PFAS in Dental Floss, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Most dental floss on shelves today grades well for PFAS concern based on available materials and public disclosure, but at least one major waxed floss still stands out as a laggard. Based on our model's review of ingredient lists, brand disclosures, and manufacturing data Floss & Ploss Love of Earth Co. Floss + Glass Case earns the top score in our database at 90/100, landing in the "Excellent" tier and reflecting the lowest modeled concern among the products we reviewed.

The wider picture is encouraging, nearly every mainstream floss and water flosser we graded, from Sensodyne to Waterpik to Oral-B, lands in the "Excellent" tier at 75/100. The clear exception is Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss, which scores a "Poor" 30/100, our estimate based on materials and formulation details that flag it as the highest-concern floss in this comparison. These are model-based estimates built from disclosed materials, not laboratory certainty, and no grade here should be read as a guarantee that a product is "PFAS-free" or "safe."

Summary Comparison

Product	PFAS Grade	Verdict
Floss & Ploss Love of Earth Co. Floss + Glass Case	Excellent (90/100)	Top-scoring floss in our database; lower modeled concern
Floss & Ploss Burst Refillable Expanding Mint Dental Floss Set	Excellent (75/100)	Solid alternative, refillable format
Floss & Ploss Listerine Reach Ultraclean Access Flosser	Excellent (75/100)	Good pick for interdental picks
Floss & Ploss Oral B Satin Floss	Excellent (75/100)	Widely available, consistent grading
Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser	Excellent (75/100)	Water flosser alternative to string floss
Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser	Excellent (75/100)	Comparable to Aquarius model
Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser	Excellent (75/100)	Cordless convenience, same grade tier
Waterpik Ultra Plus and Cordless Enhance 3000 Combo Pack	Excellent (75/100)	Bundled option, consistent grading
Sensodyne Dental Floss 50m	Excellent (75/100)	Sensitive-teeth formula, solid grade
Sensodyne Dental Tape 50m	Excellent (75/100)	Wider tape format, same tier
Sensodyne Expanding Dental Floss 30m	Excellent (75/100)	Expanding fiber, consistent grade
Fil Dentaire Sensodyne x1	Excellent (75/100)	International SKU, same tier
Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss	Excellent (75/100)	Good grade, contrasts with waxed version below
Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss	Poor (30/100)	Highest modeled concern in this comparison; avoid if minimizing exposure

The Top Performer, Floss & Ploss Love of Earth Co.

Floss & Ploss Love of Earth Co. Floss + Glass Case comes packaged in a reusable glass case, a detail that signals a brand orientation toward reduced synthetic coatings and refillable design. Brand materials describe the product using plant-based or naturally derived fibers rather than the PTFE-style coatings historically used to make floss glide smoothly. Based on available materials and data, this formulation approach is likely why it scores highest in our database at 90/100.

Pros, Highest score in our comparison set; glass case reduces single-use plastic; brand markets away from synthetic slip agents.
Cons, Premium price point compared to drugstore floss; refill availability may vary by retailer; brand claims about material sourcing are brand-stated and not independently lab-verified in the sources we reviewed.

The Solid Middle Tier, Most Mainstream Brands

The bulk of products in our database, including Sensodyne Dental Floss 50m Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss, and the entire Waterpik water flosser lineup, land at 75/100 in the "Excellent" tier. This is a meaningfully lower modeled concern level than the Colgate waxed floss below it, though it's a step behind the top-scoring Love of Earth product.

Water flossers like the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser and Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser sidestep the coated-string question entirely by using pressurized water instead of a physical filament, which is one reason they consistently grade well. For string floss, brands like Sensodyne and Oral-B (via Floss & Ploss Oral B Satin Floss) tend to disclose ingredient lists that our model reads as lower-risk, though brand statements about "no added PFAS" are brand-stated claims, not third-party laboratory certifications, unless explicitly noted otherwise by the manufacturer.

Pros across this tier, Widely available at drugstores and online; consistent 75/100 grading suggests a stable formulation category; multiple format options (tape, expanding floss, water flossers) for different needs.
Cons across this tier, None reach the 90/100 tier of the top pick; some products' full ingredient disclosures are limited, which caps how confidently our model can rate them higher.

What to Avoid

Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss is the clear outlier in this comparison, scoring "Poor" at 30/100. This is our model's estimate based on materials and public disclosure, not a laboratory test result, but it's a meaningful gap from every other product graded here. Waxed flosses have historically been more likely to use PTFE-based or fluoropolymer coatings to achieve a smooth glide between teeth, and that category of ingredient is the primary driver behind PFAS concern in dental floss generally.

If you're trying to minimize potential exposure based on available data, waxed floss products lacking clear ingredient disclosure are the category to scrutinize most closely, regardless of brand. Notably, Colgate's own mint floss variant scores 75/100 in our database, a reminder that grading can vary significantly even within a single brand's product line depending on formulation.

Our Pick

Based on available materials and data Floss & Ploss Love of Earth Co. Floss + Glass Case is our top recommendation among the products in our database, reflecting the lowest modeled PFAS concern and the highest overall score (90/100). For shoppers who prioritize familiarity or price, the broad tier of 75/100 "Excellent" products, including Sensodyne, Colgate Total Mint, Oral-B, and the full Waterpik water flosser range, remains a reasonable alternative with no evidence of elevated PFAS concern found in the sources we reviewed.

We'd steer away from Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss given its comparatively low score. For a fuller side-by-side view of every graded floss and water flosser, visit our dental floss finder to compare products by grade, format, and brand.

FAQ

Does a high PFAS grade mean a floss is completely free of PFAS?

No. A high grade reflects lower modeled concern based on available materials and public disclosure, not a laboratory certification of zero PFAS content. Our scores are estimates, not lab-verified guarantees, and brand claims of being "PFAS-free" should be understood as brand-stated unless a specific third-party test is cited.

Why does Colgate have both an "Excellent" and a "Poor" grade?

Different products within the same brand can use different materials and coatings. Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss scores 75/100 while Colgate Total Waxed Dental Floss scores 30/100, illustrating that formulation, not brand reputation alone, drives our model's assessment.

Is there a health risk from PFAS in floss?

Some research has explored associations between certain PFAS exposures and health outcomes, but association is not the same as causation, and floss is only one of many potential everyday exposure sources. If you want to reduce potential contact across categories, our product finder covers related items like water filters and food packaging where PFAS has also been studied.