Does your favorite dental floss or tooth floss contain indicators of PFAS “forever chemicals?” Mamavation tested 39 different tooth floss products at an EPA-certified lab to find out. Some results from these oral-care products were eye-opening and you’ll want to read our recommendations right away. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best air purifiers, best organic mattresses, and best green beauty makeup sans PFAS “forever chemicals“, now join us for our latest PFAS consumer study on tooth flosses sold to Americans. Want those results now? Scroll down to the bottom to see the raw data from our laboratory about dental floss with no detectable levels of PFAS indicators.
Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Scientific reviews were performed by (1) Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, (2) Linda Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, & (3) Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and Co-Author of Our Stolen Future. This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with some to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Click “yes” when asked if the gift is in honor of someone and type “Mamavation.” Thank you! [updated products added 8/2024]
Table of Contents
Mamavation Finds Indications of Concerning Levels of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Inside Popular Tooth Flosses
Which brands of tooth floss are the safest for families to use on a routine basis for oral care? We tested the most popular dental floss products, found some concerning levels in some products, and will make recommendations for your dental care routine.
Mamavation tested 39 dental floss products at an EPA-certified laboratory looking for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” and got a concerning glimpse of how many very popular products could be contaminating consumers in a way they had not realized. We picked up different types of dental floss like unwaxed floss, wax coating floss, nylon floss, flossers, spongy floss, & dental floss threaders.
It’s important to note that our lab is not looking for PFAS compounds directly, because it’s simply impossible to look for all of them. There are over 12,000 PFAS compounds and assays for less than 100 compounds exist in a really good commercial lab. This is why Mamavation commissions marker testing to look for a chemical called organic fluorine, which all PFAS “forever chemicals” have in common. Other possibilities of contaminants found inside organic fluorine are things like fluorinated pesticide residue or fluorinated pharmaceutical residue. None of these contaminants are something our readers want in their products, so we will continue this type of testing. Here are our main findings from the results on dental floss testing:
- 33% of dental floss products sent to our EPA-certified laboratory had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals,” while 67% of products did not. In other words, 13 out of 39 products had indications of PFAS.
- According to our lab, levels of organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS, were found between 11 parts per million (ppm) to 248,900 parts per million (ppm).
- Tooth floss products have the highest levels of organic fluorine we have ever seen in any consumer study — Oral-B Glide had the highest amount at 248,900 parts per million (ppm).
- 4 tooth floss products had over 70,000 ppm organic fluorine: Oral B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean Floss; Up & Up (Target Brand) Smooth Slide Floss Mint; Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss; & Solimo (Amazon Brand) Extra Comfort Mint Dental Floss.
- No tooth floss marketed to children that we tested had any indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” However, none of those products made it into the “best” category because they are all made of single-use plastics, which is not an environmentally acceptable solution.
- [updated products added 8/2024]
Consumers Were Warned About Dangers of PFAS in Tooth Floss, So Mamavation Decided to Revisit Oral-B Glide
In a study published in 2019 in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, researchers found that women who flossed with tooth floss product Oral-B Glide dental floss had higher levels of PFAS in their blood than those women who didn’t. After marker testing was run on Oral-B Glide, it was confirmed that this product had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” intentionally added to the product.
According to researchers, “Flossing with Oral-B Glide, having stain-resistant carpet or furniture, and living in a city served by a PFAS-contaminated water supply were also associated with higher levels of some PFASs.”
The American Dental Association came out swinging saying they found data “insufficient to support the conclusions presented.” They complained about the marker testing used not providing enough scientific evidence to prove that PTFE was found in the tooth floss. The women who reported using Glide were found to have elevated levels of PFHxS, which is another type of PFAS. And yes, Oral-B Glide does have the ADA seal of acceptance on its product.
Our advisor Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, had some things to say.
I think the ADA is confused about what matters with the finding of organic fluorine in dental flosses. For example, they should not be arguing about which PFAS compound might be in Glide Oral-B floss, but rather stop approving of any dental product that contains any forever PFAS compound. They should start educating their members about the insidious nature of low dose adverse effects from endocrine disrupting chemicals where PFAS examples are often associated with the manufacture of Teflon (PTFE) polymer. And they should brush up on the fact that polymers have largely escaped effective regulatory scrutiny so that we really don’t know what the low dose toxicity implications are of coating our teeth with the forever polymer, Teflon. Like all branches of science and medicine, the ADA needs to understand that the seductions of chemicals with high technical and cost performances, like most PFAS compounds, have to be resisted until the health, environmental and fairness performances have been quantified and assessed and integrated into the value proposition. From where I am looking, all PFAS compounds will fail competent scrutiny in this area.
