Colgate · Dental Floss
12 Pack: Colgate Floss Mint Waxed Dental Floss – Travel Size, 3 Yards
Lower concern; traditional floss materials carry minimal known PFAS risk, but wax coating is not disclosed.
Colgate's dental floss is made from nylon monofilament with wax, standard materials with no public history of PFAS intentional addition. Waxed dental floss typically uses paraffin or beeswax, not Teflon-family coating. Colgate makes no PFAS claims either way, reflecting the product category's general silence on the issue.
Shop Colgate on Amazon →Material
Nylon monofilament with wax coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Colgate's floss is nylon monofilament (a single synthetic polymer strand) coated with wax, typically paraffin or beeswax-based. Nylon does not leach harmful compounds into the oral cavity under normal use because floss contact is brief, mechanical, and non-thermal. The wax coating reduces friction and improves handling but is not disclosed in detail by Colgate; standard dental floss wax is food-grade and poses no known ingestion risk in the minimal quantities transferred during use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive has no public recalls or safety warnings specific to their floss products. The company does not publish detailed ingredient or material sourcing disclosures for dental floss, which is typical in the category but limits independent verification. No third-party testing or certification (such as Natural Products Association or EWG) is documented for this product. Colgate maintains general oral-care safety compliance with FDA rules for over-the-counter devices.
How it compares in its category
Nylon monofilament floss is the industry standard and considered chemically safe; alternatives include silk floss (biodegradable but similar chemical profile), charcoal-infused nylon (adds no known hazard), and Teflon-type coating/Teflon-based flosses (see hazard section below). Colgate's waxed version is mid-range in the category, with no distinguishing safety advantage or risk versus other major brands' nylon formulations. Travel-size packaging adds no material safety concern.
If you buy it
Use as directed: gently slide between teeth and along the gum line without forcing. Do not swallow floss; spit it out after use as with all dental floss. The wax coating is safe if small amounts are ingested incidentally during normal use. Store in a cool, dry place; no special handling is needed. Replace the container if the floss becomes frayed or if wax coating degrades visibly, though this is uncommon in a sealed travel pack.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Wax coating composition and allergens
Colgate does not disclose the specific wax type (paraffin, beeswax, synthetic) or additives. Standard dental floss wax is food-grade and poses no known toxicity risk, but individuals with severe paraffin or beeswax sensitivity are not catered to by this lack of transparency.
Nylon monofilament degradation and microplastic shedding
Nylon floss naturally sheds microscopic fibers during use, particularly if the strand frays. The amount is negligible in a single use, but cumulative lifetime ingestion is not quantified in scientific literature; this is a category-wide concern, not specific to Colgate.
Heavy metals or dyes in coating or filament
No recalls or public reports of lead, cadmium, or azo dye contamination in Colgate floss. Nylon is not a typical reservoir for heavy metals, and Colgate is a large multinational with supply-chain oversight, though no third-party testing data is available.
Choking or airway obstruction risk
This is a user-behavior hazard, not a product defect. Dental floss is intended for spitting out after use; swallowing should be avoided, though small incidental amounts are not harmful.
Teflon-type coating (Teflon) presence as alternative risk
Colgate Floss Mint is nylon-based, not Teflon-type coating-based, so thermal fume risk from heating does not apply. Some floss brands use Teflon-type coating; this product does not.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Dental Floss
Cocofloss
Refill Trio
Coconut fiber, based floss with plant-based coating
Lower-concern dental product; natural materials and transparent PFAS stance, but no independent verification.
⚠Risky category by default
Dental Lace
Refillable Silk Dental Floss
Silk floss with compostable refillable packaging
Lower concern; silk floss with credible PFAS-free positioning and third-party certification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Dental Lace
Plant Based/Vegan Floss Refillable Glass Container PFAS-Free (2 Spools/4-
Plant-based vegan floss (likely plant cellulose or silk fibers)
Lower-concern product with explicit PFAS-free claim; no third-party verification limits certainty.
⚠Risky category by default
More dental floss grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.