PFAS in Dental Floss: Forever Chemicals in Oral-B Glide & More

MicroPlastics Research DeskEditorial team

October 28, 2025

9 min read

Last reviewed: May 25, 2026 by the MicroPlastics Research Desk. Submit a correction or see our editorial standards.

Quick Answer

Mamavation's 2024 EPA-certified lab study tested 39 dental floss products and found PFAS “forever chemicals” in roughly one third of samples. Oral-B Glide tested at 248,900 ppm, the highest level of organic fluorine the testing lab had ever found in a consumer product. Target's Up & Up Smooth Slide, Colgate Total Mint Waxed, and Amazon Solimo each tested over 70,000 ppm. PFAS is added intentionally to create the “slide” effect. Switch to silk-based or PFAS-free polyester floss. Cocofloss, Dr. Tung's Smart Floss (silk), Lucky Teeth, Radius Vegan, and most kids' floss tested PFAS-free.

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PFAS in dental floss, forever chemicals study

Key Takeaways

The 2024 Mamavation study (EPA-certified lab) found PFAS in ~33% of 39 floss products tested.
Oral-B Glide contained 248,900 ppm of organic fluorine, the highest level the testing lab had ever recorded in a consumer product.
Target's Up & Up Smooth Slide, Colgate Total Mint Waxed, and Amazon Solimo Smooth Slide each tested over 70,000 ppm.
PFAS is added intentionally to create the “slide” or “glide” texture between teeth.
Floss is used daily in direct contact with gum tissue, chemical absorption is plausible and the FDA has expressed concern.
Safer floss: silk (Dr. Tung's Smart Floss), Cocofloss, Lucky Teeth, Radius Vegan, and most children's floss products.

Why PFAS is in dental floss

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), the “forever chemicals”, are added to certain dental floss products to give them a smooth, slippery texture that helps them glide between tight teeth without fraying. The same chemistry is used in non-stick cookware coatings, water-resistant clothing, and food packaging.

The catch: PFAS don't stay on the floss. They migrate into gum tissue with every use. A 2019 Silent Spring Institute study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found women who used PFAS-treated floss had higher serum PFAS levels than non-users.

The 2024 Mamavation testing

Mamavation commissioned an EPA-certified laboratory to test 39 dental floss products for organic fluorine (a PFAS indicator). Headline findings:

Mamavation 2024 dental floss PFAS testing, highest detected
Product	Organic fluorine (ppm)	Recommendation
Oral-B Glide	248,900	Avoid, highest ever recorded in a consumer product
Up & Up Smooth Slide (Target)	~70,000+	Avoid
Colgate Total Mint Waxed	~70,000+	Avoid
Solimo Extra Comfort Mint (Amazon)	~70,000+	Avoid
Other "smooth" / "glide" branded floss	11-50,000	Check Mamavation full list
Most kids' floss products tested	Not detected	Likely PFAS-free

What PFAS does to the body

PFAS chemicals don't break down in the environment or in the human body, hence “forever chemicals”. EPA, EFSA, and ATSDR all classify them as concerning. Documented and probable health effects:

Decreased fertility and reduced sperm quality
Developmental effects in children (low birth weight)
Reduced immune response (including reduced vaccine efficacy)
Hormonal disruption, thyroid in particular
Increased cholesterol and cardiovascular risk
Some PFAS classified as probable human carcinogens (PFOA: IARC Group 2B)

Recommended PFAS-free floss brands

PFAS-free dental floss brands
Brand	Material	Features	Price
Dr. Tung's Smart Floss	Silk + plant wax	Stretchy; cleans wider area; biodegradable	$5 / 30 yd
Cocofloss	Polyester + coconut oil coating	No PFAS; cleans well; popular with dentists	$10 / 32 yd
Lucky Teeth Bamboo Charcoal Floss	Bamboo charcoal-infused polyester	PFAS-free; biodegradable container	$10 / 30 yd
Radius Vegan Floss	Plant-based; cellulose	PFAS-free; biodegradable	$5 / 55 yd
GuruNanda Vegan Floss	PLA-based	PFAS-free; biodegradable bioplastic	$6 / 50 yd
Tom's of Maine Naturally Waxed Floss	Nylon + natural wax	PFAS-free per Mamavation	$3 / 35 yd
Most kids' floss products	Various	Most tested PFAS-free in the Mamavation study	Varies

How to switch and avoid PFAS in oral care

Discard any “Glide”, “Smooth Slide”, or “ProGlide” floss you have at home.
Switch to silk or PFAS-free polyester floss from the list above.
Check toothpaste for synthetic polymers and PFAS, see our best polymer-free toothpaste guide.
Avoid “stain repellent” oral care products, same PFAS chemistry.
Consider a water flosser (Waterpik) as a PFAS-free alternative for some users.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does dental floss contain PFAS?

A 2024 Mamavation study using an EPA-certified lab tested 39 floss products and found PFAS in roughly one third. Oral-B Glide contained 248,900 ppm of organic fluorine, the highest the testing lab had ever recorded in any consumer product. Several other "glide" and "smooth slide" brands also tested high.

Is Oral-B Glide bad for you?

Oral-B Glide tested at 248,900 ppm of organic fluorine in the 2024 Mamavation lab analysis, the highest ever recorded in a consumer product. PFAS chemicals migrate into gum tissue during use and accumulate in the body. Many dentists and toxicologists recommend switching.

What is the safest dental floss brand?

Dr. Tung's Smart Floss (silk), Cocofloss, Lucky Teeth Bamboo Charcoal, Radius Vegan, and Tom's of Maine Naturally Waxed all tested PFAS-free. Most children's floss products also tested PFAS-free in the Mamavation study.

Is silk dental floss better?

Yes for chemical safety. Silk floss (Dr. Tung's Smart Floss) is naturally biodegradable, doesn't require PFAS coating to slide, and stretches to clean a wider area than synthetic floss. Cost is similar to premium synthetic floss.

Are water flossers a good alternative?

Yes. Water flossers (Waterpik, others) eliminate PFAS exposure entirely. Multiple studies show they're effective at removing plaque between teeth, especially for braces, implants, and tight contacts. They don't fully replace string flossing for everyone but are a strong PFAS-free option.

How does PFAS in floss affect the body?

PFAS chemicals migrate from floss into gum tissue during use. A 2019 Silent Spring Institute study found women who used PFAS-treated floss had higher serum PFAS levels. Chronic PFAS exposure is linked to reduced fertility, thyroid disruption, immune effects, and elevated cholesterol.

Sources

Mamavation (2024). Toxic PFAS in Dental Floss & Tooth Floss. Mamavation (EPA-certified lab testing).
Boronow KE, Brody JG, Schaider LA, et al. (2019). Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
US Environmental Protection Agency (2024). PFOA, PFOS and Other PFAS: health effects. EPA.
European Food Safety Authority (2020). Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food. EFSA Journal.

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