Health.com reached out to Oral-B Glide and got a denial from the company about this study saying the following: “We have confirmed none of the substances in the report are used in our dental floss. The safety of the people who use our products is our top priority. Our dental floss undergoes thorough safety testing and we stand behind the safety of all our products.”
Mamavation sent out Oral-B Glide as one of our first samples to check to see if they had made any changes. However, when we got the results from those samples back, we are not convinced that they have made any changes to protect consumers.
Other Industries Using PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
PFAS chemicals have been used for decades to create stain resistance, water resistance, and grease-proof qualities to products to which they are added. If you’ve heard of coatings such as “Teflon” on cookware, fabrics made from “Gore Tex” or treatments on carpets like STAINMASTER®, you’ve already heard about PFAS chemicals. Here’s more of what you may not have been aware of:
- Textiles & Fabrics: PFAS chemicals are very commonly found in industries such as textiles & fabrics to create stain-resistance, water-resistance, or “sweat-wicking.” To help you here, Mamavation has tested athletic wear, sports bras, and period underwear. We’ve also conducted other consumer studies on bedding, children’s clothing, infant car seats, jackets, & raincoats.
- Food Packaging: In food packaging, they are used in popcorn bags, pizza boxes, fast food wrappers & canisters, and the flat dish on the bottom of cakes at the grocery store. Mamavation has also tested different parchment paper brands for indications of PFAS.
- Personal Care Products: The beauty industry has been notoriously guilty of using PFAS to create a waterproof or long-lasting effect in makeup products. So Mamavation tested the most popular green beauty makeup brands, and we are working on some other categories like feminine care products & bandages.
- Toilet Paper: Mamavation found indications of PFAS in 24% of the toilet paper we sent to the lab. However, we also found plenty of ‘best” and “better” brands. Go take a look!
- Cookware: Most “non-stick” cookware is coated with PFAS chemicals, including some stainless steel cookware, and small kitchen appliances like air fryers. Check out Mamavation’s investigation on cookware.
- Carpeting & Flooring: PFAS has also been used in carpeting & flooring. Do you remember StainMaster™ carpet? That was PFAS. However, not all carpet has indications of PFAS. We recently tested one brand you can safely purchase. Mamavation also tested several bamboo flooring brands and found one brand that was free from PFAS.
- Furniture: Watch out for “stain-resistant” treatments on furniture. We have not done any testing in this category yet.
- Fire Fighting Foam: PFAS was used in firefighting foams and they have unfortunately been used extensively around military bases and airports. If you live close to a military base or airport, check with your local water district to see if they have tested the water for PFAS.
- Metal Plating, Semiconductors, Lubrications, & Coating Additives: Lots of industrial applications of PFAS are used to keep equipment from rusting, getting overheated, or provide water-resistant, or grease-resistant qualities.
- Drinking Water: Sadly, there are lots of places around the United States and all over the world that have drinking water contaminated with PFAS. Most of these areas are by military bases, airports, and other industrial parks that used PFAS for firefighting or other such uses. Luckily, Mamavation has done an investigation of the best water filters to remove PFAS.
- Car Wax, Ski Wax, & Surfboard Wax: Yes, you guessed it. PFAS is used here for its grease & water-resistant qualities.
- Some Processed Food: Mamavation has found indications of PFAS inside pasta & tomato sauces, nut butters, cooking oils, and ketchup. We are presently working on other food categories right now.
Health Effects Linked to Exposure to PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic to human health and the environment. They are considered persistent, ubiquitous, and toxic, and therefore, it’s important you avoid them as much as you can to keep them from building up in our bodies. Many compounds can last for years in our bodies, therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from contaminated food and water.
Here’s a list of health effects PFAS chemicals are linked to presently according to our scientific advisor and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, Linda Birnbaum:
- reduction in immunity
- reduced vaccination response
- increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
- affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
- increase cholesterol levels
- metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
- cardiovascular disease
- lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
- lowers male fertility
- increase the risk of kidney & testicular cancers
- Causes endocrine disruption
- Disrupts normal thyroid function
The levels of indicated PFAS we found in some of the most popular dental floss products are very concerning. We say that because Mamavation has not found such high amounts in any other consumer product we have commissioned a study on.
