Eco Oral Care Is Easy, Affordable, Effective and Artistic
If you don’t want to be a social outcast, you need to brush your teeth. Trust me – some of us can smell a rotten mouth from several feet away.
Being a “greenie”, I’m always looking for more eco-conscious options, even for everyday things like teeth-brushing. Sustainable oral care first brings to mind Radius and their ergonomic, aesthetically-pleasing toothbrushes.
Having used a battery-powered toothbrush for more years than I can remember (batteries = not green; I know!), I was excited yet slightly hesitant to try Radius‘ products.
First up was the Original Radius Toothbrush (shown at left). Made from 100% sustainably-sourced cellulose, the Original handle is quite comfortable in-hand, though it did take a day or two to get used to. Unfortunately, I was sent a right-handed version (I’m left-handed), so there was an extra learning curve. The bristles, 6500 in all, massaged my gums and cleaned by teeth very thoroughly. One caveat: having used a battery-powered toothbrush for so long, I pushed too hard with the manual toothbrush and ended up irritating my gums numerous times.
Second to try was the Source Radius Toothbrush, made from molded recycled wood bio-plastic. I fared a bit better with this model, though I still ended up hurting my gums. The Source has changeable brush heads, which is more sustainable in my eyes. Source brush heads also have “65% more bristle tufts than [an] ordinary toothbrush,” which I didn’t know until after I experienced its exceptional cleaning power.
Last but by no means least (as any dentist would tell you), I tested the Radius Natural Silk Floss. Natural silk is spun with beeswax to help this floss glide smoothly between teeth. Effective and easy to use, the floss began to fray sooner than the natural floss I was previously using. Despite this, I used the reem of floss to the very end and my gums are happy because of it.
Though I enjoyed working with all three of the Radius products I tested, I doubt I will be leaving behind my electric toothbrush anytime soon … maybe I’m just too lazy. For anyone interested in a more sustainable oral care option, I encourage you to try Radius! Visit their website for a store locator or to purchase directly from their website.
I wonder — since I think this is the only toothbrush I’ve seen that is for righties or lefties — if the bristle head could be made so it turned so it’d fit either. And, the place for your thumb be customized. Maybe make the place for your thumb solid, smooth but moldable? (Kind of like the protective mouth gear available for contact sports.)
I dunno. Looks like a neat idea, but the rightie-leftie issue would be a negative.
Take care,
-Mike
Hi Victoria,
Thank you for your review.
I apologize, had I known you were a left handed person I would have you sent you the appropriate oriented brush.
Our Original RADIUS is made with a bioplastic handle which in turn is better for the environmental.
Having a brush that is oriented for left or right is a great idea because of ease of brushing. However I can understand how disorienting it can be to use the wrong for your orientation.
Unlike regular standard toothbrushes the heads on our ORIGINAL and SCUBA brushes are slanted at a 45 degree angle for better brushing as recommended by the ADA.
Our brushes are ADA approved.
The ORIGINAL’s custom orientation, left or right and its innovative/effective (ergonomic design/thumb rest )design won it a permanent place in the NATIONAL DESIGN MUSEUM,Smithsonian Institute’s collection.
The SOURCE is a very eco-friendly brush as its handle is 100% recycled wood and soda bottles. The handle makes up 93% of the total product leaving a replaceable brush head that is only 7% of said product.
Thus ones impact on the environment is lessened. Replace the 7% brush head while save a vast majority of the product- 93%- for reuse. This is a win win situation.
The handle on the SOURCE can be fitted for a left handed person or right handed person, the directions for doing so comes on the back of the package.
Happy Brushing!
Genie @ Radius
[...] Eco Oral Care Is Easy, Affordable, Effective and Artistic Product review of Radius toothbrushes and floss – great teeth are a vital foundation to true beauty! [...]
[...] Victoria Everman reviews the effective, affordable, and artistic oral care line from Radius. [...]
[...] Says eco oral care is easy, affordable, effective and artistic [...]
[...] + Victoria Everman (that’s me!) reviews the eco-friendly Radius toothbrushes and floss. [...]
I actually have one of those toothbrushes that are larger than life. I loved it at first but then found it was causing me to almost gag. I think due to my obsessive brushing I was reaching too far back, great post