How Much Should You Care About What Your Dental Floss Is Made Of?

Key TakeawaysSome dental flosses contain ingredients such as Teflon and petroleum-based nylon, which are substances that might be linked to kidney and liver diseases, cancers, and hormone disruption.Experts say that there is no need to panic, as these ingredients and chemicals are commonly found in things we use every day, including water, cleaning products, and food.If you want to be extra cautious, experts recommend using nylon or silk-based flosses with a wax coating. Experts recommend checking the ingredients listed on the dental floss packaging or contacting the manufacturer for more information about how they’re made.

Key Takeaways

Some dental flosses contain ingredients such as Teflon and petroleum-based nylon, which are substances that might be linked to kidney and liver diseases, cancers, and hormone disruption.Experts say that there is no need to panic, as these ingredients and chemicals are commonly found in things we use every day, including water, cleaning products, and food.If you want to be extra cautious, experts recommend using nylon or silk-based flosses with a wax coating. Experts recommend checking the ingredients listed on the dental floss packaging or contacting the manufacturer for more information about how they’re made.

If you’ve been hearing about PFAS, orperfluoroalkyl substances, everywhere lately, that’s probably because research seems to be finding them inall sorts of places. PFAS are chemicals commonly used in both industrial and consumer products that break down very slowly over time—hence the nickname “forever chemicals.”

One product that’s been getting attention for PFAS more recently is dental floss. Researchers found that women who flossed with Oral-B Glide dental floss or floss from other brands had higher levels of PFAS in their blood than women who did not use those types of floss.

Are the PFAS levels in dental floss enough to be a health concern, and are there “clean” floss alternatives? Here’s what dental experts say.

Are There Toxic Ingredients in Dental Floss?

Floss is typically made up of ingredients like Teflon, petroleum-based nylon, or vegetable-based nylon and silk,Jennifer Blanton, DDS, Staff Dentist at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, told Verywell in an email. They can also be coated in wax, glycerin, or PFAS chemicals to improve the overall “glide,” said Blanton.

One of the more concerning ingredients is Teflon. Teflon is produced from PFAS chemicals—the same chemical group as the coating on many brands of non-stick pans, waterproof clothing and furniture, and personal care products, like shampoo and nail polish.

“Teflon is produced from PFAS chemicals and may be a concern due to links to kidney disease, liver disease, cancers, infertility, etc,” said Blanton.Teflon exposure has also been linked to autoimmune disease, neurotoxicity, andAlzheimer’s disease.

Other ingredients in floss that may be of concern are petroleum-based polymers like nylon and polyester, the latter of which “has been identified as a carcinogen andhormone disruptor,” said Blanton.However, more research is needed to better understand the potential health effects of petroleum in dental floss.

According to Blanton, silk-based floss would be considered the least likely to cause any harm because it is made from natural, biodegradable materials that are free from PFAS and other plastic particles.

Should You Get a Blood Test for PFAS?

How Worried Should You Be About Dental Floss and PFAS?

The reality is that PFAS are all around us. They’re inwaterand soil and can be detected in the bodies of almost all humans, according to Blanton. As mentioned before, they’re also commonly used to make consumer products, including fabrics, carpets, cleaning products, and even floss.

“We are exposed to PFAS chemicals throughout our day, from water, soil, fish/shellfish, carpet, cleaning products, and more,” Blanton said, adding that due to the numerous sources of PFAS in our environment, it is difficult to identify which sources are the most significant contributors to overall PFAS exposure.

Sangeetha Chandrasekaran, BDS, MS,a professor and the chair of the Division of Periodontics at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, told Verywell that more studies are needed to understand whether flossing alone contributes to higher levels of PFAS exposure or carries any significant health risks.

“The results from the 2019 study do not confirm that flossing alone contributed to the higher levels of PFAS found in those subjects,” said Chandrasekaran. “With the lack of evidence, all flosses are considered safe. However, for those consumers who may be concerned, multiple alternative flosses are available.”

Awareness of PFAS in your daily life is fine, but Blanton said you don’t need to panic. If you want to be extra cautious and limit your exposure to the substances, Blanton recommends choosing floss without PFAS chemicals, such as silk floss with a wax coating.

Blanton also suggested finding ways to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals in other products, not just floss.

