This 13-year-old makes eco-friendly toothbrushes using pumpkin plants
Since the invention of the modern toothbrush in 1938, it has become a critical part of every individual's oral health care.
With "go green" guiding modern lives, people are looking for alternatives to plastic toothbrushes. What is shocking is that more than 150 million toothbrushes end up in the trash every month.
Addressing the plastic menace, a few companies from around the world have come forward to save the environment through eco-friendly products for daily use. Joining the bandwagon is 13-year-old K Teja from Dharmavaram village in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
At the recently held Rural Innovation Start-up Conclave at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) in Hyderabad, Teja showcased his project, a toothbrush made from the pumpkin plant. His innovation won appreciation from visitors and participants.
In rural areas, pumpkins are easily available as they are grown in kitchen gardens. The twigs are also easily accessible. Teja used a dry twig of the pumpkin plant for the toothbrush handle and used palm-tree fibres as bristles. He felt that the fibres would be soft on gums, says The Better India.
Teja also minimised the use of glue by just punching holes on the twig itself and placed the bristles. He further claims that the bristles on his toothbrush can be used atleast 10 times, after which the toothbrush needs to be changed.
At present, Teja is working on a solution that will all0w the user to change only the bristles instead of the entire brush.
This isn't the first time someone has come up with an initiative to curb the harmful impact of plastic on the environment. In the last few years, startups like The Edible Spoon Maker has come up with an edible spoon, which can be used as a regular spoon and is also consumable with the meal.
Similarly, another eco-friendly cutlery in the market is Bakeys, which is made out of jowar seeds.
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