PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON THE USE OF ECO-FRIENDLY BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH

Received 2024-02-21; Accepted 2024-03-05; Published 2024-03-25

Abstract

Plastic toothbrushes which are mainly made of polypropylene are one of the sources of plastic pollution. With the increased awareness of this alarming global issue, eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes have been introduced and are becoming widely available in the market. The study aimed to explore the public’s experience with bamboo toothbrushes and identify their feature preferences. An observational study using a qualitative approach was conducted among 10 participants aged from 18 to 40 years old without any experience using bamboo toothbrushes (based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria). A selected standard bamboo toothbrush was given to the participants and they were asked to use the bamboo toothbrush for two weeks based on the instructions provided. At the end of two weeks of usage, a one-to-one, semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted either face-to-face or online. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Most participants expressed mixed views regarding their experience using the bamboo toothbrush in comparison to their previous conventional plastic toothbrush. The most preferred features of the bamboo toothbrush cited by the participants were related to a non-slippery handle, small-sized toothbrush and eco-friendly material. The majority of the participants have the intention to continue using the bamboo toothbrush provided some modifications to the design are made. Identifying the ideal features of a bamboo toothbrush could be a timely strategy to reduce the impact of plastic in oral health care.