Glide · Dental Floss
ORAL B Glide Pro-Health Floss
Lower concern than coated cookware, but Teflon-type coating source leaves uncertainty, no public PFAS testing or brand clarification available.
Oral-B Glide floss is made from expanded Teflon-type coating, a Teflon-family coating that may contain legacy PFAS residues, though floss fibers have minimal skin contact and ingestion risk is very low. Oral-B does not publicly disclose PFAS content or pursue third-party verification.
Shop Glide on Amazon →Material
Expanded Teflon-type coating (polytetrafluoroethylene) floss filament
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 Pro-Health uses expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a microporous form of Teflon-type coating that is chemically stable and inert at human body temperature. The floss does not contact heat, digestive acid, or prolonged moisture in ways that trigger material degradation or leaching. Unlike cookware or other heated Teflon-type coating applications, dental floss is a contact material only during brief, room-temperature use in the mouth, making chemical migration to saliva or tissue extremely unlikely under normal conditions.
The brand's record and disclosure
Procter & Gamble (parent company) has no public record of safety recalls, safety complaints, or toxicological warnings specific to Glide floss products. The brand does not prominently disclose Teflon-type coating sourcing, manufacturing, or PFAS testing on product labeling or website materials. Glide holds no specialized dental material certifications (e.g., ISO 4049 for dental devices), though US FDA clearance as a dental accessory is standard for the category. The silent stance on PFAS reflects broader industry absence of transparency in floss products.
How it compares in its category
Expanded Teflon-type coating floss is the market standard for non-waxed, high-slip floss in the US; Glide is the original commercial product and remains the most widely used. Natural alternatives (silk, bamboo fiber) exist but are less durable and less available. Nylon-based flosses are comparable in safety but offer inferior glide and shred more easily. Floss is a low-risk category overall because contact is brief, non-thermal, and oral-only, placing it well below cookware or food-storage plastics in exposure potential.
If you buy it
Use floss daily as directed; no special precautions are required. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight (standard for most hygiene products). Replace the spool when floss becomes frayed, dull, or depleted. Do not chew or swallow floss; discard used lengths after each use. Oral B Glide Pro-Health is appropriate for routine flossing in both adults and older children who can handle dental tools safely.
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.”
Teflon-type coating degradation or particle release
Expanded Teflon-type coating floss is used at ambient temperature and light mechanical pressure; no thermal or chemical stress conditions exist to cause breakdown. No dental literature or manufacturer data reports Teflon-type coating shedding or particle inhalation risk from floss use.
Ingestion of floss material
Accidental swallowing of small amounts of floss is not uncommon. ePTFE is biologically inert and non-toxic; swallowed floss is excreted unchanged. Choking is a mechanical hazard for young children or adults with swallowing difficulty, not a chemical safety issue.
Mouth irritation or allergic response
Teflon-type coating is well-tolerated in oral tissues and is used in dental implants and sutures. No reported sensitivities, allergic reactions, or irritation to Glide floss are documented in medical literature or FDA adverse event databases. Individual gum sensitivity is unrelated to floss material toxicity.
Contaminants in manufacturing or packaging
Oral B products are manufactured under FDA oversight for dental devices. No recalls or contamination incidents linked to Glide floss are on record. Packaging is standard plastic; no leachable risk during normal storage and short product shelf life.
Flavoring or coating additives
Glide Pro-Health floss includes mint flavoring and a light coating (wax-free formulation). Flavoring agents in dental products are food-grade and regulated by FDA; no adverse effects or toxicological concerns are documented for Glide's specific flavor blend or coating composition.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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.