When we hear the word fitness, most people think of exercise and nutrition. Some people may also include sleep and drinking water in the realm of fitness. But sleep and water are a part of a bigger concept which often gets neglected in talking about fitness.
Wellness.
ZooFit is all about creating healthy habits to help you achieve your fitness goals. And that includes many habits for taking care of yourself.
Hygiene is an important part of wellness and taking care of yourself. And wouldn’t you know, the bathroom contains many items which have an impact on the environment.
We’ll start with an obvious hygiene habit- brushing your teeth. We know from listening to dentists we need to brush our teeth 2-3 times a day, for a full 2 minutes, and floss, and visit the dentist regularly.
But, while focusing on greening our habits as much as possible, my husband and I discovered a dirty little secret. Well, it’s not secret. But it’s something I ignored for a while. Plastic prevails in the bathroom. Especially with oral hygiene.
There’s plastic toothbrush, plastic containers for floss, and the toothpaste. So much plastic which gets tossed out when we are done.
We can get a lot more green in our bathroom with just our teeth cleaning habits. Some dentists are adamant about their patients using electric toothbrushes and water picks. I won’t argue with their expertise in that regard. But if your dentist has not recommended an electric toothbrush to you, I suggest shifting from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo toothbrush, which eventually decomposes in a landfill.
Your toothpaste can also have an effect. There are many companies which are helping people shift to a no-waste lifestyle, and toothpaste is no exception. Lush, the body care company from Canada offers several flavors of toothpaste tabs. It still comes in a plastic container, but Lush does recycle those containers if you bring them back.
I have also tried a tooth paste powder called Dirt, which is a very different, and messy experience in brushing your teeth, but it comes in a glass container and is made from completely organic and natural ingredients.
Then there is the concept of making your own toothpaste. The key ingredient is bentonite clay, along with baking soda, and mint (or cinnamon if that’s your cup of tea). I admit I haven’t been brave enough to even attempt this yet, but it’s definitely an eco-friendly option.
Whether you are using an electric or bamboo toothbrush, it is recommended to brush for about two minutes, to ensure you hit all your teeth, and gums. ZooFit reminds us it’s important when you are brushing to turn your water off. Two minutes of water running is very wasteful.
Another good dental tip to keeping teeth healthy is to swish salt water a few times a day. Fill a cup about 1/3 the way with warm to hot water (not so hot it burns) and about a half teaspoon of sea salt. Stir the salt well and take a swig. Swish it around your mouth for a few seconds, and spit it out. Repeat until you finished the glass. Doing this inhibits bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria causes bad breath and a slew of dental issues. Swishing has been proven to help decrease bacteria.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is good for our overall health. Oral health is closely related to cardiovascular health and even diabetes. Practicing good dental habits leads to other healthy behaviors which benefit our lives and of course, the planet as well.
So, brush your teeth, and brush up on some great habits. Take care of your smile and take care of the planet.
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