Eco-Friendly Mouthwash alternatives

We all have a nightly routine.

Brush your teeth, floss (or so you tell your dentist) and then a swig of mouthwash to keep your teeth clean and cavity-free.

While it is certainly in your best interest to make a priority of dental hygiene, here is an impact on the environment that we must consider. Look around your bathroom and you'll see one thing nearly every product has in common: plastic.

No doubt you are familiar with the harm plastic does to the environment, but here are some quick facts to help illustrate that point further:

So that swig and swirl of mouthwash every night might sound a little less appealing right now, but you still need to keep your teeth clean. Don't worry, we have plenty of eco-friendly alternatives to common mouthwash brands that will keep your teeth cavity free, and limit the damage done to the environment in the process.

Is mouthwash bad for the environment?

Mouthwash seems perfectly harmless, I mean it's good enough for us isn't it?

Except we're not drinking it. Most mouthwashes have harsh ingredients and additives (fake dyes, preservatives, parabens, and other harsh chemicals) and this stuff is neither good for you nor the environment (where discared moutwash ends up). Here are some fast facts:

• Unrecycled mouthwash containers contribute tons of trash to landfills each year
• Some mouthwashes contain pretty nasty chemicals such as formaldehyde
• Mouthwash makes it's ways into our water supply and hurts aquatic life and microorganisms

As mouthwash gets sloshed back out your mouth and goes down the drain, it undoubtedly makes its way into our waterways and the empty un-recycled containers fill our landfills.

Is the fresh breath worth it? Nah. Instead, opt for mouthwash free of harsh chemicals and wasteful packaging. About those alternatives, what eco-friendly forms does mouthwash take?

Types of eco-friendly mouthwash alternatives

Conventional mouthwash (harmful chemicals, plastic bottle) puts a serious hurt on the environment, but there are alternatives. When it comes to eco-friendly mouthwash there are two options:

• Mouthwash tablets
• Eco-friendly ingredients and glass packaging

Mouthwash tablets look like breath mints except they dissolve in water to become liquid mouthwash - just like the stuff in the plastic bottle minus the waste (and usually, the harmful chemicals). Most mouthwash tablets are made from bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and an acid. This makes them fizz once they are combined with water, often mouthwash tablets will include dyes and flavorings as well (such as spearmint) to keep your breath minty fresh.

Are mouthwash tablets effective?

No mouthwash is a substitute for a good brushing.

At best, mouthwash kills some germs and gives your breath a minty scent - it's not going to prevent cavities or plaque buildup as much as brushing will. Still, it's worth exploring whether mouthwash tablets are as effective as common mouthwashes you can buy at the local drug store.

At the end of the day, the end product is the same: chemicals and a flavoring mixed with water that your swirl around your mouth and spit out. No one wants harsh chemicals in their mouth and I think most of us would like to not harm the environment with our daily dental routine so if you ask me: mouthwash tablets are a very solid alternative to traditional mouthwash.