Shutting the Tap on a Wasteful Problem

A lot of money and time goes into keeping people's teeth straight and white: braces, retainers, toothbrushes, dentist and orthodontist check-ups. But another crucial, albeit unnecessary, cost of maintaining that perfect smile is water.

The average person wastes about 90 glasses of water each day by leaving the tap running while brushing their teeth. Which is why the Eco-Dentistry Association is shining the spotlight on saving water with its “Save 90-A-Day” Campaign.

According to the World Water Council, one out of six people on the planet lives without clean drinking water.  With water becoming a more precious resource in a changing climate, particularly in arid regions, every little bit saved can go a long way.  The EDA is asking people not only to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, but to tell a friend or family member each day to do the same.

If you're new to the idea of brushing your teeth without water blasting from the tap, the EDA recommends using the tap once to wet the toothbrush before applying toothpaste, then filling a glass with water to rinse your mouth. If everyone in the U.S. shut off their tap for just one day, nearly 27 billion glasses of clean water would be saved.

--Michael Mullaley