Objects of Design #162: Wooden Toothbrushes

I first spotted these wooden toothbrushes a few months ago and will confess to having been slightly bamboozled by them. What, I thought, as I flexed my Braun electric toothbrush, can be the point of those? Why, I wondered, as I watched the timer count down from two minutes on my sonic timer, would you want a wooden one?

And then, as I packed for a holiday and realised I would have to buy another toothbrush as I couldn’t transport my charger, the penny dropped. This would be perfect to take away for a few days. And what about guests? Unexpected or otherwise? Suddenly I’m a convert.

I read about someone who has a Granny box which I thought was a really good idea. Instead of her mother, or any elderly guest come to that, having to carry a heavy suitcase when they come and stay, just create a box with a nightie, a pair of slippers, make up remover pads, night cream and now, yes you guessed it, a wooden toothbrush and anything else that she, or he, doesn’t need to lug about and it will make a short stay much easier.

Alternatively, these toothbrushes are printed with the months on them, the idea being that you will use one for three months (the amount of time recommended by the dentist) and then throw it away and start on a new one. And it’s a lot more landfill friendly than that plastic one that’s for sure. It’s also, at £16 for three, or a year’s supply, fairly purse friendly too.

Ebury Home and Garden