“It is important to be aware of these ingredients as well as anything we ingest or consume throughout our day,” said Blanton.

Don’t Stop Flossing

Flossing your teeth is just as important asbrushingwhen it comes to optimal oral hygiene. The act of flossing helps remove food particles and plaque that get stuck between teeth and along the gum line—spots your toothbrush is likely to miss. Flossing helps reduce the risk ofcavitiesand prevent gum disease.Given how effective it is as an oral hygiene tool, experts don’t advise that people stop flossing.

“Flossing cleans surfaces in between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot access and dislodges stubborn food particles,” said Blanton. “Poor oral hygiene will lead togingivitisand periodontitis, which has known links toheart disease.”

How to Choose a Safer Dental Floss

If you are looking to avoid certain ingredients, choose floss that is free from Teflon and petroleum-based materials. Instead, opt for silk or nylon floss, which are “considered the least likely to cause any harm,” said Blanton.

Chandrasekaran said there isn’t much difference between waxed and unwaxed floss in terms of what is better for your teeth. However, “unwaxed floss may be an alternative for patients who are concerned” because it tends to have fewer added ingredients and artificial flavors. If you prefer a wax coating, choose floss with a natural wax coating, such as coconut oil or beeswax, instead of synthetic versions, like petroleum.

Oral Hygiene 101

Are There Alternatives to Dental Floss?

There are some other things you can do to maintain a healthy mouth besides flossing:

“It’s important to remember that the best option is the one you will actually use!” said Blanton. “When choosing a dental floss, ingredients as well as lifestyle choices should be taken into consideration.”

According to Blanton, vegans may want to consider any animal products used in floss, such as silk, beeswax, and glycerin. On the other hand, some people might prefer using floss sticks, which are less bulky, instead of something like a Waterpik or traditional floss.

Chandrasekaran recommends working with your dental care provider to get personalized recommendations about oral hygiene products that meet your needs.

What This Means For YouIf you want to limit your exposure to PFAS in dental floss, experts say to choose a silk floss with a wax coating. Talk to your dental care provider to find out which floss or flossing alternatives are best for your oral hygiene needs.

What This Means For You

If you want to limit your exposure to PFAS in dental floss, experts say to choose a silk floss with a wax coating. Talk to your dental care provider to find out which floss or flossing alternatives are best for your oral hygiene needs.

The Best Dental Floss of 2024

15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Boronow KE, Julia Green Brody, Schaider LA, Peaslee GF, Havas L, Cohn BA.Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women.J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019;29(2):206-217. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0109-yWisconsin Department of Health Services. Chemicals.Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances.Environmental Protection Agency.PFAS explained.Science News.Nonstick chemicals linked to infertility.National Institutes of Health.Study links synthetic chemicals to liver damage.Environmental Working Group.EWG assessment of EPA draft human health risk assessment for the Teflon chemical PFOA.Conway BN, Badders AN, Costacou T, Arthur JM, Innes KE.Perfluoroalkyl substances and kidney function in chronic kidney disease, anemia, and diabetes.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2018;11:707-716. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S173809Mirza A, King A, Troakes C, Exley C.Aluminium in brain tissue in familial Alzheimer’s disease.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology. 2017;40:30-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.12.001Shaw CA, Tomljenovic L.Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity.Immunol Res. 2013;56(2-3):304-316. doi:10.1007/s12026-013-8403-1Steenland K, Zhao L, Winquist A, Parks C.Ulcerative colitis and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a highly exposed population of community residents and workers in the mid-Ohio valley.Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(8):900-905. doi:10.1289/ehp.1206449National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Endocrine disruptors.Consumer Reports.How to choose dental floss without PFAS and other harmful chemicals.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding PFAS exposure and your body.University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.Importance of flossing.Leng Y, Hu Q, Ling Q, et al.Periodontal disease is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease independent of sex: a meta-analysis.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1114927. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1114927

