Colgate · Dental Floss
Colgate Dental Floss 3 yd
Lower concern, standard dental floss is unlikely to contain PFAS, but Colgate has not publicly disclosed floss composition details.
Colgate dental floss is typically made from nylon or polyester monofilament, neither of which are known PFAS-containing materials. No public disclosures from Colgate confirm PFAS use, and no third-party lab data flagging the product are available. The main uncertainty is lack of transparent ingredient/coating disclosure by the brand.
Shop Colgate on Amazon →Material
nylon or polyester monofilament
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 Dental Floss is a monofilament strand made from either nylon or polyester, materials chosen for strength, flexibility, and resistance to shredding during use between teeth. Unlike waxed floss that includes additional wax coatings (often paraffin or microcrystalline wax), monofilament floss does not require concern about wax ingestion or degradation, as oral floss is not swallowed in meaningful quantities. The material itself is chemically inert in the mouth at normal body temperature and pH, with no known leaching of monomers or plasticizers during brief daily contact.
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive is a major consumer health company with decades of oral care market presence and regulatory compliance in major jurisdictions. The company has not made public detailed chemical composition disclosures for this specific floss product, and no third-party testing or certifications (such as EWG Verified or similar standards) appear on record. No established recalls or safety warnings have been issued by the FDA or other agencies regarding Colgate dental floss formulations.
How it compares in its category
Dental floss is one of the safest consumer oral care products because the contact surface area is small, duration of exposure is seconds per day, and ingestion is minimal and accidental only. Colgate floss is comparable to competitors like Oral-B and store brands in material composition and risk profile; all use similar nylon or polyester monofilament. Premium alternatives such as silk floss or specialty brands do not offer meaningful safety advantages over standard synthetic monofilament for most users, though they may appeal to those avoiding synthetics on environmental grounds.
If you buy it
Dental floss requires no special storage, heating, or maintenance beyond keeping the container dry and replacing the spool when depleted. Use gently to avoid cutting gums; if floss shreds frequently, ensure you are not pulling laterally or forcing it between teeth. There is no risk of wear-out or coating degradation since floss is a consumable single-use product per strand. If you have sensitive gums or suspect an allergy to ingredients, consider patch testing on a small area or consulting a dentist, though allergic reactions to nylon or polyester floss are uncommon.
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.”
Dye or colorant allergens
Colgate dental floss typically comes in white or lightly colored varieties using minimal azo or synthetic dyes; no reported allergic reactions or contact dermatitis linked to this product are on record, and mouth contact is brief.
Fragrance additives or flavoring agents
Colgate offers flavored floss variants (mint, bubblegum) that may include fragrance compounds or flavor oils; ingredients are not fully disclosed, but at the low concentration and brief contact duration, systemic exposure risk is minimal for most users.
Microplastic shedding or fiber fragmentation
Nylon monofilament can theoretically shed microscopic fibers during use, particularly if the floss shreds between teeth; however, ingestion is incidental and no studies have demonstrated harm from dental floss microplastics in oral health contexts.
Phthalates or plasticizer leaching
Modern nylon and polyester monofilament are not routinely plasticized with phthalates; no leaching has been documented in the low-moisture, room-temperature oral environment, and no recalls or warnings suggest this is a concern for Colgate floss.
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.