PresiDent · Dental Floss
PUBLIC GOODS Dental Floss Refills
Lower-concern choice; standard dental floss carries minimal PFAS risk, but brand transparency is absent.
Dental floss refills typically use nylon or silk filament with no inherent PFAS exposure pathway (unlike coated cookware or water-resistant apparel). Public Goods / PresiDent provides no PFAS disclosure, but this product category is not a known PFAS concern. No third-party verification available.
Shop PresiDent on Amazon →Material
nylon floss filament (standard)
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
PUBLIC GOODS dental floss refills are nylon monofilament or multifilament strands, the industry standard for manual flossing. Nylon is a synthetic polymer that does not leach plasticizers, BPA, or phthalates under normal oral-cavity conditions (cool, wet, brief contact). The floss is waxed with food-grade wax coating, typically paraffin or beeswax blend, which poses no known ingestion risk in the small quantities transferred to mouth during flossing. No ceramic, metal, or abrasive particles are present in the filament itself.
The brand's record and disclosure
PresiDent (Public Goods parent brand) does not publish detailed material sourcing, third-party test results, or PFAS mitigation statements for this floss product. The brand markets as an eco-conscious consumer line but provides no independent certifications (e.g., NSF, SG, ISO) for the floss itself. No product recalls or safety complaints specific to this floss are on record in FDA or consumer databases as of available public data.
How it compares in its category
Nylon dental floss (including this product) occupies the middle-safety tier of floss options. It performs identically to conventional name-brand nylon floss (Oral-B, Crest) in material composition and lacks the unknown microplastic concerns of some silk blends or the durability questions of plant-based alternatives. Refill packaging reduces waste versus single-use dispensers, a minor environmental plus that does not alter safety profile.
If you buy it
Standard nylon floss requires no special handling; use at room temperature and ambient moisture. Discard immediately after use; do not reuse or store wet. Replace the refill spool when filament becomes frayed or loses tension, typically every 2 to 4 weeks with daily use. Store refills in a cool, dry location away from heat sources; nylon does not degrade under normal storage but excessive humidity may promote bacterial growth on the spool itself rather than the filament.
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.”
Nylon microplastic shedding
Nylon filament can produce microscopic fibres during flossing, particularly with vigorous technique or when filament frays. Ingestion quantity is minimal and non-cumulative for single-use strands, but cumulative oral exposure over years is unstudied in scientific literature.
Wax coating composition and purity
PresiDent does not disclose wax source or purity testing. Food-grade paraffin and beeswax are generally recognized as safe for oral use, but trace pesticide or petroleum residues are theoretically possible if sourcing is not verified.
Bacterial colonization of reusable spool
The plastic or cardboard spool itself can harbour oral bacteria if stored in damp conditions or reused across multiple flossing sessions without cleaning. Risk is storage/user-dependent, not product-inherent.
Allergic reaction to nylon or additives
True nylon allergy is exceedingly rare; fragrance or dye additives in the floss coating are not documented for this product, but unknown formulation details prevent full exclusion of allergen risk.
Choking or aspiration hazard (pediatric/elderly)
Dental floss is a documented choking risk for young children and individuals with swallowing difficulties. This product carries standard category risk; no special design mitigations are documented.
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.