By PFAS Database · Updated July 24, 2026
We graded 195 dental floss for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)
PFAS Database evaluated 195 dental floss products from 27 brands using a model-based grading system built from ingredient disclosures, packaging claims, and known material risk patterns. The headline finding: 88 percent of floss products landed in the C grade tier, a broad middle ground where PTFE and other fluoropolymer coatings are neither confirmed nor clearly ruled out, while only 5 percent of products earned an A grade with strong evidence of being PFAS-free.
Key findings
- 195 dental floss products across 27 brands were graded in this study.
- Only 9 products, or 5 percent, received an A grade.
- 172 products, or 88 percent, fell into the C grade tier, reflecting incomplete or ambiguous PFAS disclosure.
- 5 products, or 3 percent, received a failing D or F grade.
- Just 1 product, or 1 percent, had a confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signal in its materials.
- The lowest scoring product in the category, Euthymol Dental Floss PTFE, Mint, 200 yards, scored just 15 out of 100.
Grade distribution across 195 products
| Grade | Number of products | Share of category |
|---|---|---|
| A | 9 | 5% |
| B | 9 | 5% |
| C | 172 | 88% |
| F | 5 | 3% |
The distribution is heavily skewed toward the C grade, which typically indicates a lack of clear PFAS-free labeling rather than confirmed contamination. Only a small slice of the category, 10 percent combined, earned an A or B, meaning most dental floss brands still have room to improve transparency around fluoropolymer use in coatings.
Top and bottom performers
| Rank | Product | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental Lace Refillable Silk Dental Floss | 100/100 |
| 2 | Cocofloss Cocofloss Refill Trio | 100/100 |
| 3 | Dental Lace Plant Based/Vegan Floss Refillable Glass Container PFAS-Free (2 Spools/4-) | 100/100 |
| 193 | Colgate Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss | 30/100 |
| 194 | Reach Reach Unflavored Waxed Dental Floss | 30/100 |
| 195 | Euthymol Dental Floss PTFE, Mint, 200 yards | 15/100 |
Why PTFE matters in dental floss
PTFE, the polymer marketed under names like Teflon, has long been used to make floss glide smoothly between teeth. It is a fluoropolymer, a member of the broader PFAS family of "forever chemicals" that resist breakdown in the environment and the body. Our data found only 1 product, or 1 percent of the 195 graded, with a confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signal disclosed in its materials. That single case, Euthymol's PTFE floss, also happens to be the lowest scoring product in the entire category at 15 out of 100, illustrating how directly a confirmed fluoropolymer signal can drag down a grade.
It is worth noting that a low C grade does not necessarily mean a product contains PTFE. In most cases it reflects insufficient public disclosure, meaning the brand has not clearly stated whether its floss is coated with a fluoropolymer or an alternative material. Shoppers who want higher confidence should look toward the 9 A-grade products in this dataset, which include options like Dental Lace and Cocofloss lines that explicitly market PFAS-free formulations.
What the failing grades tell us
The 5 products, or 3 percent of the category, that received a D or F grade represent the clearest risk signals in this dataset. Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss and Reach Unflavored Waxed Dental Floss both scored 30 out of 100, landing them among the lowest-rated mainstream brands in the study. These scores reflect a combination of unclear ingredient disclosure and coating types historically associated with fluoropolymer use in waxed floss production, though again, these are estimates rather than laboratory confirmations.
Methodology
Grades in this study are model-based estimates generated from publicly available product materials, ingredient lists, brand disclosures, and known patterns of PFAS and fluoropolymer use in dental floss manufacturing. They are not the result of laboratory testing on these specific product samples. Grades should be treated as a directional risk indicator rather than a certified chemical analysis. Full details on how scores are calculated are available on our methodology page.
Cite this study
"We graded 195 dental floss for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)." PFAS Database. https://pfasdatabase.com/guides/pfas-study-dental-floss-2026. Published February 2026.
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