Save the Fish
Toothbrush: how long does it take to break down in the sea?
Estimated time to break down in the sea: > 500 years. Source: Canadian Geographic Education (cangeoeducation.ca).
Toothbrush: why is it harmful to the sea?
Hard plastic breaks into microplastics; nylon bristles snag on reefs.
Toothbrush: does it really disappear?
No. Plastic breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, microplastics, that stay in the water and inside animals. NOAA says plastic may never fully go away.
Toothbrush: how harmful is it compared with other trash?
Harm score 6 out of 10: lasts 4/4, toxic 1/3, wildlife 1/3. It ranks 17 of 31 on our list. This score is our own simple scale for comparing items in the game. It is not an official index.
Toothbrush: what is it made of?
Material: Plastic. A typical one is about 19 cm long and weighs about 18 g.
Toothbrush: what can I do?
Carry a bottle, a cloth bag and a box: every single-use plastic you refuse is one less in the sea.
Toothbrush: what lasts longer, and what breaks down sooner?
Lasts longer: Bottle cap, Fishing line, Tin foil. Breaks down sooner: Plastic bottle, Face mask, Disposable diaper.
Toothbrush: where does this figure come from?
From “Decomposition Rates card”, Canadian Geographic Education (figures credited to NOAA, US EPA and Woods Hole Sea Grant). Checked on 2026-10-15.
The source says“Toothbrush handles 500 years”The source's limits (in English): Time 'to break down in the ocean'. Party cup figure, used for plates (no plate-specific figure found).