15 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Boronow KE, Julia Green Brody, Schaider LA, Peaslee GF, Havas L, Cohn BA.Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women.J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019;29(2):206-217. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0109-yWisconsin Department of Health Services. Chemicals.Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances.Environmental Protection Agency.PFAS explained.Science News.Nonstick chemicals linked to infertility.National Institutes of Health.Study links synthetic chemicals to liver damage.Environmental Working Group.EWG assessment of EPA draft human health risk assessment for the Teflon chemical PFOA.Conway BN, Badders AN, Costacou T, Arthur JM, Innes KE.Perfluoroalkyl substances and kidney function in chronic kidney disease, anemia, and diabetes.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2018;11:707-716. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S173809Mirza A, King A, Troakes C, Exley C.Aluminium in brain tissue in familial Alzheimer’s disease.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology. 2017;40:30-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.12.001Shaw CA, Tomljenovic L.Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity.Immunol Res. 2013;56(2-3):304-316. doi:10.1007/s12026-013-8403-1Steenland K, Zhao L, Winquist A, Parks C.Ulcerative colitis and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a highly exposed population of community residents and workers in the mid-Ohio valley.Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(8):900-905. doi:10.1289/ehp.1206449National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Endocrine disruptors.Consumer Reports.How to choose dental floss without PFAS and other harmful chemicals.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding PFAS exposure and your body.University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.Importance of flossing.Leng Y, Hu Q, Ling Q, et al.Periodontal disease is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease independent of sex: a meta-analysis.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1114927. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1114927

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Boronow KE, Julia Green Brody, Schaider LA, Peaslee GF, Havas L, Cohn BA.Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women.J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019;29(2):206-217. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0109-yWisconsin Department of Health Services. Chemicals.Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances.Environmental Protection Agency.PFAS explained.Science News.Nonstick chemicals linked to infertility.National Institutes of Health.Study links synthetic chemicals to liver damage.Environmental Working Group.EWG assessment of EPA draft human health risk assessment for the Teflon chemical PFOA.Conway BN, Badders AN, Costacou T, Arthur JM, Innes KE.Perfluoroalkyl substances and kidney function in chronic kidney disease, anemia, and diabetes.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2018;11:707-716. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S173809Mirza A, King A, Troakes C, Exley C.Aluminium in brain tissue in familial Alzheimer’s disease.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology. 2017;40:30-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.12.001Shaw CA, Tomljenovic L.Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity.Immunol Res. 2013;56(2-3):304-316. doi:10.1007/s12026-013-8403-1Steenland K, Zhao L, Winquist A, Parks C.Ulcerative colitis and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a highly exposed population of community residents and workers in the mid-Ohio valley.Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(8):900-905. doi:10.1289/ehp.1206449National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Endocrine disruptors.Consumer Reports.How to choose dental floss without PFAS and other harmful chemicals.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding PFAS exposure and your body.University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.Importance of flossing.Leng Y, Hu Q, Ling Q, et al.Periodontal disease is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease independent of sex: a meta-analysis.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1114927. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1114927

Boronow KE, Julia Green Brody, Schaider LA, Peaslee GF, Havas L, Cohn BA.Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women.J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019;29(2):206-217. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0109-y

Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Chemicals.Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances.

Environmental Protection Agency.PFAS explained.

Science News.Nonstick chemicals linked to infertility.

National Institutes of Health.Study links synthetic chemicals to liver damage.

Environmental Working Group.EWG assessment of EPA draft human health risk assessment for the Teflon chemical PFOA.

Conway BN, Badders AN, Costacou T, Arthur JM, Innes KE.Perfluoroalkyl substances and kidney function in chronic kidney disease, anemia, and diabetes.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2018;11:707-716. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S173809

Mirza A, King A, Troakes C, Exley C.Aluminium in brain tissue in familial Alzheimer’s disease.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology. 2017;40:30-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.12.001

Shaw CA, Tomljenovic L.Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity.Immunol Res. 2013;56(2-3):304-316. doi:10.1007/s12026-013-8403-1

Steenland K, Zhao L, Winquist A, Parks C.Ulcerative colitis and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a highly exposed population of community residents and workers in the mid-Ohio valley.Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(8):900-905. doi:10.1289/ehp.1206449

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Endocrine disruptors.

Consumer Reports.How to choose dental floss without PFAS and other harmful chemicals.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding PFAS exposure and your body.

University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.Importance of flossing.

Leng Y, Hu Q, Ling Q, et al.Periodontal disease is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease independent of sex: a meta-analysis.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1114927. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1114927

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