Ditch the Pick!

A lot of us want to make eco-friendly swaps that feel impactful, but we also lead super busy lives with a lot of that “living” on-the-go.   Is there more to sustainable, on-the-go swaps than simply remembering your reusable water bottle?  (Which, btw, is still a great swap.)

We think so.  One easy way is to ditch the single-use plastic floss picks!

Let’s talk about these plastic flossers

Sure, they are a convenient way to remove food bits after a meal away from home.  As consumers become more aware of the necessity of regular oral care (especially with COVID causing dental office visits to become scarcer) many are turning to these convenient little tools for flossing/picking — both at home and on-the-go.  The floss pick market is growing at a rate of 4.6% a year and is expected to reach a whopping $829.7 million by 2026.¹ 

But have you ever thought about how much plastic that actually is? The impact it has on the environment? And even more so, why are there so many lying around?  You see them everywhere: on the sidewalk, on nature trails, in ponds, on playgrounds, stuck in the debris by storm drains. 

Besides the extensive environmental impact of all that single use plastic, there are other areas of concern.  Plastic is porous and can harbor bacteria so it’s easy to see how one might be moving bacteria from one interdental space to another when using the ‘pick’ part of the flosser.  The same goes for the floss itself — you are using the same 1 inch of floss to floss the whole mouth instead of using a clean segment between each tooth as recommended.  Where’s all that food and plaque debris going?  Basically, you are giving the little bacteria bugs that are hanging out between your teeth a free ride from one place to another. 

So we don’t really want to use the plastic floss picks based on this information, however, our busy lives require a convenient and simple method for on-the-go oral care — a simple tool that is easier on the planet, easier on our health and more effective. 

Is there a more eco-friendly (and health-friendly) alternative?

Introducing DrTung’s Perio Sticks™ — the biodegradable, use-anywhere dental tool.

How are they easier on the planet? 

They are made from Eco-Certified Nordic Birch — birch that is sustainability harvested, unbleached and biodegradable.  Even if you just toss these onto the ground when you’re done, there’s no litter!  They will simply biodegrade, leaving no trace behind.   

Then there’s the paperboard packaging — it’s FSC certified (Forest Steward Council). Products that bear this label are made using a mixture of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC controlled wood.²  Another win for the planet!

How are they easier on our health? 

Made with absolutely no dyes, no bleach, no chemicals…just plain old-fashioned birch wood.  And, since birch is naturally anti-bacterial³, no more free ride for those little bacteria bugs we talked about earlier.

But are they effective?  They are professionally designed with a slim, tapered, triangular profile to fit comfortably between teeth, stimulate gums and remove plaque and food particles.  When moistened in the mouth, Pero Sticks™ become pliable and can bend up to 60 degrees so you can get into the hard-to-reach places and gently ‘scrub’ the inner tooth surfaces.  They come in THIN for normal spaces and X-THIN for tight spaces.

Ditch the Pick!

Ditch the pick and help the world become less polluted, one Perio Stick at a time.  Your mouth and the earth will thank you!