC has also been linked to serious health conditions including dementia, thyroid disease, fertility issues, cancer, and even birth defects.
Plastic Free PLA Floss Picks – The perfect alternate
A more eco friendly and biodegradable option is the PLA floss picks that would be a perfect replacement for the traditional dental floss.
PLA is a newer bio-based, renewable biodegradable material that is made using renewable plant sources like corn.
PLA plastic decomposes easily and doesn’t require a lifetime for decomposition like regular plastic. It is carbon-neutral as well and helps preserve nature. With natural decomposition, it is not as likely as regular plastic to end up in ocean which, certainly, is a welcoming sign for the preservation of marine life.
Unfortunately, eco-friendly flossing is not widely adopted yet. But PLA floss picks can be a perfect zero-waste swap for the traditional flossing options.
How is PLA made from Corn?
Polylactic Acid, commonly known as PLA, can be made using two different methods i.e. polymerization and condensation. The most commonly used polymerization method is called ring-opening polymerization.
When making PLA from corn, the sugars from corn are used. The procedure involves fermentation of corn under controlled conditions. Lactic acid can serve as the building block and it is later polymerized to form PLA. PLA plastic is plant-derived and can be recycled making it a zero-waste product.
PLA, in principle, is compostable and can break down into harmless natural components under specific conditions. So, it helps save the environment by taking pressure off the mounting landfills in the country. It also helps keep the ocean clean so that marine life could thrive.
Now that you know the facts, choose wisely.
Join the Flossminder community.
