When I finally decided to test them, they turned out to be comfy, comprehensive and eco-sensitive. Not a bad combination. The Original lasts 3x longer than a regular toothbrush; the handle is also made from renewable materials (and have been for 20 years). Their Source toothbrush not only has a handle made from renewable material but also has a replaceable head which uses up to 1/5 the material of a regular brush.

Both brushes have extremely comfortably shaped heads to reach all those nooks and crannies between your teeth and ergonimically designed grips. The Original comes in fun colors, like berry and lime, while the Source has an earthier feel. They range in price from about $7 for a single to $38 for a 6 pack and accomodate righties and lefties.

Fluoride is a case in point.

Cavities used to be a fact of life for children growing up in the U.S. However, with the advent of fluoridated water in many municipalities, this is no longer true (in fact, it caused a bit of a crisis in the dental community as pediodontists saw their income declining).

Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral in all waters sources, oceans, lakes, and streams, was stripped out of water treated by municipalities for years. In the last few decades, driven by new research and supported by the American Dental Association, fluoride has been added back into the water supply, resulting, it is claimed, in the drastic reduction of childhood caries that we see today. However, now fluoride is also present in toothpaste, salt, 100% juice drinks, sodas, and even chicken and fish. And, increasingly manufacturers are adding fluoride to products marketed to children and advertising them as “good for growing teeth”. This may in fact cause more harm than good.

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