“Finding organic fluorine over 240,000 ppm in any product meant to go inside your mouth and thus could be easily ingested is very concerning. These levels that we are seeing from some of these dental floss products do not reflect levels that are safe for human consumption. Because PFAS chemicals are persistent & toxic, they could be building up inside consumers every time they floss their teeth and creating a situation that can lead to chronic disease,” says Linda Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program.
Why PFAS Was Found in Such High Amounts in Dental Floss
PFAS is either added intentionally for its ability to create slickness as a “waterproof laminate” in the dental floss product OR it’s not intentionally added and is a contaminant coming from processing or from the supply chain in general. When Mamavation found indications of PFAS in the tooth floss we tested, some brands had very high levels while others had levels that would be considered not “intentionally added.”
High-Level PFAS Examples
According to our laboratory, Oral-B Glide had 248,900 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine, which is the highest level Mamavation has ever found in any product we’ve tested. This amount of organic fluorine indicates the likelihood that PFAS was intentionally added to this product for its slick waterproof laminate ability to glide between your teeth easily. Mamavation did not get a chance to interview this brand for this investigation, nor were we able to identify which PFAS compounds we found, however, these amounts of organic fluorine suggest it was intentionally added.
These are all the dental flosses pulled from the group that had dramatically high indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” over 70,000 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine:
- Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean Floss — 248,900 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- Solimo (Amazon) Extra Comfort Mint Dental Floss — 94,200 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss — 91,400 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- Up & Up (Target) Smooth Slide Floss Mint — 74,400 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
Should You Stop Flossing?
Should you stop flossing? The answer to that question is absolutely not. We all want teeth free from food debris, bad bacteria, tooth decay, dental plaque, gingivitis, periodontal disease, gum disease, and bad breath, but to reach that goal regular flossing needs to happen every day. In order to avoid improper use of dental floss and get food particles out of your teeth and gum line, dentists and dental hygienists recommend good dental health by flossing on a daily basis.
At Mamavation we understand our discoveries can be scary and some people may tend to avoid tooth floss altogether because of their fear of exposure to PFAS. This is why we decided to step in and test this category of consumer products in order to help you protect your family.
We recommend purchasing dental floss from our “best” or “better” list below or using a water flosser instead. But do not stop flossing, please.
Some Water Flossers to Try
Water flossers, also known as oral irrigators, are an alternative to tooth floss. Some people swear by these devices while others find them harder to use. But they are an option for people who would like to stop using dental floss.
Here are some products that have come highly recommended and available on Amazon for you to try:
- Waterpik Ion Professional Wireless Water Flosser
- Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser
- Waterpik Cordless Water Flosser
Brands Marketing Dental Floss to Children Full of Single-Use Plastics
As we were doing this consumer study on dental floss, we noticed some very important details regarding dental floss marketed to children and we’ll break it up into good and bad news for you.
- Good News: Children’s dental floss products we tested had no indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.“
- Bad News: Every children’s dental floss product we tested was made from single-use plastics. Every children’s product we could find on Amazon was a plastic dental flosser.
We encourage children to floss daily but don’t like the idea that daily flossing contributes to landfills and takes thousands of years to break down. Therefore, the best option for flossing for young kids is to teach them to use regular dental floss.
“It’s too bad that all the easily available handles for flossing are plastic. They are much easier to learn to use than flossing with just floss. Too bad manufacturers don’t offer flossing handles that aren’t plastic. That would get kids to floss more often and avoid more single-use plastic,” says our advisor Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and Co-Author of Our Stolen Future.
Mamavation’s Investigation of Dental Floss and Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Mamavation sent 39 different dental floss products off to an EPA-certified laboratory to look for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” Samples had many flavors, including cinnamon, peppermint, mint, and strawberry. We did not test any toothbrushes, interdental cleaner, interdental brushes, dental picks, or dental tape. Mamavation’s lab used marker testing to identify the potential presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in dental floss products. Organic fluorine is a marker for PFAS because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine. The specific lab method used by Mamavation tested for total fluorine was the Determination of Total Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. If total fluorine was observed at a detection level of 10 ppm, the lab did the Determination of free Fluoride Ion in the dental floss by Ion-Selective Electrode and then subtracted that from the Total Fluorine to determine the amount of organic fluorine. This marker testing is likely to show the presence of PFAS.
