Glide · Dental Floss
Oral-B Glide All-in-One Dental Floss
Lower PFAS concern, but ePTFE floss inherently uses Teflon-family coating; no disclosure means no reassurance.
Oral-B Glide uses expanded Teflon-type coating as its core material, a Teflon-family coating class, though ePTFE floss typically has minimal dermal/ingestion exposure. The brand makes no public PFAS statement, either confirming safety or acknowledging the material.
Shop Glide on Amazon →Material
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) monofilament core
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
Oral-B Glide uses expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a microporous Teflon-family coating that resists fraying and slides easily between teeth. ePTFE is the same material used in medical sutures and Gore-Tex membranes, chosen for floss because it is chemically inert and does not shed microparticles during normal use in the oral cavity. The monofilament structure means no braided fibers to break apart, reducing any risk of plastic fragment ingestion. Unlike some competitor flosses (typically nylon or silk), this material does not absorb saliva and degrade over weeks of storage.
The brand's record and disclosure
Oral-B (owned by Procter and Gamble) does not publicly disclose PFAS content or manufacturing practices for Glide floss, despite industry awareness of Teflon-family coating use in dental products. The brand has not faced documented recalls or safety violations specific to Glide floss. P&G maintains general sustainability statements but offers no third-party certification for PFAS reduction or transparency in this product line. Silence on PFAS is the norm for most major floss brands and reflects a broader lack of industry standard-setting rather than flagrant non-compliance.
How it compares in its category
Glide is one of the most widely used ePTFE flosses globally and sits at the premium end of the market alongside products like Reach and Crest Glide variants. Nylon flosses (e.g., Oral-B Essential, Sensodyne) and natural flosses (silk, bamboo, charcoal-coated nylon) avoid Teflon-family coating but typically cost less and fray more quickly. Charcoal-coated nylon flosses market themselves as sustainable but lack peer-reviewed durability data. From a chemical hazard standpoint, ePTFE and nylon are both non-toxic in mouth; the PFAS footprint difference is manufacturing and disposal, not use.
If you buy it
Store Glide floss in a dry environment; moisture does not degrade ePTFE but can promote container rust. Replace the spool once the floss becomes frayed or stiff, typically every 2-3 months with daily use. Do not heat or flame-expose the floss; ePTFE does not leach in the mouth at body temperature but excessive heat could theoretically accelerate PFAS off-gassing (not an issue in normal use). Dispose of used floss in household waste rather than plumbing to avoid microfiber accumulation in wastewater treatment.
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.”
Microplastic shedding
ePTFE monofilament does not fragment during normal flossing. No reports of plastic microparticles detected in oral rinse or saliva after Glide use. Fraying at floss ends is minimal and floss strands do not enter the digestive system in quantities that would constitute ingestion risk.
Heavy metal contamination (lead, cadmium, antimony)
Oral-B Glide is a simple polymer monofilament with no ceramic glaze, dye, or pigment components known to introduce heavy metals. No recalls or test results document heavy metal presence in this product.
Allergens and irritants in coating or additives
ePTFE is hypoallergenic and used in medical devices contacting mucous membranes. Glide formulations do not list flavor, wax, or chemical additives known to trigger oral sensitivity in peer-reviewed literature. Some users report mint flavor variant sensitivity, but this is fragrance-based, not material-based.
Chemical leaching during storage or use
ePTFE is chemically stable at oral pH and body temperature. No leaching of monomers or fillers has been documented in saliva contact studies. The spool container (typically plastic) is not in sustained contact with the floss and poses no elevated risk.
PFAS persistence in environment (post-use disposal)
ePTFE floss is non-biodegradable and contains fluorine that may persist as PFOA/PFOS analogues if incinerated. Landfill disposal does not release PFAS into groundwater under normal conditions, but end-of-life environmental impact remains uncertain without manufacturer transparency on polymer formulation and manufacturing origin.
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.