Apr 224 min read

Dental Floss

Flossing is an important part of your daily routine, as it can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and even Alzheimer's. However, the type of floss you choose matters. Some floss materials, coatings, and ingredients can be toxic.

Flossing can expose you to PFAS, a group of toxic chemicals linked to a variety of health effects, from reproductive harm to endocrine disruption to cancer. Some floss is made from polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), which is a kind of PFAS, but PFAS can be in floss made from other materials too (potentially as a coating). In two different tests, 33% of flosses tested had indications of PFAS. Flossing with products known to contain PFAS has been associated with higher levels of PFAS in the body. Some brands of floss that contain PFAS (and thus should not be used) are Oral-B Glide and Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss, among others. If you'd like to learn more about PFAS, you can read my article here.

Many flosses are coated with sweeteners. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of harmful health effects, including cardiovascular issues, decreased fertility, and DNA damage. Some also use various kinds of flavorings, like essential oils or the unspecified ingredients "Flavor" or "Natural Flavor." Essential oils often do not fully disclose the ingredients used in them, and they may not truly be made only of plant extracts. Some essential oils also contain naturally toxic chemicals. Additionally, peppermint essential oil, which is often used in floss, isn't safe for children under three. "Flavor" and "Natural Flavor" are umbrella terms for a mixture of various flavoring chemicals, solvents, emulsifiers, flavor modifiers, and preservatives, and they should be avoided because they could contain harmful chemicals (we don't know for that particular product because it's an umbrella term that doesn't disclose the actual ingredients used). Different brands of floss can have different additives in their coatings. For example, sodium lauryl sulfate is a chemical used in some flosses that has been linked to cell changes and cell death. Some brands may not even list their ingredients! Flosses with dyes or pigments should be avoided, as these colorants have been linked to issues like hyperactivity, allergies, and even cancer. It's important to find a floss with minimal additives and fully disclosed ingredients.

Floss is also often a source of exposure to plastic and the additives in it. Many flosses are made of nylon (a kind of plastic), and microplastics have been found in floss. Microplastics have been linked to a wide variety of health impacts. These include gut microbiome disruption, decreased testosterone levels, mitochondrial harm, decreased sperm counts and motility, increased sperm abnormalities and death, immune system harm, and potential neurotoxicity. Microplastics can also be composed of various harmful additives, plasticizers, and stabilizers, depending on the plastic the microplastic came from. For example, some microplastics contain BPA, which can disrupt hormones. Silk floss is a good alternative to nylon or PTFE.

When searching for a safer floss, it's important to ensure that the brand fully discloses all materials and ingredients. Look for floss that has been third-party tested to be free of PFAS, is made of silk rather than nylon, another kind of plastic, or PTFE, and has minimal to no additional ingredients (is unflavored and only uses safer waxes like candelilla wax or beeswax as coatings). Currently, I would recommend Smart Life Co's Unflavored and Mint Silk Flosses. The floss is made of bamboo silk that is soaked in a mixture of mint leaves, canola oil, and water (for the mint version) before being dried and coated in candelilla wax. While these specific products have not been tested for PFAS, another floss by Smart Life Co (made of nylon) was tested and found not to contain PFAS. Hopefully (until more testing is done), this means that the silk flosses are also PFAS-free. Public Goods has a floss that has been tested and is PFAS-free. This one is made of silk and coated with candelilla wax, but it is also coated with "natural peppermint" (it's not specified what the exact ingredients are in that). Unfortunately, because flosses aren't required to disclose materials and ingredients, we can't be completely sure that these are the only ingredients in the flosses. Ultimately, more testing, research, and ingredient and material transparency are needed for floss, but for now, these are better options than conventional floss. As floss is a product used every day, it's important to choose a safer one to reduce your exposure to toxins!