13 brands out of the 39 products we tested came back with detectable levels of organic fluorine, which means PFAS was likely present. Testing for PFAS directly is impossible to do because there are over 12,000 different compounds. This marker testing is also used by the food packaging industry to determine whether products are “compostable” or not.
Here are the categories you’ll see below to divide the dental floss products tested by our EPA-certified lab:
- Not Our Favorite Tooth Floss Products: According to our EPA-certified laboratory, these products contain detections of organic fluorine, which is a chemical marker for PFAS “forever chemicals.” This section represents some products that have levels that are clearly intentionally added, while other brands have levels that are more “unintentionally added” from contamination somewhere. Brands with jaw-dropping amounts of organic fluorine we marked with **.
- Better Tooth Floss Products: These brands did not have any detections of organic fluorine. However, they are made with less sustainable materials like single-use plastic, which are problematic because they take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. The amount of plastic used by most “flossers” is problematic for our environment.
- Best Tooth Floss Products: Our lab did not identify organic fluorine in any of these brands. We also admire these brands for their use of more sustainable materials and high-quality ingredients. There were a few “flossers” that made it into this category for their lack of single-use petroleum-based plastics.
“Not Our Favorite” Tooth Floss Brands
According to our EPA-certified laboratory, these products contain detections of organic fluorine, which is a chemical marker for PFAS “forever chemicals.” This section represents some products that have levels that are clearly intentionally added, while other brands have levels that are more “unintentionally added” from contamination somewhere. Brands with jaw-dropping amounts of organic fluorine we marked with **.
- Burst Refillable Dental Floss Juniper & Berry — 208 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- **Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss — 91,400 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- EcoRoots Bamboo Floss — 23 & 14 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine (2 samples)
- Listerine Reach Ultraclean Floss — 16 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- **Oral B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean Floss — 248,900 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine (This product is quite possibly 24% PFAS!!!!!!)
- **Solimo (Amazon) Extra Comfort Mint Dental Floss — 94,200 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- RiseWell Scrubby Floss — 11 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- Rite Aid Premium Waxed Dental Floss — 17 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- **Up & Up (Target) Smooth Slide Floss Mint — 74,400 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
- Wellnesse 100% Biodegradable Silk Peppermint Floss — 14 & 22 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine (2 samples) (This brand is in the process of reformulating. They have identified the problem, but have not implemented changes yet. We will update the investigation when they have reformulated.)
Better Tooth Floss Brands
These brands did not have any detections of organic fluorine. However, they are made with less sustainable materials like single-use plastic, which are problematic because they take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. The amount of plastic used by most “flossers” should not be allowed, but sadly, it is. [updated products added 8/2024]
- CVSHealth EaseBetween Original Dental Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- Dentek Kids Fun Monster Flossers — non-detect organic fluorine
- Dr. Rams Fun Flexi Flossers Fun Fruity Flavor — non-detect organic fluorine
- Equate (Walmart) Mint Waxed Dental Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- grin Fine Tight Teeth Flosspyx Minty — non-detect organic fluorine [updated 8/2024]
- Gum Crayola Kids Flossers Grape Flavor Fluoride Coated — non-detect organic fluorine
- Holy Rose Kids Dental Floss Dispenser — non-detect organic fluorine
- Kindfill Peppermint Floss by Humankind — non-detect organic fluorine [updated 8/2024]
- Oral B Superfloss Mint Dental Floss for Braces — non-detect organic fluorine
- Piico Dental Floss Picks for Kids — non-detect organic fluorine
- Plackers Twin-Line — non-detect organic fluorine
- Platypus Orthodontic Flosser — non-detect organic fluorine
- Quip Floss Pick Refill — non-detect organic fluorine
- Smartly (Target Brand) Waxed Mint Dental Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- REACH Mint Waxed Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- T Smile R 3rd Generation Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- Trueocity Kids Flossers Bubblegum Flavor — non-detect organic fluorine
Best Tooth Floss Brands
Our lab did not identify organic fluorine in any of these brands. We also admire these brands for their use of more sustainable materials and high-quality ingredients. There were a few “flossers” that made it into this category for their lack of single-use petroleum-based plastics. [updated products added 8/2024]
- Bambo Earth Pure Silk Eco Floss Mint Flavored — non-detect organic fluorine
- Boka Ela Mint Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- Cocofloss Delicious Mint — non-detect organic fluorine (Use “MAMAVATION15” for 15% off your order. This brand has also introduced a reusable flosser for kids too!)
- Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Dental Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- Dr. Mercola Dental Floss 100% Vegan-Waxed with Essential Oils — non-detect organic fluorine [updated 8/2024]
- Etee Plastic Free Biodegradable Silk Waxed Floss Mint Flavor — non-detect organic fluorine
- Nudge Dental Floss — non-detect organic fluorine [updated 8/2024]
- Public Goods Tooth Floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- Radius Sponge Floss Peppermint with Coconut Oil — non-detect organic fluorine [updated 8/2024]
- Smart Life Company Straw Wheat Floss Picks — non-detect organic fluorine
- The Humble Co. Plant-Based Materials Floss Picks — non-detect organic fluorine
- Thrive Market Gentle Tape Floss Tea Tree Mint — non-detect organic fluorine
- Tom’s of Maine Naturally Waxed Antiplaque flat floss — non-detect organic fluorine
- Wowe Silk Floss Natural Mint — non-detect organic fluorine
PFAS Consumer Studies Mamavation Has Released & More!
Mamavation has been commissioning studies looking for PFAS “forever chemicals” inside everyday products you use. These chemicals also show up in plastics because some plastics are fluorinated.
We are continuing to test and run studies and if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, simply go to Environmental Health News and donate on behalf of Mamavation. Environmental Health News & Institute for Green Science at Carnegie Mellon University has partnered with us on most of our PFAS studies and provides support & more scientific scrutiny.
Here are the PFAS consumer investigations we have finished:
- Soft Contact Lenses
- Green Beauty Makeup
- Dental Floss
- Toilet Paper
- Period Underwear
- Tampons
- Sanitary Pads, Pantiliners, & Incontinence Pads
- Electrolytes
- Pasta & Tomato Sauces
- Nut Butters (Peanut butter, etc.)
- Cooking Oils (olive oil, almond oil, canola oil, etc)
- Ketchup
- Activewear (Yoga Pants)
- Sports Bras
- Parchment Paper
- Cupcake Liners
- Plastic-Free Straws
- Children’s Probiotics
- Bamboo Flooring
- Baby Strollers
We also have other investigations you may like.
- Best Mouthwash
- Best Toothpaste
- Best Yoga mats
- Best Organic Mattresses
- Best Air purifiers
- Best Cookware
- Best Plant-Based Milks
- Best Water Filters for PFAS Filtration
- Best Collagen
- Best Electrolyte Replacement Drinks, Sports Drinks, & Coconut Water
- Best Infrared Saunas
For a complete list of Mamavation investigations go here.
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Please consider testing some dental floss without essential oils (if there are any). I removed all products with essential oils but struggling to find a floss and toothpaste without them. Thank you!
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Amazing! Wish you tested the more common Plackers Micro Line (that has one line). Do you think it’s safe to assume that it has the same material as the Plackers Twin-Line (that has two lines)?
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It’s well-researched and informative, raising awareness about ingredients many of us might overlook in our daily products. It’s a helpful read for anyone looking to make healthier, safer choices!
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https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-health-extra-comfort-dental-floss-fresh-mint-flavor-prodid-469085?skuId=469085&cgaa=QWxsb3dHb29nbGVUb0FjY2Vzc0NWU1BhZ2Vz&cid=ps_oralc_pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjNS3BhChARIsAOxBM6owczgmRaY3clsVCgm8iuSpIv-Dhiur22XPLNf7ZHUCjbDb5osFtUIaAn54EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
What about this one? (CVS Health Extra Comfort Dental Floss Fresh Mint Flavor) The ingredients are not listed and PFAs are dangerous especially if you bleed while flossing it’ll go directly in your blood stream
Megan
Can you test “Clean Idea” Kids EcoFlosser Pick next time? Marketed towards kids with a “clean” claim.
Mary
What about Eco-Dent floss?
Mark
After reading about this article several months ago, I went ahead and bought a many year large supply of The Humble Co. Plant-Based Materials Floss Picks. I’ve been using them everyday ever since I found this article. I am very happy with the quality of their floss picks. They last twice as long than the ones I was previously using. Because I can only use floss picks to comfortably clean between my teeth, I feel very fortunate that this Humble Co website was able to post them to me here in Australia despite the Smart Life Company snubbing me off. I hate it when American websites refuse to post products to Australia. Because Smart Life Company rudely snubbed me off with the promise that they would get back to me with an answer whether or not they will ship me a large supply, I got fed up waiting around for an answer so I went ahead and bought my $500 bulk supply from The Humble Co instead. I am so glad that I bought from this Humble Co website because that now means less PFAS poisoning in my life. Thank you, Leah, for finding me another non-toxic product to buy. I really appreciate it.
