Colgate Review, Is Colgate Non-Toxic?
Colgate averages 73 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 12 Colgate products graded as of October 2026, and 11 of them reach its 70 point pass mark.
Colgate grades Good on our four-band scale.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
What Colgate says and does about PFAS
We found no PFAS statement from Colgate about its dental floss or other products. Independent testing by Mamavation reported organic fluorine, an indicator of PFAS, in Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss, and the 2019 BuzzFeed News reporting on a Silent Spring Institute study named Colgate Total Dental Floss Mint among floss products with evidence of PFAS. Colgate has also been sued over PFAS in a Tom's of Maine mouthwash, where some claims were allowed to proceed.
- Independent testMamavation, testing at an EPA-certified lab, reported 91,400 ppm organic fluorine in Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss in a report dated August 26, 2024. Organic fluorine is an indicator of PFAS, not proof of a specific compound. Mamavation ↗
- StudyBuzzFeed News reported that a Silent Spring Institute study identified Colgate Total Dental Floss Mint among floss products with evidence of PFAS, and that Colgate-Palmolive did not respond to its requests for comment. BuzzFeed News ↗
- Legal caseA federal judge allowed some claims to proceed against Colgate-Palmolive and its Tom's of Maine unit over a mouthwash alleged to contain PFAS. These are allegations and the case was still pending as of the June 2025 report. Bloomberg Law ↗
- Regulatory filingColgate-Palmolive's 2025 annual report to the SEC names PFAS as a substance regulators are reviewing, in a risk factor. This is a business risk statement and not a product policy. SEC Form 10-K FY2025 ↗
Sources checked September 29, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Colgate is one of the brands we researched by hand for our record of what every brand has published about PFAS, where the same question is answered for each of them in one line.
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Does Colgate have PFAS, by category
Which Colgate products are PFAS-free? Good or better, best-graded first
- aqueous gel with fluoride, silica, sorbitol, cellulose
- Fluoride ingestion (systemic dose risk). Risk is low for adults who expectorate, but children under 6 who…
- Nylon floss with wax coating
- Nylon degradation and microplastic generation. Nylon fibers can shed microscopic particles during aggressive…
- Aqueous gel base with fluoride, silica, surfactants, glycerin
- Fluoride (swallowing risk in children). Toothpaste fluoride poses lower concern at recommended doses but…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Nylon monofilament with wax coating
- Nylon monofilament degradation and microplastic shedding. Nylon floss naturally sheds microscopic fibers…
- nylon or silk core with wax coating
- Allergens in wax or core materials. Beeswax floss variants may trigger mild oral irritation in persons with…
- nylon or polyester monofilament
- Fragrance additives or flavoring agents. Colgate offers flavored floss variants (mint, bubblegum) that may…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- aqueous gel base with fluoride, silica, glycerin
- Fluoride systemic toxicity (ingestion). Toothpaste fluoride at recommended use (pea-sized amount, no…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Nylon filament core, wax coating (type unspecified)
- Nylon microplastic shedding. Nylon monofilament can shed microscopic fibers during vigorous flossing…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Nylon monofilament fiber
- Mint flavoring allergens or sensitizers. Synthetic menthol and mint extract are generally recognized as safe…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Nylon filament, waxed coating
- Bacterial growth or biofilm on stored floss. Floss stored in humid bathrooms may harbor surface bacteria if…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- nylon monofilament floss, no reported special coating
- Microbial contamination during storage. Like all floss stored in humid bathrooms, risk of mold or bacterial…
Which Colgate products contain PFAS? Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
- Nylon floss with wax coating
- Heavy metals. Wax origin (petroleum-derived paraffin vs. beeswax vs. plant wax blend) is not disclosed by…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonWhat to buy instead Good or better, in the categories Colgate sells
- Plant-based waxed fiber floss
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
- nylon monofilament
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Microplastics
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Coconut fiber-based floss
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Microbial growth in natural fiber storage
Colgate and PFAS, common questions
- Does Colgate have PFAS?
- Colgate averages 73 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 12 Colgate products graded as of October 2026, and 11 of them reach its 70 point pass mark. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests. We found no PFAS statement from Colgate, and Mamavation lab testing reported 91,400 ppm organic fluorine in Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss.
- Is Colgate non-toxic?
- COLGATE CAVITY PROTECTION TOOTHPASTE is the highest-graded Colgate product we have scored, at 75/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Colgate products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Colgate products we have scored are COLGATE CAVITY PROTECTION TOOTHPASTE, Colgate Total Dental Floss, Mint Flavor, Travel Size 3 Yards, Waxed Glide Floss for Plaque Removal Between Teeth and Along Gumline, Compact Pocket, Colgate Whitening Gel Toothpaste. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Colgate products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Colgate products we have scored are Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →