Before I made the switch, I never thought much about toothbrush waste. It was just part of my routine—use it, toss it, replace it. But when I learned that over 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away each year in the U.S. alone, I realized I was contributing to a much bigger problem.

My name is Christine and I decided to challenge myself to go a full year without plastic toothbrushes. What started as a simple swap turned into a much bigger shift in how I think about sustainability and daily habits. Here’s what I learned along the way.

Month 1: Adjusting to the Change

Switching from a plastic toothbrush to a sustainable alternative felt like a small step, but it was an immediate shift in my mindset. Instead of grabbing a cheap, disposable toothbrush at the store, I invested in a high-quality, reusable aluminum toothbrush with replaceable heads—specifically, Nada Toothbrush.

At first, I worried that a non-plastic toothbrush wouldn’t feel the same. Would the bristles be too soft? Would it clean my teeth properly? But within the first week, I realized there was zero difference in function (my teeth actually felt cleaner thanks to the premium floss tip bristles). Ultimately I felt better about my choice.

Month 3: The Habit Becomes Second Nature

By month three, using a sustainable toothbrush felt completely normal. The sleek aluminum handle of my Nada toothbrush felt sturdier than my old plastic ones, and swapping out the bristle head was easier than expected.

I started paying more attention to the plastic in my entire oral care routine. That’s when I noticed the toothpaste tubes piling up in my recycling bin—and realized most of them weren’t even getting recycled. So, I switched to toothpaste tablets, and suddenly, my bathroom waste was shrinking.

Month 6: Seeing the Bigger Picture

Half a year in, my sustainable toothbrush had sparked a ripple effect in my lifestyle. I swapped plastic razors for an aluminum razor, bought bamboo cotton swabs instead of plastic ones, and even chose deodorant in refillable containers.

What started as one small swap had turned into a more conscious way of thinking. I realized that plastic waste wasn’t just a toothbrush problem—it was everywhere. But making simple, intentional choices actually made a difference.

Month 9: The Unexpected Benefits

By now, my eco-friendly habits were fully ingrained. I had replaced zero toothbrushes—just the bristle heads that I sent back to be 100% recycled. That meant no extra waste, no unnecessary plastic, and no guilt about tossing yet another toothbrush into the trash.

Beyond that, I also noticed:
✅ Less clutter in my bathroom (no more plastic backups)
✅ No more impulse toothbrush purchases (saving money in the long run)
✅ Better awareness of my impact (I started making more sustainable choices in other areas of my life)

Month 12: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

A full year without plastic toothbrushes, and I can confidently say: I’ll never go back.

Not only did it cut down on my waste, but it also made me feel good about my daily habits. Choosing a sustainable toothbrush wasn’t a big effort, but it had a big impact. In total Nada has stopped over 280,000 toothbrushes ending up in our landfills and oceans and I am proud to say I am a part of that. This small swap made me more mindful of all the small ways I can live sustainably.

Would I Recommend It? Absolutely.

If you’re on the fence about making the switch, here’s my advice: Just try it. You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine overnight, but swapping out your plastic toothbrush for a reusable one is a simple, effective way to reduce waste without changing your lifestyle.

And who knows? It might just lead you to other sustainable swaps—because once you start noticing plastic, you can’t unsee it.