S
There’s a brand new floss from OraWellness.com. Please test.
Jerome
Please test GUM ButtlerWeave floss if you can… this is what is sold everywhere in Canada
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R
Please clarify info about Dr Tungs. I am so confused based on the comments and reviews. I feel this is one of the most popular natural brands.
M
I also want to know about Dr Tung’s floss – it’s the only one found that clearly states “no PFAS” on it’s packaging.
DrTungs
DrTung’s would like to advise that we specifically state on our packaging that our floss is free of PTFE and PFAS. This is based on a number of lab reports to this effect. Anything contrary to this that you may have read on the web about PFAS in Smart Floss in incorrect and, where we are aware of it, has been retracted.
We have done a detailed and very comprehensive test for over 40 PFAS chemicals at a renowned lab in Germany and other tests in the USA. The German test is an EPA-approved test for determine the presence of PFAS chemicals (https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw-846-test-method-8327-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-liquid-chromatographytandem). This test is extremely precise, being able to measure down to 0.01 ppm whereas as some other tests can only detect values above 0.11 ppm. No detectible PFAS chemicals were found, most being less than 0.01 ppm!!
DrTung's
DrTung’s would like to advise that we specifically state on our packaging that our floss is free of PTFE and PFAS. This is based on a number of lab reports to this effect. Anything contrary to this that you may have read on the web about PFAS in Smart Floss in incorrect and, where we are aware of it, has been retracted.
We have done a detailed and very comprehensive test for over 40 PFAS chemicals at a renowned lab in Germany and other tests in the USA. The German test is an EPA-approved test for determine the presence of PFAS chemicals (https://www.epa.gov/hw-sw846/sw-846-test-method-8327-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-liquid-chromatographytandem). This test is extremely precise, being able to measure down to 0.01 ppm whereas as some other tests can only detect values above 0.11 ppm. No detectible PFAS chemicals were found, most being less than 0.01 ppm!!
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Grace
The REACH floss you linked to is distributed by LG Household & Health Care, even though the title says it’s by Johnson & Johnson. If I go buy it at Walmart it’s distributed by J&J. I just wanted to know if the one you tested was indeed distributed by LG or by J&J?
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Please include GUM ButtlerWeave floss in your next batch of testing. I like this type of floss as it feels like it cleans between the teeth much better than a “glide” product.
George
Please include GUM ButtlerWeave floss in your next batch of testing. I like this type of floss as it feels like it cleans between the teeth much better than a “glide” product.
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Has Oral B Glide dental floss improved since your initial investigation?
Anonymous
It doesn’t seem likely they’ve changed. Most of their Glide products feel like plumbing teflon tape so I am not surprised by the high PFAs!
Serena
Jack n Jill makes kids flossers with handles made from cornstarch, not plastic
E
I’m curious about PFA levels in:
– OraMD Oral Care Pure Unwaxed Dental Floss – Chemical Free, Unscented
– Top Care Dental Floss – Unwaxed
– CVS Health Unwaxed Dental Floss
These three flosses are the only ones I know of that are both unscented *and* unwaxed as well as affordable (and are not made from the abuse of silkworms or have unnecessary charcoal in them that can mess with people’s absorption of medication).
Kevin Leonard
Yes I agree. I use CVS Health Unwaxed and it’s unvented so I’m curious if you have tested this popular brand or private label brand. Kevin Leonard Laguna Beach
Terry
Can you please test Eco-Dent?
Priya
Yes please, I second this request.
Could you please add Eco-dent?
Very thankful for Mamavation’s initiative.
carxstreet
We should be concern about this
Zoe
Can you test TreeBird Silk and Bamboo flosses please?
Deema
Does Dr. Tung contain PFAS? I see it has been removed above in your lists…
It’s ok if it was originally included in error.
It would just be great to know, we have used it on our toddlers. Can you kindly let us know?
M
Second that request thanks.Thought that that one was safe according to the PFAS-free claims made.
