We all know that daily flossing is core to good oral hygiene. But did you know some dental flosses may be made with ingredients that pose risks to your health, or the planet’s?
To help identify those less likely to raise concerns, we partnered with Made Safe, an independent organization that certifies products to be safer and more sustainable.
Some dental floss is coated with substances that make it easier to slide between teeth, notably PFAS, a group of chemicals now linked to many health problems. Others use flavors made with ingredients that aren’t typically disclosed, some of which could be harmful. And most dental floss is made with plastic, typically nylon or polyester, which can contribute to environmental pollution and can contain chemicals that may pose some health risks. Unfortunately, companies aren’t currently required by federal law to disclose the ingredients or materials in their flosses, which can make it tricky to spot the best options.
Dental experts emphasize the importance of flossing for good oral health and note that any dental floss is better than no dental floss. Our best choices, shown in the chart below, aren’t made with PFAS or plastic, and don’t contain undisclosed ingredients or ingredients known or suspected to cause harm to human or environmental health.
Dental Floss Review
CR and Made Safe partnered on analyzing ingredients lists for 17 types of floss and determined which are best for human and/or environmental health. In this review, to be considered Best or Good, products must have claims to be free of PFAS. Hover over PFAS and materials for more details.
What Is Dental Floss Made From?
PFAS and other coatings: Dental floss is often made with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), chemicals used to make products nonstick, stain-resistant, or water-resistant. In dental floss they create a smoother gliding experience when flossing between teeth. PTFE, commonly known as Teflon, is one of many PFAS chemicals and is widely used in floss.
PFAS, however, are associated with numerous health effects, such as impairing the immune system, cancer, fertility concerns, reproductive and developmental impacts, and kidney disease. Some PFAS are toxic at low levels and are known to build up in the body. PFAS in dental floss could be particularly concerning, considering you put it directly in your mouth and flossing can cause bleeding gums, providing direct access to the bloodstream.
PFAS are often called forever chemicals because they break down very slowly in the environment. Summer Streets, a research scientist for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency who is an expert in PFAS, describes the chemicals as “everywhere” in our environment. “Take high-volume production, wide usage, couple it with the fact that these compounds don’t break down, and they move readily through the environment,” she says, “and you have the perfect recipe for global contamination.”
Streets adds that PFAS in dental floss isn’t necessary, because manufacturers can use safer alternatives. These include natural coatings made from beeswax, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax. In fact, Minnesota recently passed legislation that, starting in 2025, will ban the use of PFAS in dental floss and 10 other product categories. After 2032, PFAS won’t be allowed in nearly all consumer products sold in the state, except in cases where it is considered unavoidable.
Other coatings in addition to PFAS also raise concerns, particularly those using synthetic waxes made from petroleum, such as microcrystalline and paraffin waxes, which can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which have been linked to cancer if not properly refined and which also break down slowly in the environment.
Plastic floss and flossers: Plastic appears in the material floss itself is made from (typically nylon or polyester) and in the handles of floss picks, which are single-use tools that hold a piece of floss. That raises concerns not only because of the waste and pollution it generates but also because plastic can include ingredients, such as bisphenols and phthalates, that have been linked to a variety of health problems, including developmental and reproductive toxicity and interference with normal hormone function. And it’s increasingly clear that those chemicals can get into our bodies from plastic products, including, presumably, dental floss.
Undisclosed flavors: The ingredients used to make flavors are considered trade secrets, so manufacturers don’t have to reveal them on product labels. The result is that flavorings can add hundreds of chemicals, including some that function as solvents or preservatives, to a product while only being listed as “flavor” on the label. Some of those ingredients have been linked to human and environmental harm: endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, irritants, allergens, and environmental toxicants.
Dental Floss Companies Respond
Consumer Reports asked dental floss companies that do not disclose their ingredients on their website or packaging—including whether they use PFAS and what other ingredients are used in the coating or for flavors—to provide complete ingredient information.
Procter & Gamble, the maker of Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Dental Floss, said that its dental floss material contains PTFE, which they use because of its “unique sliding performance and silkiness.” The company asserted that PTFE is safe and that its floss does not contain PFOS or PFOA, two PFAS that have been largely phased out of production due to their association with severe health and environmental impacts.
Streets noted that some companies have switched from PFOA to GenX as the processing aid for manufacturing PTFE. And GenX is concerning due to its toxicity at low concentrations and ability to bioaccumulate, according to Streets.
Tom’s of Maine, Dental Lace, Cocofloss, and Nudge all provided us with a complete list of their ingredients, or include that information in their packaging. They all also confirmed or claim that they don’t intentionally add PFAS to their products.
The Humble Co.’s packaging notes that it is made without PFAS, and the company provided us with a complete list of ingredients for its floss coating and handle. But it gave us only partial information about the ingredients used in its flavoring.
The other companies with incomplete ingredient disclosure on their website and packaging did not respond to our inquiries or did not provide answers to our questions.
Tips for Healthier and More Sustainable Dental Floss
For a safer and more sustainable dental floss, opt for one of the best choices in the chart above. You can also shop by using the tips below.
Choose flosses made without PFAS or PTFE. Look for products that specifically say they’re not made with PFAS or PTFE. If a product doesn’t list coating ingredients or the floss material (and they usually don’t), consider avoiding it, especially flosses marketed as “nonstick” or “glides easily.”
Choose natural coatings. Instead of petroleum-based waxes, look for beeswax and plant waxes like carnauba, candelilla, jojoba, rice bran, or castor.
Opt for uncoated floss. If you’re unsure whether uncoated floss is appropriate for your teeth and gums, ask your dentist.
Look for natural fiber dental floss. Skip the plastic and look for biodegradable materials like silk or cotton. If the material isn’t disclosed online or on packaging, assume it’s made from plastic or with PTFE, as most are.
Shop for unflavored or flavored flosses with disclosed ingredients. To avoid mystery ingredients, look for products with an ingredients list for their flavors. Unflavored floss is a great option, too.
Try a refillable flosser handle. If you love flossers, use a refillable handle to curb your use of single-use plastics.
And for people who hate flossing with string, how about a water flosser?
Water flossers, like Waterpik, work well for removing food debris. And although they may not be quite as effective as string floss at scraping away bacteria, they’re a great option for people who dislike string floss or find it difficult to use.
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