Best bamboo toothbrushes for an eco-friendly daily routine

You might not have thought about the environmental impact of your dental regime but swapping your go-to toothbrush for a bamboo one is an easy way of cutting down on your plastic waste.

Bamboo is a much more sustainable resource to use and, with a huge variety of bamboo brushes on the market, you don’t have to compromise on the type of brush you like either.

We’ve scoured the Mumsnet forums to find recommendations across a wide range of categories and also thoroughly analysed the brushes experts and real customers love. So, whether you’re looking for the best bamboo toothbrush with charcoal bristles or you want to know what the best budget option is, we’ve got a recommendation ready for you.

Here are the best bamboo toothbrushes to buy this year.

1. Best overall bamboo toothbrush: Ecograndeur Organic Bamboo Toothbrushes

Price £7.95 for a pack of 12 | Buy now from Amazon

With soft bristles that reviewers loved for their efficient clean, Ecograndeur’s bamboo toothbrushes have a passionate fan base.

These brushes are available as a 12-pack on Amazon making it easy to swap your whole family over to this more sustainable toothbrush option. We like that each one is numbered to make keeping track of who owns which brush much easier.

Users love the bamboo, biodegradable handle which can be composted, although bear in the mind the bristles will need to be disposed of separately. Reviews also rave about the gentleness of the bristles, which are BPA-free and don’t use any dyes or chemicals.

Pros

• Soft bristles

• Biodegradable handle

• Multi-packs available

Cons

• Bristles must be disposed of separately for the brush to compost

2. Best budget bamboo toothbrush: Maison & White Bamboo Toothbrushes

Price £6.89 for a pack of 10 | Buy now from Amazon

Dentists recommend swapping your toothbrush every three months so it’s great to find a high-quality, affordable bamboo toothbrush option.

This 10-pack of bamboo toothbrushes, made by Maison & White, get great reviews thanks to their soft bristles and ergonomic handles.

Reviewers mention being pleasantly surprised by the superior quality of these brushes thanks to their budget price tag. The design is admittedly basic, but for a sustainable bargain, you can’t go wrong with this handy multipack.

Pros

• Affordable price point

• Sold in a multipack

• Great quality for the cost

Cons

• Every brush in the pack is identical so there’s a risk you’ll end up using a loved one’s brush!

• Basic design

3. Best bamboo charcoal toothbrush: Ecotoothbrush Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush

Price: £2.95 | Buy now from Natural Collection

“Have a look on Natural Collection. They have a big selection of homeware, toiletries, gifts.” (Shop recommended by Mumsnet user shinynewapple2020)

Using a charcoal bamboo toothbrush, like this one by Ecotoothbrush, is not only a sustainable choice but the charcoal is a powerful natural ingredient that can contribute to better dental hygiene.

Charcoal is known for being naturally antibacterial and Ecotoothbrush also credit it with lessening mouth odour, helping to prevent tooth decay and acting as a tooth whitener too.

This brush is made with super fine bristles to make sure you get a thorough clean, although it does work out a little pricier than buying multipacks of brushes.

Pros

• Fairtrade production

• Charcoal bristles

• Made from ‘Moso bamboo’ which is especially fast-growing and panda-friendly

Cons

• Only available to buy individually

4. Best bamboo toothbrush from a big brand: Colgate Bamboo Charcoal Soft Toothbrush

Price: £3 | Buy now from Amazon

“I've just started using a Colgate bamboo brush and I like it.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user theneverendinglaundry)

Colgate releasing a bamboo toothbrush is a sign of how popular this type of brush is becoming.

Reviewers praise the shape and feel of this toothbrush’s handle, noting how smooth it is in your mouth. Colgate has also added a beeswax coating to the handle making it more water-resistant, which is handy in a damp environment like a bathroom.

Users also loved how durable the bristles were, mentioning how long they lasted and how well they kept their shape, but a few did report that they found them to be too firm so it's not the best choice for those with sensitive teeth.

