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Our Members Asked:
Does Oral-B Glide or other dental floss contain toxic chemicals called PFAS? Are there PFAS-free alternatives?
Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Answer:
Some brands of dental floss include PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), such as Teflon, to reduce friction. A study in 2019 suggested that PFAS appear to be ingested from floss and make their way into the blood. This is concerning because PFAS have been shown to cause tumors in animals; and in people, higher exposure to certain PFAS is associated with increased cholesterol, effects on the immune system, changes in liver enzymes, increased risk of kidney or liver cancer, thyroid hormone disruption, and low infant birth weights (EPA 2018; CDC 2020). Unfortunately, labels on dental floss are not always clear as to whether or not they contain PFAS.Sign in as a ConsumerLab member to find out which of 18 popular dental flosses may contain PFAS and which do not, as well as the names of 6 additional dental flosses and 4 dental picks that claim to be PFAS-free. Also see how companies responded when we asked them if their dental flosses contain PFAS.
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joseph21794
December 31, 2020Protocol 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?
N21781
December 30, 2020I have periodontal disease. I have used COQ10 with success in reducing progression. Actually, has improved.
John21780
December 30, 2020I 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.
JARKKO20919
September 12, 2020I 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
ConsumerLab.com
September 26, 2020According to Sunstar Americas (the maker of GUM products), the Soft Picks do not contain any PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which is a PFAS. The only flosser or floss made by Sunstar Americas that do contain PTFE are the Comfort Slide Flossers & Eez-Thru floss (mint & plain).
Carole 20759
August 19, 2020I use Gum Chucks Flosser with the handles . They work well for me with arthritic fingers. Please comment or review. Thank you!
Joseph20610
August 16, 2020PFAS in Dentek Triple Clean Floss Picks?
ConsumerLab.com
August 18, 2020We reached out to Dentek about this question, and we were told by one of their medical affairs representatives that the Triple Clean Floss Picks are made with polyethylene floss, which would not be expected to contain PFAS. The representative also stated that they "are not aware of Polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) being present in any of [their] flossers."
Jay20585
August 16, 2020I 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!
esther20455
July 26, 2020Is 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.
ConsumerLab.com
August 12, 2020Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is non-toxic, so using flossers or flosser picks made with this material would not be a safety concern. The material might not be considered acceptable to those who are environmentally conscious, as it degrades slowly and is not compostable like silk.
Sandra20431
July 20, 2020If 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?
ConsumerLab.com
August 12, 2020While PFAS are an integral component of the dental floss fiber and cannot be washed off, there is concern that, with use, small amounts may leach into saliva or onto hands. However, the authors of the study note that this still needs to be verified in future research.
Alex20422
July 20, 2020How effective is brushing teeth with toothpaste right after flossing in reducing PFAS in the mouth?
ConsumerLab.com
July 20, 2020Unfortunately, we don't know, but it's fair to assume that at least some of the women in whom PFAS were found had been brushing and/or rinsing after flossing.
Sandra20417
July 19, 2020Can 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. ;-)
ConsumerLab.com
July 20, 2020It would seem unlikely that washing the floss will remove the PFAS as they are an integral component of the fiber of which the floss is composed.
esther20402
July 15, 2020Plackers says,
No PFAS/PFOS was detected in third party testing performed on the Plackers PTFE floss fiber
Maybe someone should clue them in...
Alex20397
July 15, 2020Is Crest Glide floss manufactured exactly the same, from a PFAS standpoint, as Oral-B Glide floss, and with the same health impacts?
ConsumerLab.com
July 15, 2020We don't have information about the manufacturing process for Crest and Oral-B floss, but the study states "Crest Glide was subsequently rebranded as Oral B Glide by its parent company Procter & Gamble." We've added a note about this in the answer above.
Jeffrey20384
July 13, 2020My 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.
Sarah20380
July 13, 2020POH 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.
ConsumerLab.com
July 13, 2020POH does not make a claim on their website that their flosses are PFAS-free. However, ConsumerLab was told by a company representative that POH flosses are made from nylon. They also stated: "In the production/manufacture of nylon, there is no reason to suspect that any polyfluoroalkyl substances are present....To the best of our almost sixty years knowledge, there are no poly-fluorinated substances in POH dental floss."
Kara20377
July 13, 2020Do you have a recommendation for floss picks that do not have PFAs or a safer option for floss picks? Thanks
ConsumerLab.com
August 13, 2020We've added a list of PFAS-free dental picks in the answer above.
Kara20576
August 13, 2020This is truly the best website with the best information. Thanks for doing what you do and for caring so much about the health of others. Blessings!
ConsumerLab.com
August 17, 2020Thank you for your kind words. We're glad you are enjoying the site!
