Nylon Floss by Butler · Dental Floss
Gum Butlerweave Dental Floss
Lower-concern choice; nylon floss is unlikely to contain PFAS, but Butler makes no disclosure.
Dental floss made from nylon filament carries minimal PFAS risk because traditional nylon fibers do not require Teflon-family coating coatings or water-resistance treatments. However, Butler provides no public statement on PFAS in this product, leaving questions about any proprietary coatings or additives unanswered.
Shop Nylon Floss by Butler on Amazon →Material
Nylon 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
Gum Butlerweave is a nylon monofilament or multifilament dental floss, a synthetic polymer that does not absorb water and resists fraying. Nylon is chemically inert in the oral environment and degrades very slowly, meaning floss fragments that may be swallowed pose negligible toxicological risk. Unlike natural fibers, nylon does not harbor bacteria or mold during storage, making it one of the most stable dental floss materials available.
The brand's record and disclosure
Butler (part of Sunstar Group) is a long-established dental-care manufacturer with no major safety recalls or contamination incidents involving dental floss on public record. The company does not publicly disclose PFAS content or absence in floss products, which is typical across the dental floss industry. No independent testing has flagged Butler nylon floss for heavy metals, formaldehyde, or other contaminants.
How it compares in its category
Nylon floss is the industry standard and generally poses fewer chemical risks than waxed varieties (which may contain synthetic waxes or additives) or silk floss (which requires more processing). Charcoal-infused or flavored flosses introduce additional dyes or coatings that are not present in plain Butlerweave. Butler's nylon formulation is chemically comparable to competitors like Oral-B and Crest, with no differentiation in known hazards.
If you buy it
Dental floss is not heated or ingested in meaningful amounts, so thermal leaching and bioaccumulation are not concerns. Replace the spool if the floss becomes visibly degraded, frayed, or loses tension after extended storage in humid bathrooms. Store in a cool, dry place to maximize shelf life. Nylon floss requires the same gentle technique as alternatives; aggressive use can cause gum bleeding regardless of material.
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.”
Synthetic dyes or colorants (if flavored variant)
Plain Butlerweave nylon contains no added dyes or flavor compounds on record. Flavored variants (if produced) would introduce minimal risk given the tiny contact area and oral rinsing; no adverse reports exist for colored dental flosses in this category.
Nylon microfiber shedding or ingestion
Frayed or degraded nylon floss may shed microscopic fibers during use. While these are not toxic, they are not digestible; however, the amount swallowed is negligible and poses no documented health risk.
Wax or coating additives (if waxed)
Gum Butlerweave is typically marketed as unwaxed nylon, eliminating concerns about paraffin wax or synthetic wax additives. If a waxed variant exists, any coating would be inert in the oral cavity and not absorbed systemically.
Heavy metals in nylon resin
Nylon polymer production does not routinely introduce lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals into the final fiber. No testing or recalls have flagged Butler floss for metal contamination.
Bacterial growth on stored floss
Nylon is hydrophobic and inhospitable to bacterial colonization compared to natural fibers. Proper storage in a dry container prevents mold or moisture-related degradation.
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.