We really like the bamboo pattern on the handle too. While it's not essential, it's a nice touch which makes this brush look that much nicer in your bathroom.

Pros

• Durable bristles

• Waterproofed, smooth, handle

Cons

• Some users found the bristles to be ‘medium’ rather than ‘soft’

5. Best bamboo toothbrush on Amazon: Eco Panda bamboo toothbrushes

Price: £4.98 for a pack of five | Buy now from Amazon

“Amazon sell reasonably priced bamboo brushes.” (Retailer recommended by Mumsnet user theneverendinglaundry)

Eco Panda brushes come with a host of glowing reviews from impressed users. The bamboo toothbrushes are loved for their soft bristles, ergonomic handles and bright colours.

These brushes have the added benefit of being made with moso bamboo, which is faster-growing than other types of bamboo and isn’t eaten by pandas, so it’s a panda-friendly option.

This Eco Panda five-pack is available on Amazon Prime delivery, perfect if you realise you’re running low at the last minute. The pleasing range of colours is handy too – ideal for a family to pick their own.

Pros

• Assortment of colours to identity which brush is yours

• Made from sustainably sourced, panda-friendly moso bamboo

• Easy to order and available on Amazon Prime

Cons

• Not available to buy separately

6. Best long-lasting bamboo toothbrush: The Humble Co. Bamboo Toothbrush

Price: £3.99 | Buy now from Amazon

“I've used the Humble brushes a lot, and they've lasted for ages (even though I'm normally quite hard on my brushes).” (Vetted by Mumsnet user mackerella)

Humble claim to be the first producers of bamboo toothbrushes here in the UK and their experience shows in this much-loved brush.

Reviewers praise the Humble brush for its ergonomic design and the range of bristle options available. This bamboo toothbrush also comes in a selection of colours making it a great choice for big families.

Multiple reviews mention how long-lasting the Humble brushes are, praising their high quality and noting that the bristles don’t fall out or splay too easily. The bristles are a little too soft for some though, so if you prefer a harder brush you might want to go for something else.

Pros

• Every purchase supports the Humble Smile Foundation

• Bamboo is sustainably sourced

Cons

• Some users found the bristles to be too soft

7. Best bamboo toothbrush for sensitive teeth: LaBoos Best Nature Manual Bamboo Toothbrush

Price: £5.95 for a pack of four | Buy now from Amazon

For people with sensitive teeth finding the right toothbrush can be especially challenging.

LaBoos’s bamboo toothbrush is designed to be soft and gentle enough for even the most tender of teeth and the reviews tend to agree. It's also easy to hold, making brushing a breeze. Some did find the bristles a little too soft though, but this is a brush specially designed for gingivitis and sensitive teeth so it will feel different to other brushes.

These brushes are also loved for the range of pastel shades they come in. Not only does this make it easy to tell your brush apart, it brightens up your bathroom cabinet too.

Pros

• Designed with sensitive teeth in mind

• Different colours available

Cons

• Some reviews find the head to be on the small side

8. Best bamboo toothbrush for kids: Bamboogaloo Kids Bamboo Toothbrush Set

Price: £5.50 for a pack of four | Buy now from Amazon

Swapping your kids over to a bamboo toothbrush is a great way to get them excited about being eco-friendly and helps you to reduce your household plastic waste even more.

Parents love this multipack of bamboo toothbrushes from brand Bamboogaloo. Reviewers praise the brushes for their soft bristles, eco packaging and the perfectly-sized handles. We also rated the rainbow colour choice, ideal for encouraging even the fussiest of brushers to take care of their dental health.

Some reviewers did find them better suited to children rather than babies and toddlers though, with one saying they were better for those aged three-plus.

Pros

• Eco-friendly packaging

• Handles perfectly sized for little ones

• Rainbow colours

Cons

• Better suited to children over three

9. Best eco bamboo toothbrush: Truthbrush Medium Bamboo Toothbrush

Price: £4.50 | Buy now from Truthbrush

Truthbrush take their eco-credentials very seriously making them the perfect choice for anyone looking to up their eco game.

