Sunstar GUM · Dental Floss
GUM Advanced Care Flossers
Lower-concern choice; minimal PFAS risk based on material type, but no brand transparency.
GUM Advanced Care Flossers are made primarily from nylon floss and plastic components, materials not typically formulated with PFAS. Sunstar GUM provides no public disclosure about PFAS content or manufacturing practices.
Shop Sunstar GUM on Amazon →Material
Nylon floss with plastic handle
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 Advanced Care Flossers combine nylon filament (the actual floss strand) with a plastic handle, typically polypropylene or similar thermoplastic. Nylon floss is chemically inert under normal mouth conditions and does not leach into saliva at room temperature. The plastic handle is a minor contact surface used only during flossing and poses negligible ingestion or absorption risk. No heating, abrasion, or degradation of these materials occurs during typical dental use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Sunstar GUM is a major global oral-care manufacturer with a long-established safety track record; no significant product recalls or chemical controversies are documented for their floss lines. The brand does not publicly disclose detailed material sourcing or third-party chemical testing on their floss products, which is typical industry-wide silence rather than a red flag. GUM maintains ISO 9001 and other quality certifications, indicating process controls, though transparency on specific chemical residues or PFAS testing remains absent.
How it compares in its category
String floss products (nylon, Teflon-type coating, or natural fibers) are among the lowest-chemical-risk items in personal care because they are single-use consumables in minimal contact with skin or mucosa. GUM's nylon floss is comparable in safety profile to waxed nylon alternatives and silk floss; the plastic handle adds negligible risk versus floss-only products. Flavored variants sometimes contain food-grade additives or sweeteners but not at concentrations that pose systemic exposure during brief, localized use.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve nylon integrity; nylon does not degrade significantly under normal household conditions. Replace the flosser when the nylon becomes frayed or the handle cracks, typically after several weeks of use. Do not boil or expose to temperatures above 60C (140F), as the plastic handle may warp. Discard used floss in regular trash; it is not recyclable and poses no special disposal hazard.
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 fiber shedding or ingestion
Nylon floss is engineered to remain intact during normal flossing; no established cases of fiber fragmentation or harm in routine use are documented in literature.
Plastic handle leaching (BPA, phthalates, other plasticizers)
The plastic handle is typically polypropylene or polyethylene, both chemically stable at room temperature and not known to leach endocrine disruptors during normal hand contact or brief oral proximity.
Flavoring or wax additives (if flavored variant)
Some GUM flossers are mint-flavored or waxed; food-grade flavorings and waxes (beeswax, synthetic wax) are generally recognized as safe for incidental oral exposure, though formal safety data for the specific floss additive blend is not publicly disclosed.
Dye or colorant in plastic handle
Plastic handles are typically dyed with FDA-approved colorants for food-contact polymers; no heavy metals or restricted azo dyes are documented in GUM flosser handles based on available safety reports.
Contamination or microbial growth during storage
Flossers stored in humid bathrooms or shared containers may accumulate moisture or bacterial film on the handle; this is a hygiene concern rather than a chemical hazard, managed by keeping the product dry and replacing it regularly.
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.