Colgate · Dental Floss
Colgate Total Dental Floss, Mint Flavor, Travel Size 3 Yards, Waxed Glide Floss for Plaque Removal Between Teeth and Along Gumline, Compact Pocket
Lower concern; standard floss with no known PFAS triggers, but brand offers no transparency.
Colgate Total dental floss is waxed nylon, a conventional material not typically associated with intentional PFAS use. No third-party testing or PFAS claims are publicly available.
Shop Colgate on Amazon →Material
Nylon floss 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 Total Dental Floss is nylon filament coated with wax (composition unspecified by Colgate, typically paraffin or beeswax). Nylon is a synthetic polymer chosen for strength and glide; the wax reduces friction and helps the floss slip between teeth without shredding. No adhesives, plasticizers, or reactive compounds are typically present in basic dental floss formulations, making the material profile straightforward and low-risk during normal oral use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate does not publish detailed material safety data sheets or ingredient sourcing for dental floss products. The brand has faced recalls on other oral care products (notably toothpaste in certain markets for microbial contamination) but no documented safety recalls on this floss line. Colgate maintains ISO and FDA compliance certifications for dental products but offers no third-party testing transparency specific to floss formulations.
How it compares in its category
Waxed nylon floss is the most common category segment globally and is considered a commodity product with minimal differentiation in safety profile. Alternatives include unwaxed nylon, silk, and plant-based fibers; none carry established safety advantages over waxed nylon for typical users. Colgate's travel size and mint flavoring are convenience features, not safety considerations, and fall within standard formulation ranges for major brands.
If you buy it
Use as directed: unwind 12-18 inches, wrap around fingers, and guide gently between teeth using a sawing motion. Mint flavoring is cosmetic and poses no ingestion risk in normal use; discard floss after single use and do not reuse. Replace the 3-yard travel pack when depleted; no storage precautions beyond keeping dry are needed. If gums bleed excessively or become inflamed, consult a dentist, as this reflects technique or gum health, not product defect.
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 composition and purity
Colgate does not disclose whether wax coating is food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade paraffin, beeswax, or a blend. No contaminant testing or impurity reports are publicly available for this product line, but nylon floss wax is swallowed in minute quantities during normal use and poses minimal acute risk.
Mint flavoring agents
Mint flavoring compound is not specified. Natural or synthetic menthol and other flavor oils are standard in dental floss and are not designated as hazardous in oral care products; allergic sensitization is rare but possible in individuals with specific fragrance sensitivities.
Nylon degradation and microplastic generation
Nylon fibers can shed microscopic particles during aggressive flossing. Ingestion of these particles occurs naturally but cumulative exposure over years remains unstudied in humans; the practical significance is unknown but represents a non-zero environmental and physiological exposure route.
Bacterial colonization of floss material
Nylon and wax are not known substrates for pathogenic biofilm growth during single-use application. Reusing floss (not recommended) or storing damp floss increases mold and bacterial risk, but this reflects misuse, not product design.
Gum trauma from improper use
Floss itself carries no chemical hazard, but mechanical injury to gums is user-dependent. Aggressive insertion, excessive pressure, or pre-existing gum disease can cause bleeding or recession; this is a technique issue, not a material safety issue.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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.