They are the first oral care B-Corp in the UK, their bristles are plant based and their shipping is all carbon neutral. Those are some seriously impressive sustainable efforts!

The brushes have won multiple awards and have a host of rave reviews with people praising the brushes for their gentle and effective clean and for their beautiful design. We also loved the sleek and recyclable packaging too, making it an ideal present to include in a sustainable pamper hamper.

Pros

• Company goes the extra mile to be green

• Beautiful design and a range of colours available

• Plant-based bristles

Cons

• More expensive than some competitors

10. Best-looking bamboo toothbrush: Waken Soft Bristle Bamboo Toothbrush

Price: £4 | Buy now from Amazon

We hunted through reviews to find a bamboo toothbrush that’s loved for its cleaning power but also for its beauty: Waken’s sleek bamboo brush came out on top.

For those who want their toothbrush to look good, do good for the environment and care for their teeth, Waken has managed to tick every box.

Reviewers loved the smooth, simple design of this brush and the stylish choice of bristle colours available. It's also slim and easy to hold, with soft bristles, and you can even get a sleek tube of vegan toothpaste from the brand to display next to it for ultimate style points.

Pros

• Beautiful design

• Choice of bristle colour

Cons

• Some found the head to be too small

What is a bamboo toothbrush?

A bamboo toothbrush is a toothbrush with a handle made from bamboo, instead of plastic. The materials for the bristles can vary from brush to brush though, so it's always worth checking if they can be recycled alongside the brush, or whether they need to be disposed of separately.

Are bamboo toothbrushes environmentally friendly?

Bamboo is considered to be a more sustainable resource to use than the plastic used in standard toothbrushes. Bamboo is a green, renewable resource and is one of the world’s fastest-growing plants.

It's also worth noting that, as bamboo toothbrushes are manual, they also save on the energy used to charge electric toothbrushes.

How long do bamboo toothbrushes last?

Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and water-resistant making it an ideal material to use for toothbrushes.

Most brands state that their bamboo toothbrushes will last three to four months which is perfect as dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every three months.

Remember that as the handle on these toothbrushes is wooden, you should avoid leaving them in water to stop mould growing on the base.

How to choose the best bamboo toothbrush

As they’ve grown in popularity, there are so many eco-friendly toothbrushes on the market. Here’s a few points to consider when choosing the best one for you:

• Bristles: Think about what sort of bristles suit your teeth best. Bamboo toothbrushes come with a range of bristle materials, all suited to different preferences. For example, you could try charcoal-infused or super soft bristles.

• Size: What size head is best for your mouth? Bamboo toothbrushes for adults are typically available with either a small or a large head.

• Firmness: Do you need a hard, medium or soft brush? Depending on the sensitivity of your teeth you can opt for either a soft or firm bamboo toothbrush.

What is the best bamboo toothbrush?

Ecograndeur are the brand behind our best overall bamboo toothbrush.

We loved this company for their focus on sustainability with their plastic-free packaging being an especially nice touch. Reviewers are impressed with the medium-soft bristles which are gentle on teeth and also naturally antibacterial. The whole toothbrush handle is biodegradable too, making disposing of these brushes nice and simple, although you will need to separate the bristles.

How we choose our recommendations

Our bamboo toothbrush recommendations are based on our Mumsnet forum users and other highly-rated products from customer reviews from across the internet.

Once we'd visited the Mumsnet forums, noting the bamboo toothbrushes, brands and retailers our trusted users loved, we headed to other review sites to see the makes vetted by experts.

We also noted down which brushes sell best and looked out for products that come with a dentist’s seal of approval too. We spent hours compiling these recommendations before analysing authentic consumer reviews for each brush, to ensure they were fit for purpose and suited to each 'best' award title we gave them.

Why you should trust us

We base all of our product recommendations on unbiased, independent advice that you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.