Colgate · Dental Floss
Colgate Total Dental Floss 25m Mint Waxed
Lower PFAS risk but lacks transparency; standard dental floss unlikely to contain PFAS, but Colgate doesn't confirm.
Colgate Total Mint Waxed Floss is a conventional nylon dental floss with wax coating. The brand makes no public statement on PFAS content, which is typical for dental floss.
Shop Colgate on Amazon →Material
Nylon filament core, wax coating (type unspecified)
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 Total Dental Floss uses a nylon monofilament core coated with wax. Nylon is a synthetic polymer that does not leach monomers or plasticizers under normal mouth conditions (no heat, brief contact). The wax coating, likely paraffin or beeswax blend, though Colgate does not specify, is inert in the oral cavity and approved for food contact. Neither component is known to fragment into microplastics during typical flossing use, and ingested wax poses no toxicological concern at trace exposure levels.
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive has published sustainability commitments but does not proactively disclose detailed material sourcing or third-party safety testing for floss products. No recalls or safety violations specific to Colgate Total Dental Floss exist in public records. The brand does not publish PFAS transparency for oral care products, though dental floss is a low-priority vector for PFAS exposure compared to food contact items.
How it compares in its category
Most waxed nylon dental floss products are chemically similar; Colgate's formulation is typical for mass-market offerings. Unwaxed floss and floss picks made from similar nylon pose comparable safety profiles. Silk floss is a natural alternative but offers no measurable safety advantage and may carry higher bacterial contamination risk if sourced without antimicrobial treatment.
If you buy it
Use as directed; no special precautions needed. Floss is designed for brief daily contact and minimal ingestion. Do not heat, boil, or store in direct sunlight for extended periods (wax can soften). Replace the spool if the wax coating becomes visibly compromised or the filament frays. No maintenance or activation required beyond standard dental hygiene practice.
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 identity and purity
Colgate does not specify wax type (paraffin, beeswax, synthetic blend). No contaminants or additives in typical dental floss wax coatings have been documented as hazardous at oral exposure levels.
Nylon microplastic shedding
Nylon monofilament can shed microscopic fibers during vigorous flossing, particularly if the filament frays. Ingested nylon fibers are not absorbed and pass through the GI tract without toxicological consequence based on available evidence, but complete safety data on chronic low-level ingestion is limited.
Dyes or colorants in wax
Mint flavor and any color additives in the wax are not specified by Colgate. Food-grade colorants approved for oral products do not present known risk; however, the absence of ingredient transparency prevents independent verification.
Bacterial or mold contamination of floss spool
If the container is stored in humid conditions or left open, the floss can absorb moisture and support microbial growth. This is a hygiene concern rather than a chemical hazard, but pathogen transfer to gums is theoretically possible with visibly contaminated floss.
Flavor additives (mint) safety profile
Mint flavoring in floss is typically menthol or synthetic mint extracts, both GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for oral use. No allergic reactions or toxicity are documented for Colgate Total floss specifically.
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.