Bill20369
July 12, 2020I use dental tape (Walgreen's). Did you by chance evaluate this product?
ConsumerLab.com
July 13, 2020Walgreen's Dental tape was not tested in the study, and, unfortunately, the product website does not list the product's ingredients.
Glenn20368
July 12, 2020I 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.
ConsumerLab.com
July 14, 2020According to GUM's website, its Eez-Thru flosses are made from PTFE (which is a PFAS) while its Expanding floss is made from nylon (https://www.gumbrand.com/between-teeth-cleaning/string-floss.html). GUM Proxabrush Go-Between Cleaners are described as having "nylon bristles coated with an antibacterial agent," (https://www.gumbrand.com/new-proxabrush/gum-proxabrush-go-between-cleaners-wide-10-ct.html).
Thomas20367
July 12, 2020What 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.
James20363
July 12, 2020After 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.
Bari20361
July 12, 2020Please look at Kroger Waxed Dental Floss also.
Janiene20359
July 11, 2020Walgreens 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?
ConsumerLab.com
July 14, 2020The website for this product state "Floss material is made of strong microfilaments that fan out to create a broader cleaning surface," and "Slips easily between tight teeth... Will not break, shred or entangle during use," but does not provide further information about the materials used in this floss.
Michael20351
July 9, 2020This 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.
Howard20365
July 12, 2020I respect your experience and your researching of this issue. There are many other sources of PFAS and related molecules in the environment, and I am willing to believe that dental flosses may represent only a small amount of a person's PFAS intake. Nevertheless, the EPA website says:
There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans. If humans, or animals, ingest PFAS (by eating or drinking food or water than contain PFAS), the PFAS are absorbed, and can accumulate in the body. PFAS stay in the human body for long periods of time. As a result, as people get exposed to PFAS from different sources over time, the level of PFAS in their bodies may increase to the point where they suffer from adverse health effects.
Studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals. Both chemicals have caused tumors in animal studies. The most consistent findings from human epidemiology studies are increased cholesterol levels among exposed populations, with more limited findings related to:
infant birth weights,
effects on the immune system,
cancer (for PFOA), and
thyroid hormone disruption (for PFOS).
Dean20370
July 12, 2020Why "bogus", which implies ulterior intent? Disagreeing with the findings does not make a study bogus. The authors are careful to state their limitations.
David20376
July 12, 2020I don't think PFAS residues in the body are trivial. If using Oral-B Glide floss was associated with a 24.9% higher level of a particular PFAS, as the article states, I would not want to use this floss at all. The article indicates there are many good alternatives. Thanks to ConsumerLab for this useful information.
Andreas20378
July 13, 2020Please provide references to the extensive research mentioned in your post.
Thank you.
Diana20383
July 13, 2020Many persons prefer not to use anything made with PFAs, for environmental reasons. (For instance, we avoid 'stain-resistant' cotton clothing for this reason: the fiber is treated with Teflon). Further, while floss may have negligible PFAs, there is a concern with the cumulative 'body burden' of environmental toxins over a lifetime.
Robert20347
July 8, 2020I 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.
Lisa20337
July 7, 2020Curious about Listerine floss that is used with the floss stick.
Sharon20318
July 6, 2020Do you have any information about POH floss? I have used this exclusively for many years.
ConsumerLab.com
July 6, 2020The website for this product does not make any claim that it is PFAS-free. We have reached out to the company and will update this comment if we receive a response.
Glenn20312
July 6, 2020Would it be safer to just use unwaxed floss, or is that not enough?
ConsumerLab.com
July 6, 2020It's not clear from the available research if unwaxed floss is less likely to contain PFAS. However, keep in mind that unwaxed floss can also be made from materials such as Teflon.
Bernie20305
July 5, 2020Dr. Mercola's dental floss also has essential oils in it. It also comes in 100 instead of 55 yard lengths
ConsumerLab.com
July 6, 2020The website for this product notes that the floss is made of nylon, and is vegan-waxed, although it does not state that it is PFAS-free.
Lloyd20299
July 5, 2020I 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.
Michael20364
July 12, 2020Flossing is definitely not a very pleasant task, but rubber tips and/or any type of toothpick cannot replace it since these items cannot reach all areas of the mouth. Glide floss at least makes flossing tolerable for most patients. As I noted in another comment, I've been practicing dentistry for 40+ years along with teaching dental students and conducting research in a university setting. The old adage of only flossing the teeth you want to keep is still valid.
Diana20297
July 5, 2020POH is excellent floss and comes in extra-fine so you don't need Teflon to get it between your teeth.
Cari20483
July 29, 2020Where do you buy POH floss? Seems like I haven't seen this product on the shelves for a good 40 yrs.