Avoid PFAS in Your Dental Floss
Is there PFAS in the dental floss you use to clean your teeth? We’ve investigated whether floss contains these harmful substances. See which products are PFAS-free below.
PTFE — also known as Teflon — is one of many problematic PFAS substances often found in everyday items, including dental floss.
PFAS accumulate in nature and in the human body. They are suspected of weakening the immune system, raising cholesterol levels, and increasing the risk of liver damage, cancer, hormone disruption, and miscarriages.
Is Dental Floss with PFAS Dangerous?
Dental floss containing PFAS isn’t necessarily harmful in itself. The issue lies in the production, use, and disposal of PFAS-containing products, which contribute to environmental pollution and can eventually end up in our food and water — adding to our overall exposure.
By choosing dental floss without PFAS, you help reduce the spread of these problematic chemicals in the environment.
We purchased 67 dental floss products from stores and online retailers and asked the companies behind them whether they use PFAS — such as PTFE — in their products.
The selection includes traditional floss, floss picks, and floss with or without wax and fluoride. Below, you can see which products contain PFAS and which do not.
PFAS-Free Dental Floss
A total of 42 products in our market review are free from PFAS. This result is based on company statements confirming that their products do not contain PFAS, including PTFE.
Many of these products are available in regular stores such as supermarkets, pharmacies, Matas, and Normal.
Dental Floss Containing PFAS
17 out of 67 dental floss products contain PFAS in the form of PTFE. However, there are differences in how the information is presented:
Biorepair states that all their new versions of dental floss are free from PFAS.
Dental floss with PFAS in our review typically comes from smaller brands and is mostly purchased from online retailers.
These Products were Unconfirmed
At the time of publishing the article, there were eight types of dental floss for which we didn’t know whether they contained PFAS or not, because we hadn’t received responses from the companies.
Since the publication, we have received new information:
- Colgate has confirmed that their two products are PFAS-free.
- Søstrene Grene has responded that their product is PFAS-free and has also been discontinued from the market.
- JacknJill has labeled the product as PFAS-free, but we have not yet received confirmation from the company behind it.
For the remaining five products, we don’t know whether they contain PFAS. The packaging doesn’t specify, and we haven’t received responses from the companies.
Watch Out for Parallel Imports
Parallel imports are products brought into the country outside of official distribution channels. This means items not intended for the Danish market may still reach Danish consumers.
Packaging is often in another language, and ingredients may differ.
In our review, G.U.M Easy Floss, which contains PTFE, was parallel imported. The manufacturer states that the product was removed from the Danish market 1.5 years ago due to increased attention on PFAS in dental floss. The version we tested was not intended for the Danish market.
As a consumer, it can be difficult to spot parallel imports. Look out for packaging or ingredient lists that aren’t in Danish — this may indicate parallel import.
How to Avoid PFAS in Your Dental Floss
Look for PTFE on the packaging. Be aware that some floss may contain PFAS even if PTFE isn’t listed.
Ask the manufacturer or retailer directly if you want to be sure your floss is PFAS-free.
If you already have floss with PTFE at home, you don’t need to throw it away. But next time, consider choosing a PFAS-free option.
If you do decide to discard it, dispose of it as general waste. If you can separate the floss from the plastic container, the container should be sorted as plastic.
What the Companies Say
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“3D White Floss has been discontinued globally. Products still sold online are old stock from retailers.”
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“The G.U.M floss containing PTFE is a parallel import. We removed it from our Danish range 1.5 years ago due to increased attention on PFAS in floss and aim to avoid unwanted chemicals in our assortment.”
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“We’re in a transition period where PFAS is being phased out of dental floss. Brands like Colgate and Oral-B have removed PFAS from several models. This has led to floss that frays or breaks, causing frustration for customers and dental clinics. At IN2DENT and 2SMILE we hope these quality issues will be resolved over time.”
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“We make sure to indicate when dental floss contains fluoride — especially PTFE — as many consumers choose to avoid it. But there are also others who still prefer floss with PTFE, as they otherwise wouldn’t be able to use dental floss.
In any case, we want to provide dental care for everyone and believe our customers should be able to make their own choices — that’s not a decision we should make for them. Therefore, we won’t exclude products unless they violate Danish legislation or are of poor quality.
On the other hand, we put a lot of effort into writing detailed product descriptions, and all relevant products include ingredient lists. Additionally, you can always reach us via chat, email, or phone if you have any questions.
And we’re glad that TÆNK is working on these issues. It makes it easier for consumers — and for us — to navigate. We fully support it.”
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The company states that all new versions of their dental floss are PFAS-free. The products with PTFE are older versions that have been discontinued.