Does Colgate dental floss have PFAS?
Colgate dental floss averages 73 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 9 Colgate dental floss products graded as of October 2026, below the 75 out of 100 median for the 21 other dental floss brands graded alongside it.
Colgate dental floss averages Good on our four-band scale. 8 of the 9 we graded are worth buying.
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.
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Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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 dental floss worth buying Good or better, best-graded first
- Nylon floss with wax coating
- Nylon degradation and microplastic generation. Nylon fibers can shed microscopic particles during aggressive…
- 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.
- 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 dental floss contains 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 AmazonBetter dental floss from other brands
Graded higher than the Colgate average of 73.
- 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
The same question, asked of the other dental floss brands
Best average grade first. Colgate averages 73.
See every Colgate product we grade on the Colgate brand page, or the full dental floss ranking.