I took a stroll down the dental hygiene aisle of my local drug store and spotted these familiar children's cavity-fighting mascots: Spider Man, Little Mermaid, and good ol' Snoopy. But the inspirational cleaning character that caught my eye was relatively unknown-endangered, in fact. Utah, the prairie dog, is one of three endangered animals highlighted on Preserve Jr toothbrushes, along with Grizzly the bear and Karner Blue the Butterfly.

Designed by dentists, the bright brushes have grips for little hands and a unique curve that fits right in kids' mouths. They come in packaging that highlights a factoid about each animal, and point to more animal info available on their web site. Better yet, a portion of the sale from the junior brushes goes to support the National Wildlife Federation.

Not only do the toothbrushes encourage brushing and teach children about endangered species, they are also set a great example for recycling. As necessary as they are, toothbrushes significantly add to our personal waste. Because bristles quickly lose their plaque-busting power and build up bacteria, the American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush at least four times a year. That means tossing a toothbrush every three months. To lighten the litter load, Preserve toothbrushes are made from recycled plastics-at least 65% of which are recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups. (Don't worry about brushing organic lemon yogurt into your teeth; the brushes have to pass a stringent test for cleanliness before they make it to the bathroom sink.)

Fortunately, there's no need for mom and dad to have toothbrush envy. Grownup versions come in a funky array of colors to keep adult teeth shining white too. To make sure everyone's replacing their toothbrushes when they should, families can sign up for Preserve's subscription program. Every three months, fresh brushes arrive in the mail, along with postage-paid envelopes to recycle the old ones. The returned Preserve products and packaging get recycled into plastic lumber, which is used to make picnic tables, park benches, and children's playground equipment.