Jennifer
Have you tested 365 by Whole Foods Market Dental Floss https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/365-by-whole-foods-market-dental-floss-waxed-mint-55-yds-b08c18d735? I really like this floss, so I hope that it doesn’t contain PFAS.
Vampire Survivors
Use dental floss to always keep your teeth clean.
Katie
Checking in to see if you have results for Radius Pure Silk Unscented Floss?
Chris Trankle
This has nothing to do with dental floss. Just don’t know where else to post this or ask this question, so I picked this product (don’t know why ?) Could you do some testing on the plastic coatings of Vitamins and Supplements??? Many of these are in plastic time released coatings. Who knows what is on them? Also many of the OTC medications we buy (aspirin, allergy and many other drugs) are also plastic coated. Who knows what THEY are made of. After seeing a documentary on the dangers of plastics (and FRAGRANCE – a loophole in the FDA requirements, so NO disclosure on those!) I am super leery of all the plastics in my household and clothing. It’s maddening and scary. Thank You so much for your research and making the public aware of the dangers of the plastics and chemicals in our world. You are doing a great humanitarian service.
Bay Mom
Like some other comments above I am very confused about Dr. Tung Smart Floss which I have been buying especially because the package states No PTFE or PFAs and use of plant and bee wax. Is the testing you did current? Is the company lying? Please respond.
M
Yes second that request – it’s very confusing,would be goo to know the reality via lab testing.
Ward Clark
The news about Oral-B Guide floss raised my concern about Oral-B Superfloss, which I’ve been using for years. The pre-cut strands have a stiff end which makes it easy to thread the floss between my bridge and gums.
Google searching led me to a 2020 YouTube video (“Dr. Nemeth WARNS Against Using FLOSS Brands With “Forever Chemicals” PFAS”) with a lengthy text description including a list of “Floss with no PFAS”. The list includes “Oral B Superfloss Mint Dental Floss for Braces”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZbrKnwSNmE
The text ends with 4 “Sources” links (including this Mamavation page). None of the pages mention Superfloss.
Jillayne
I also have teeth that are very close together. I am wondering if you tested Oral B Glide Pro-Health ORIGINAL Floss. It says that it has a light coating of natural wax.
Anonymous
Any testing for “better and better” floss?
Joe Osmond
In fact for a long time I have had problems with my teeth, that’s why I know very well how much it matters to take care of them, besides this much matters emotional intelligence, this I learned from this post https://happyessays.com/free-essays/emotional-intelligence/ for me as a student of the college of psychology it is very important to know these things and it is interesting for me to communicate them to other people. That’s why I recommend you to take care of your health not only dental but also mental health.
reynald
suprised with you results with DrTung’s smart floss in opposition with their official: statement:
“Neither DrTung’s Smart Floss nor our Activated Charcoal Floss are made from PTFE nor are they intentionally treated with PFOAS, PFAS, PFOS, APFO and/or fluorine surfactants. Multiple tests done by DrTung’s at an EPA-approved lab show that the amount of organic fluorine in our floss (said to reflect PFAS) is below the detectible range. PTFE material, although used widely for floss because it slides up and down easily between teeth, is also the worst performing floss as far as plaque removal goes. (See our study comparing Smart Floss to Glide and other flosses).”
Anna
I don’t see DrTung’s floss in any list, maybe she updated it?
M
I would like to know about Dr Tung’s floss too – found it strange that it was not included as the packaging actually claims “no PFAS” which is more information than most manufacturers privide (at least not wih out an extended petition.)
It would be interesting to have lab tests to check whether the “no PFAS” claim stands up.
M
I didn’t see it either – sounds from another comment that it was found to contain organic fluorine (=PFAS)??
renald
I am a bit loss about the testing.
you found “drTungs Smart Floss — 48 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine”
while this one specifically states:
“PTFE & PFAS Free”, “PTFE & PFAS Free Floss”, “natural plant and bee wax coating”, “naturally free of allergens & free of BPA, PTFE, and petrochemical wax ”
so how it is possible to find PFAs?
Jan H
Thanks so much for this very valuable assessment! I, like another commenter, need a very thin floss; and now that I know to avoid the glide/tape styles, I’m not sure what to use. I did find a thin floss on FlossAid’s website, they make a number of specialty products. I like this floss, but when I emailed them to ask about PFAS they didn’t reply. I wonder if you would be able to test this product? (GLOSSAid Multi-Strand Thin Waxed Dental Floss) I ordered a multipack, and I’d be happy to mail one to you if you would like to test it. Feel free to get in touch.
