Many of us are unaware of exactly how much water we squander while brushing our teeth! In addition to hurting our ecosystem, it unnecessarily raises your water bill each month. The following are some simple tips on saving water while you brush your teeth, without overhauling your daily routine.
Turn Off the Faucet
This one is a no-brainer! Did you know, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) stated that leaving the water running while brushing your teeth wastes an average of four gallons each time. In a four-person household, where each person brushes twice each day, that’s 32 gallons of water wasted. Why bother wasting all that water and money when you don’t use any water between dampening the toothbrush and rising in the first place. So, turn the faucet off as often as possible when brushing those pearly whites.
Rinsing with a Cup
How do you rinse your mouth after brushing? Do you use the faucet as your own personal water fountain? Perhaps you use your hands by cupping the water into your mouth? There are many ways to rinse, but saving water is easily achieved by simply using a cup. Briefly turn on the tap, fill your cup with enough water to do the job and turn the drain off. If you want to conserve the rainforest as well as water, use a reusable cup instead of paper stacking cups.
Update or Repair Plumbing
New water-conserving faucet heads use about 50% of the water per minute that older faucets use. Updating your hardware is a great investment as it will lower your water bill and help conserve all at the same time! If you’re all up-to-date on hardware but find that more water is being used that you didn’t actually use yourself, you may have a plumbing issue. Be sure to check for any dripping faucets or pipes. Solving problems like these could drastically improve how much water is being wasted especially if you’re not the one doing all the wasting!
Spread Awareness
It’s never too late to teach your kids how to make a positive impact on the environment. Make it fun, and with a bit of consistency, your little ones will be saving water without even realizing! Sharing these simple yet effective tips with family and friends can cause a chain effect of water conservation that our precious earth, and your wallet deserves.
Keep your smile bright and your oral health in-check! Schedule an appointment at Beavers Dentistry in Cary by calling 919-467-0654.