Hooray! It’s Earth Day 2022. “It’s the perfect time to show your children how taking care of their teeth can also help the environment,” said Dr. Lela Farmer, lead dentist at Scuba Smiles for Kids in north central San Antonio.
Earth Day: A little background
Earth Day is an opportunity to show your child why we need to treat our planet with care and respect. Earth Day was founded in 1970. Today, Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22nd each year.
This year’s theme for Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in our Planet”. By celebrating Earth Day with your child, you can show them why pollution is bad for all of us and that they can make a difference and help the planet simply by how they take care of their teeth.
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
There are 4 key things you can show your child so they can take care of their teeth and protect the earth!
Save Water!
One of the easiest things to do when your child brushes their teeth is to turn off the water while they brush. Does the water really need to run while brushing? No.
“At Scuba, we always recommend that children brush their teeth 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. Farmer.
Shop eco-friendly
We have all seen the disturbing photos of plastics and pollution littering our oceans and waterways. Next time you look, you’ll may see a discarded tube of toothpaste or a toothbrush. So, when it comes to getting your child a new toothbrush, consider looking for products that are made from recycled materials such as recycled plastic, wood, or even bamboo toothbrushes which have become popular! When you buy products made from recycled materials, you are taking care of your child’s smile and protecting the earth at the same time.
Friendly Floss
Even your child’s dental floss can be earth-friendly. There really is no great way to dispose of floss as the containers are often made of plastic. But, you can purchase biodegradable floss made from silk. See if you can spot floss packaged in an eco-friendly container. Also, see if you are at a point where you can teach your child to floss the traditional way, so that you can avoid using single-use flossers which are often made with plastic handles.
Another tool you don’t have to buy!
Before tossing that old toothbrush, consider keeping it. What else can it do? Well, your child can use it to clean small toys, and crevices they can’t reach. An old tooth brush can also help you to clean small spaces, jewelry, and those hard to get to places on silver, dusty electronics, and faucets in bathrooms. 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 keep the earth green and your stuff clean!
Remember you can show your child that the way they take care of their teeth can also help mother earth, and that they really can have a meaningful impact on Earth Day 2022 and many more to come.
