Does Oral-B Glide or other dental floss contain toxic chemicals called PFAS? Are there PFAS-free alternatives?

Protocol with dental implants is to place a small amount of plumbers Teflon tape over a retaining screw before cementing a crown or placing a composite resin filling. This poses the question: Does this tape, sitting passively, leach PFAS?

I have periodontal disease. I have used COQ10 with success in reducing progression. Actually, has improved.

I stopped using Oral-B a long time ago because of this issue & the fact that it is so thin as to be almost unusable. Switched to Dr Tung's & super happy.

I use GUM Soft-Picks® Original. Super-soft rubber bristles. Latex, wood, and metal free. I don't know do they contain PFAS. https://www.sunstargum.com/products/category-interdentals/gum-soft-picks-original.html

I use Gum Chucks Flosser with the handles . They work well for me with arthritic fingers. Please comment or review. Thank you!

PFAS in Dentek Triple Clean Floss Picks?

I am stuck with Glide because of tight contacts. One thing that can be changed however, is to floss before brushing rather than after. Then rinse thoroughly!

Is there any reason to think UHMWPE would be problematic?

Plackers says:

The Right Angle flosser is made with UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene). The only flosser made with PTFE (Teflon as many like to call it) is the Gentle Slide.

If PFAS is an integral component of the dental floss fiber and cannot be washed off, how does enough of it even get into our body, to cause a problem?

How effective is brushing teeth with toothpaste right after flossing in reducing PFAS in the mouth?

Can PFAS be washed off of dental floss? I have a large supply of the Crest/Oral B type, I have tight teeth and need this slippery type. You may think I’m weird, but I already kind of do this; I rinse off and re-use a strand 4 or 5 times before discarding, mainly because I don’t like the added flavoring and this gets rid of it. ;-)

Plackers says,

No PFAS/PFOS was detected in third party testing performed on the Plackers PTFE floss fiber

Maybe someone should clue them in...

Is Crest Glide floss manufactured exactly the same, from a PFAS standpoint, as Oral-B Glide floss, and with the same health impacts?

My teeth are very closely spaced, and I find that Glide is the only floss to not get stuck. My solution is to floss only part way down and not reach the gum. Then I use the GUM brushes to do the area close to the gum. I'd welcome any professional's comments on the efficacy of this approach. Thank you.

POH dental floss is excellent, pure nylon, and free of fluorine and PFAs. I've used POH for the last 20 years, but have not financial interest in Personal Oral Hygiene.

Do you have a recommendation for floss picks that do not have PFAs or a safer option for floss picks? Thanks

I use dental tape (Walgreen's). Did you by chance evaluate this product?

I am curious about Gum brand products, both their floss and Proxabrush products, which apparently were not included in the study. For the Proxabush, I use the handle with replaceable "Go-Betweens" refills, but I think even they are made from some plastic material.

What about woven floss? For example, Listerine Gentle Gum Care Mint floss. I find woven floss much easier to handle, both in my hands and in my teeth.

After the Oral-B Glide study came out, I tried a few natural options that, frankly, were awful to use. But "Hello" brand activated charcoal floss has been a great alternative for the tight spaces between my teeth and specifically claims "PFAS-free" on the product page. The activated charcoal part is probably a gimmick but that's fine with me.

Please look at Kroger Waxed Dental Floss also.

Walgreens is one of the largest pharmacy but I did not see anything on their Hi-Tech Dental Floss. I also can not find anything online about it. Is there any information on this product?

This is a bogus study performed by researchers who do not understand the "real" world, where the vast majority of patients have much improved dental health due to Glide. I have practiced dentistry for 45 years and I am a Clinical Associate Professor at the UTHealth School of Dentistry. I have researched this issue extensively and found it to be below the level of having practical relevance.

I try to use floss three days per week, but use a ShowerBreeze dental water jet irrigator seven days per week--all done while showering. Both these practices can keep the area under my bridge clean. I don't think a rubber tip or toothpick would work for that.

Curious about Listerine floss that is used with the floss stick.

Do you have any information about POH floss? I have used this exclusively for many years.

Would it be safer to just use unwaxed floss, or is that not enough?

Dr. Mercola's dental floss also has essential oils in it. It also comes in 100 instead of 55 yard lengths

I practiced Periodontics for more than 25 years. I never recommended or required a patient to use dental floss, Instead I taught the use of a Butler Interdental Stimulator (Rubber Tip) and plastic triangular cross-section tooth picks.Neither of these goes below the gum. This idea used to drive some dental hygienists practically crazy, a dental "sacrilege". I considered flossing to be difficult, and crude, but apparently it may also be toxic, DENTAL FLOSS?, you can get along without it, and very well, perhaps better.

POH is excellent floss and comes in extra-fine so you don't need Teflon to get it between your teeth.