Earth Day 2022 is here. It may seem like anything you can do to preserve the planet may not make any difference, but we suggest otherwise.
“Every little thing helps when it comes to taking care of our planet and taking care of our teeth,” said Dr. Tony Thomas, lead dentist at Advanced Smile Care in North Central San Antonio.
A little background: Earth Day
Earth Day is an opportunity to recognize that we all need to do our part to treat our planet with care and respect. The concept of global warming and its impact on us has been in the news a lot lately. The theme of Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in our Planet”. The goal this year is to get businesses and people all over the world to engage in the idea that we need to take steps now to keep our world healthy and vibrant for today and tomorrow.
Earth Day: Did you know?
The last decade had the highest average temperatures ever recorded. Also, it’s been discovered that every square mile of ocean on the planet contains more than forty-six thousand pieces of trash. Oh, and here’s a fact about your car. Your car and 806 million other cars on the planet burn about 260 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel a year. Now that’s not to say you should stop driving. But there are things you can do now to support the global effort on Earth Day 2022 and all year long.
Some Good News
The future is not environmental doom and gloom. Although the earth’s ozone hole has been reduced and is predicted to vanish by 2050, the bald eagle and nine other species of wildlife are recovering from being endangered and there has been a healthy investment in solar, wind, and other renewable energy.
Earth Day and Your Teeth
So, there are 4 key things you can do right now when it comes to taking care of your teeth and mother earth.
Save Water!
One of the easiest things to do when you brush your teeth is to turn off the water while you brush. Do you really need the water running while you are brushing? No.
“We recommend that everyone brushes at least twice a day. By turning off the faucet while you are brushing, you could save you up to 200 gallons of water a month. You end up conserving water, which is good for the planet and your water bills,” said Dr. Thomas.
Shop eco-friendly
We have all seen the disturbing photos of plastic and trash littering our oceans and waterways. Next time you look, you’ll may spot a discarded toothbrush or toohpaste. So, when it comes to getting a new toothbrush, look for products that are made from recycled materials such as biodegradable materials, wood, or even bamboo toothbrushes. When you buy products made from recycled materials, you are taking care of your smile and protecting the earth at the same time.
Friendly Floss
Even your dental floss can be earth-friendly. How? Glad you asked. There really is no great way to dispose of floss as the containers are often made of plastic. But, you can make sure the floss you buy is biodegradable such as floss made from silk. Look for floss packaged in an eco-friendly container. See if you can avoid using single-use flossers which often come with plastic handles. They are certainly convenient, but they add to the plastic waste that is not good for the environment.
Another tool you don’t have to buy!
So before tossing that old toothbrush consider keeping it. What else can it do? Well, it can be used to clean small spaces around the house, jewelry, and even those hard to get to places on a watch. You can use an old toothbrush to help grout tile, degrease small appliances, or clean your car’s nifty custom wheels. The list is virtually endless, and by recycling, you are helping to keep Earth green and your stuff clean!
Remember that just applying some simple eco-friendly ideas to your life, you will be taking great care of your teeth and helping to protect our environment all at the same time, and that is good for everyone as we celebrate Earth Day 2022.
