Colgate · Dental Floss
Colgate Total Tartar Control Dental Floss
Lower concern; conventional nylon floss with no documented PFAS risk, but no public testing.
Colgate Total Tartar Control floss is conventional nylon monofilament with no publicly disclosed waterproof or non-stick coatings that would typically introduce PFAS. The brand makes no PFAS claims and has not published testing.
Shop Colgate on Amazon →Material
nylon monofilament floss, no reported special 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 Tartar Control floss is a nylon monofilament floss, the industry standard material for dental floss. Nylon is a synthetic polymer that does not leach chemicals into the mouth during normal use because it is inert and does not break down at body temperature or saliva pH. The floss is designed to slide between teeth and is not ingested, further minimizing any exposure risk from the material itself.
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate is a major multinational oral care manufacturer with longstanding product safety oversight under FDA regulation. The company has no documented recalls or safety controversies specific to this floss product. Colgate does not publicly disclose detailed material testing or third-party certifications for its floss lines, which is typical in the category; however, dental floss as a category faces minimal regulatory scrutiny beyond basic manufacturing standards.
How it compares in its category
This product sits squarely in the mainstream conventional floss segment. Most mass-market nylon flosses (Colgate, Oral-B, generic brands) share identical material composition and pose equivalent safety profiles. Specialty alternatives such as silk floss or biodegradable options exist but offer no safety advantage for typical use; the choice is mainly environmental or textural preference.
If you buy it
Store floss at room temperature in a dry container to prevent mold or moisture buildup. Replace the spool when the floss becomes frayed or harder to dispense. Use daily as directed; floss does not degrade or wear out during normal use and poses no risk from extended shelf life. No special handling or maintenance is required beyond basic storage.
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.”
Nylon monofilament degradation or ingestion
Nylon floss is designed to remain intact during use and is not swallowed in meaningful amounts; no cases of GI harm from dental floss fragments are documented in standard medical literature.
Dyes or colorants in floss material
Colgate Total Tartar Control floss is typically white or light-colored nylon with no reported hazardous dyes; any colorants used in dental floss are not applied at concentrations or formulations known to pose toxicity.
Additives or coatings leaching into mouth
Nylon monofilament floss does not require chemical coatings or active ingredients to function; any wax or lubricant coating is minimal and not documented to leach under normal oral use.
Microbial contamination during storage
Like all floss stored in humid bathrooms, risk of mold or bacterial growth exists if the container remains wet or is contaminated by water; this is a storage issue, not a product hazard, and is easily prevented.
Allergic reactions to nylon or additives
Nylon is not a known allergen, and no established cases of contact sensitivity to Colgate floss exist in the medical record; risk is negligible for the general population.
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.