75/ 100
C
OverallD67/100
Dr. Collins Unwaxed Dental Floss

Unwaxed Co. · Dental Floss

Dr. Collins Unwaxed Dental Floss

C · Moderate

Lower concern, unwaxed nylon floss has no established PFAS coating risk, but brand transparency is absent.

Verdict: BuyUnwaxed nylon floss carries minimal established hazards; no brand red flags on record. Safe routine use product with limited disclosure transparency.

Unwaxed dental floss typically uses nylon monofilament without Teflon-family coating coatings or water-repellent treatments, posing lower PFAS risk than waxed variants. However, 'Unwaxed Co.' makes no public statement on PFAS or material sourcing, leaving composition details unverified.

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Material

Unwaxed nylon monofilament

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.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

Safe base material

Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).

Helps the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Dr. Collins Unwaxed Dental Floss is nylon monofilament without wax coating. Nylon is a synthetic polymer chosen for dental floss because it is strong, thin, and does not degrade easily in the oral environment. Unwaxed variants eliminate the wax layer (often paraffin or plant-based) that coated floss uses for gliding; this makes unwaxed floss thinner and cheaper to produce. No known leaching of nylon monomers or additives occurs under normal oral use, since floss contact is brief and saliva pH is neutral.

The brand's record and disclosure

Unwaxed Co. is a small manufacturer with no established safety controversies or product recalls documented in public safety databases. The brand does not publish detailed ingredient disclosures, material sourcing statements, or third-party certifications (e.g., FDA pre-market review, dental association endorsement). This silence on transparency is typical for budget dental floss but leaves questions about additive choice, nylon source, and manufacturing standards unanswered. No evidence of misleading marketing or quality control failures is on record.

How it compares in its category

Unwaxed floss is the baseline product type in the dental floss market. It is chemically simpler than waxed or flavored variants, which reduces potential exposure to wax residues, colorants, or flavor compounds. Most major brands (Oral-B, Colgate, Reach) offer unwaxed options with similar material profiles and comparable safety records. Dr. Collins positions itself as a low-cost alternative; this typically correlates with less stringent quality signaling but not established hazard elevation.

If you buy it

Use once daily in normal flossing motions; floss is single-use and discarded after each session, minimizing cumulative exposure. Store in a dry environment to prevent mold growth in the dispenser. Replace the spool when strands fray or tension weakens, typically every 1-2 months depending on frequency. No special precautions needed; nylon floss is non-toxic if accidentally swallowed in small amounts (though it should not be intentionally ingested).

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.”

None known

Nylon monomer/oligomer leaching

Nylon monofilament floss is not documented to release nylon monomers or oligomers into saliva under normal oral use. Floss contact is brief and mechanical; no heat or chemical solvent exposure occurs that would promote leaching.

None known

Dye or colorant ingestion

Unwaxed nylon floss is typically undyed (white or natural), eliminating exposure to azo dyes or synthetic colorants. If Dr. Collins uses any pigmentation in the nylon itself, no known adverse events or regulatory warnings are on record.

Possible

Microbial contamination in dispenser

Floss dispensers are not sterile and can harbor bacteria or mold if stored in humid bathrooms. This is a use-environment risk, not a product defect, but proper storage and regular replacement reduce microbiological hazard.

None known

Mechanical injury from improper use

Unwaxed floss is thinner and can cut gums if used with excessive force or snapped between teeth. This is a user-technique risk, not a product defect; it applies equally to all unwaxed floss types.

Possible

Additives in nylon resin (unspecified)

Dr. Collins does not disclose nylon additives (e.g., stabilizers, plasticizers, slip agents used in floss manufacturing). Industry standards suggest minimal additives, but lack of transparency prevents full hazard rule-out.

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

Cocofloss

Refill Trio

Coconut fiber, based floss with plant-based coating

A
B
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS3 flags

Lower-concern dental product; natural materials and transparent PFAS stance, but no independent verification.

Risky category by default

Refillable Silk Dental Floss

Dental Lace

Refillable Silk Dental Floss

Silk floss with compostable refillable packaging

A
A
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS2 flags

Lower concern; silk floss with credible PFAS-free positioning and third-party certification.

MADE SAFE certified

Verified PFAS-free by a third party

Plant Based/Vegan Floss Refillable Glass Container PFAS-Free (2 Spools/4-

Dental Lace

Plant Based/Vegan Floss Refillable Glass Container PFAS-Free (2 Spools/4-

Plant-based vegan floss (likely plant cellulose or silk fibers)

A
B
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS3 flags

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.