Listerine · Dental Floss
Listerine Ultraclean Mint Floss 30
Lower concern, standard nylon floss with no known PFAS applications, but no public third-party testing.
Listerine Ultraclean floss is nylon filament with no documented PFAS coatings, waterproofing, or stain-resistance treatments typical of PFAS-risk categories. The brand makes no PFAS claims either way. No independent lab testing of this specific product is publicly available, so certainty is moderate.
Shop Listerine on Amazon →Material
Nylon filament (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 Ultraclean Mint Floss is a nylon monofilament or multifilament strand, a synthetic polymer commonly used in dental floss for its strength and flexibility. Nylon does not leach significant chemicals into the oral cavity during normal flossing because contact time is brief and saliva does not degrade the polymer. The mint flavoring is a topical additive applied to the surface; it does not penetrate the floss matrix and poses no systemic ingestion risk at typical usage rates.
The brand's record and disclosure
Johnson & Johnson (Listerine's parent) has faced no documented recalls or safety alerts specific to Listerine dental floss. The company does not publicly disclose full ingredient sourcing or third-party safety testing for this product category. No certifications (such as ISO 9001 or dental association seals) are prominently advertised on the packaging, though the product meets FDA classification as a medical device.
How it compares in its category
Dental floss is a low-chemical-exposure product by nature; exposure window is seconds per day and oral mucosa contact is minimal. Listerine floss is typical within the mass-market category: nylon-based, mint-flavored, uncoated or lightly waxed. Alternatives like unwaxed floss or silk floss pose similar or marginally different chemical profiles; silk floss may carry pesticide residues depending on sourcing, while waxed variants add paraffin or plant-based coatings.
If you buy it
Use as directed: floss gently between teeth once daily, rinsing with water afterward. No special storage conditions are required; keep the spool dry to prevent mold. Replace the spool when floss becomes frayed or filaments break easily, typically every 1 to 2 months with regular use. Discard floss after use; do not reuse strands. If gums bleed or swell, consult a dentist, as this is a sign of gum disease rather than a floss safety issue.
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.”
Oral irritation or allergic response to mint flavoring
Mint flavoring can trigger contact dermatitis or aphthous ulcers in individuals with menthol sensitivity or existing oral lesions. This is not specific to Listerine but applies to any mint-flavored floss; risk is low for general population.
Synthetic dye residues in colored floss
Listerine Ultraclean Mint Floss is typically green or clear; no regulated color additives are known to be used in nylon dental floss. No reports of colorant toxicity in dental floss exist in public literature.
Wax or coating leachates (if present)
If the floss is waxed (common for easier threading), wax is inert paraffin or plant-derived; it does not leach into saliva under normal flossing conditions due to brief contact and the floss's low surface area relative to total mouth volume.
Nylon microparticles ingestion
Broken or frayed nylon filaments may be swallowed in trace amounts during flossing. Nylon is not digestible and will pass through the GI tract without absorption; ingestion of small amounts is not associated with documented harm.
Gum injury from improper technique
Vigorous or incorrect flossing can cause bleeding or gum recession, but this is a mechanical injury unrelated to chemical safety. It is a usage issue, not a product defect.
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.