Soo
Does ‘non-detect organic fluorine’ mean there is nothing toxic in this product?
Clive
How about WAXEDBLACKtm FLOSS – activated charcoal and xylitol infused from My Magic Mud?
Lindsay
I’d switch to a different floss even if this one doesn’t have detectable amounts of PFAs. Xylitol is not something that needs to ever be in a dental floss, and it’s not all that great of an ingredient for us, period. It’s a synthetic sugar substitute, which is silly to use in dental floss. I know that some toothpaste, especially those geared towards kids since they prefer sweeter tasting products vs the usual minty ones adults use, have xylitol in them but I’d still minimize the use of products that have xylitol in them. Side note, xylitol is toxic to animals, especially dogs…so it’s another good reason to skip items that use xylitol as an ingredient. Have a wonderful day!
Anonymous
I’ve heard that xylitol can help with dental health like the Zellie’s brand of gum. Is that false?
M
It’s true – there’s published research on it (although it’s not a substitute for brushing & flossing – it can be used as a mouthwash or there are sugar-free gum / lozenges which contain xylitol.)Users should be aware that actually consumimg more than 100g per day (maybe less for some people) can have a laxative effect (using it as mouthwash shouldn’t cause this though.)
M. M.
I don’t know about the rest of you’all, but everyone should vote with their money. We really need a compilation of all the good stuff so we buy only the stuff that won’t harm us, our families or the environment. The research that went into all this is commendable. Thank you for what you have done.
Genya
Did Dr. Tungs reformulate their floss and remove flourine containing perfluorocarbons from their product OR are they not telling the truth on their website???
From Dr. Tungs Smartfloss website (https://drtungs.com/faqs):
Does your floss contain potentially toxic PTFE or PFAS chemicals?
No, neither DrTung’s Smart Floss nor our Activated Charcoal Floss are made from PTFE –the floss material implicated by USA Today as being potentially toxic– nor are they intentionally treated with PFOAS, PFAS, PFOS, APFO and/or fluorine surfactants. Multiple research tests show that the amount of organic fluorine in our floss (said to reflect PFAS) is below the detectible range. PTFE material, although used widely for floss because it slides up and down easily between teeth, is also the worst performing floss as far as plaque removal goes. (See our study comparing Smart Floss to Glide and other flosses).
M
Another request for Dr Tung’s floss lab testing for PFAS,bisphenols & phthalates as the last 2 are also bad.It would particularly be good to check the manufacturer claim of “no PFAS” againt the independent testing.
Christine Peterson
What about Oral B dental tape? Good or bad?
Linda
I have the same question about Reach Dentotape unflavored waxed tape. Some of us with wider spaced teeth need dentotape, not regular thin floss. I’m afraid we already know the answer, that these tapes are bad. It does not seem that tapes for wider spaced teeth are on the good list.
Chels
Radius silk floss?
Leah Segedie
I’m adding that brand to an update for this post…so I’ve just sent it to the lab for testing.
Tracy B.
How about Oral-B Satin Floss? Same company as Glide, but different floss. I just bought a two-pack, wondering if I need to take it back? This is sad news! Thank you for the info, though!
Monica
Any updates on the Radius floss? You mentioned you sent some for testing back in September. Thanks!
Leah Segedie
It was non-detect
Paige
Awesome. Thank you!
Loretta
Thank you for such a great article. For years, I have been on the lookout for a safer floss. But none that I have tried fit between certain teeth. When we have some teeth that are tight-fitting, most floss (except for Glide) doesn’t fit. Please let me know if you have any recommendations for tight-fitting teeth. Thank you!L
Bella
How about TrueBird Pure Silk Eco Floss? Seems very similar to the Bamboo Earth Pure Silk floss but not sure if it’s better or worse.
Susie Hubertus
Did you by chance test Boo-Boo Bamboo Floss?
Fash
I couldn’t find the list of healthy products and I couldnt find your email address.
Please could you share.
Thank you
Emmel
Radius Organic Silk Floss?
Dwight Daunheimer
Hi Leah, thank you. Did you have the opportunity to test Radius pure silk unscented dental floss? I believe that it would highly. It is designed by a women-owned USA firm. Thank you, Dwight D
Sara
What about Radius natural biodegradable silk floss coated with carnauba wax?
casino
Amazing Platform thank you for sharing admin
TeenPatti Lucky
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