Abed, Rawan; Ashley, Paul; Duane, Brett; Crotty, John; Lyne, Alexandra; (2023) An environmental impact study of inter-dental cleaning aids. Journal of Clinical Periodontology , 50 (1) pp. 2-10. 10.1111/jcpe.13727.

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Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the environmental footprint of eight interdental cleaning aids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative LCA was conducted based on an individual person using interdental cleaning aids every day for 5 years. The primary outcome was a life cycle impact assessment. This comprised of 16 discrete measures of environmental sustainability (known as impact categories), for example greenhouse gas emissions (measured in kg CO2e), ozone layer depletion (measured in kg CFCe), and water use (measured in m3 ). Secondary outcomes included normalised data, disability adjusted life years, and contribution analysis. RESULTS: Interdental cleaning using floss picks had the largest environmental footprint in 13 out of 16 impact categories. Depending on the environmental impact category measured, the smallest environmental footprint came from daily interdental cleaning with either bamboo interdental brushes (5 impact categories, including carbon footprint), replaceable-head interdental brushes (4 impact categories), regular floss (3 impact categories), sponge floss (3 impact categories) and bamboo floss (1 impact category). CONCLUSION: Daily cleaning with interdental cleaning aids has an environmental footprint that varies depending on the product used. Clinicians should consider environmental impact alongside clinical need and cost when recommending interdental cleaning aids to patients.

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