Listerine · Dental Floss
Listerine Dental Floss Cool Mint
Lower concern; traditional nylon floss has no known PFAS risk, but Listerine makes no public commitment.
Listerine Cool Mint floss is made from nylon monofilament, a conventional dental material with no established PFAS application. Dental floss does not require water-repellent or stain-resistant coatings typical of PFAS-prone products.
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Nylon monofilament 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 Dental Floss is a nylon monofilament floss, meaning it is a single continuous filament of polyamide polymer. Nylon is inert in the oral cavity and does not degrade or leach into saliva under normal use conditions. The 'Cool Mint' designation refers to flavoring agents applied to the surface, which are food-grade additives at concentrations well below exposure thresholds for the oral mucosa during brief daily contact.
The brand's record and disclosure
Listerine (owned by Johnson & Johnson) does not publish detailed safety or material sourcing disclosures specific to its dental floss products. The brand has no documented recalls or regulatory actions related to this floss. Johnson & Johnson maintains general consumer safety standards across oral care lines, but makes no explicit public statement on PFAS avoidance or third-party certification for this product category.
How it compares in its category
Nylon monofilament floss is the industry standard and carries no known material safety disadvantage versus waxed or unwaxed alternatives. Some competitors (e.g., certain natural-fiber or tape floss options) market themselves as chemical-free, but clinical efficacy and safety profiles are equivalent. Listerine's product occupies the mainstream market segment with no documented performance or safety trade-offs.
If you buy it
Use once daily as directed; nylon floss is durable and should not fray or shed fibers under normal gentle use. Do not swallow floss; discard after single use. Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to prevent minimal degradation of the flavoring agents. Replace the container if the spool becomes visibly contaminated or the dispenser breaks; no special maintenance is required.
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.”
Flavoring agent allergenicity (mint extract)
Cool Mint flavoring may trigger contact sensitivity or oral irritation in individuals with menthol or mint allergy, though this is rare and unrelated to the nylon base material.
Nylon microfiber inhalation (accidental)
Nylon monofilament does not shed fibers during normal flossing; accidental inhalation would require visible breakage, which is extremely unlikely with this product.
Wax or coating toxicity (if present)
Listerine floss formulation is not publicly documented as waxed; if any coating is used, it would be food-grade and non-toxic at oral exposure levels.
Oral mucosal irritation from abrasive fibers
Nylon monofilament is smooth and non-abrasive when used correctly; gum irritation results from technique, not material hazard.
Ingestion of floss (choking or GI obstruction)
Swallowing dental floss is a user error risk, not a product defect; nylon is non-toxic if ingested but may pose mechanical obstruction risk in rare cases, especially in young children.
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.