Brushing Our Teeth with a Plastic Toothbrush with Petroleum-Based Bristles, Not Good
Brushing with a plastic toothbrush causes microplastic ingestion because the mechanical friction of brushing breaks down the petroleum-based bristles. Most of the time, the bristles are made of nylon or polyester. The friction, combined with our toothpaste's abrasives and our saliva, causes non-visible to our human eye...tiny fragments that sliver off into our mouths, which are then swallowed. We have all heard of microplastics getting onto our bodies and wreaking havoc with them. Yikes!! Research indicates that an estimated 30 to 120 microplastic particles are released per brushing session. Unbelievable! Here is how the process works: Mechanical Breakdown: The bristles scrape against teeth and gums. This friction wears out the synthetic polymers, causing them to fragment into microscopic pieces. Chemical Exposure: The pH of our saliva and the chemical compounds in our toothpaste further weaken the plastic fibers over time. Ingestion: These broken fibers and frag...