Listerine · Dental Floss
Listerine Cool Mint Floss
Lower concern, standard nylon floss with no known PFAS risk factors, but no brand transparency on the topic.
Listerine Cool Mint Floss is standard nylon dental floss with no documented PFAS treatment or coatings typical of this product category. Nylon filament itself does not require PFAS additives. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but the material and function carry no typical red flags for PFAS exposure.
Shop Listerine on Amazon →Material
Nylon filament (standard dental floss)
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
Listerine Cool Mint Floss is a conventional nylon monofilament or multifilament dental floss, the most common floss material globally. Nylon is a synthetic polymer that does not leach harmful chemicals into the oral cavity during normal use, as it is inert in the wet, low-temperature environment of the mouth. The floss is coated with wax (typically paraffin or synthetic wax) and flavoring agents to aid gliding between teeth; these additives are food-contact approved and are not absorbed systemically in meaningful amounts during brief daily use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Listerine (Johnson & Johnson subsidiary) has not published specific material safety data sheets or third-party certifications for this floss product. The brand does not explicitly address PFAS presence or absence in marketing or product documentation, which is common practice in the oral-care industry where regulatory scrutiny is lighter than in cookware or food packaging. No recalls, safety complaints, or independent testing red flags for this specific product are on public record.
How it compares in its category
Listerine Cool Mint Floss is functionally identical to most mass-market dental flosses (Oral-B, Reach, store brands); material safety profiles are essentially equivalent. Natural-fiber alternatives (silk floss) exist but carry no documented safety advantage and are more expensive. This product sits squarely in the middle of the market in terms of both efficacy and hazard profile.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent wax softening. Replace the spool when floss becomes frayed or difficult to dispense, typically every 2-3 months with daily use. No special precautions are needed beyond normal use; the product is designed for daily contact with oral tissues and carries no heat-exposure risks. Discard used floss in regular waste; it is not recyclable.
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.”
Fragrance allergens (menthol/mint flavoring)
Cool Mint formulation includes menthol and artificial flavor compounds; rare cases of oral irritation or contact dermatitis in users with mint sensitivity have been anecdotally reported, but incidence is very low and not formally documented in clinical literature for this product.
Wax coating composition (paraffin or synthetic)
Standard food-grade paraffin wax used in dental floss is inert and non-toxic; no evidence of leaching or systemic absorption during oral use. Synthetic wax alternatives (polyethylene or polypropylene blends) are equally safe in this application.
Nylon filament degradation or microfiber shedding
High-quality nylon monofilament does not shed fibers during normal use; multifilament designs may occasionally shed individual strands if the floss is old or overused, but swallowing small amounts of nylon is not known to cause harm and is passed through the GI tract.
Formaldehyde in binding or resin coatings
Dental floss does not use formaldehyde-releasing resins in its construction; this hazard is not relevant to this product class.
Heavy metals in dyes or pigments
Cool Mint Floss uses approved food-contact colorants (typically FD&C approved dyes); no lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals are known to be present, and no testing has flagged this concern.
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.