12 Pack, Colgate Floss Mint Waxed Dental Floss, Travel Size, 3 Yards
Lower concern, but wax ingredients aren't disclosed.
Nylon monofilament with wax typically uses paraffin or beeswax, not PFAS-based coatings. Colgate makes no PFAS claims either way.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Nylon monofilament with wax coating
Lab data
No public lab test
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What 12 Pack, Colgate Floss Mint Waxed Yards is made of, ingredients and materials
Colgate's floss is nylon monofilament (a single synthetic polymer strand) coated with wax, typically paraffin or beeswax-based. Nylon does not leach harmful compounds into the oral cavity under normal use because floss contact is brief, mechanical, and non-thermal. The wax coating reduces friction and improves handling but is not disclosed in detail by Colgate; standard dental floss wax is food-grade and poses no known ingestion risk in the minimal quantities transferred during use.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Nylon monofilament degradation and microplastic shedding
Nylon floss naturally sheds microscopic fibers during use, particularly if the strand frays. The amount is negligible in a single use, but cumulative lifetime ingestion is not quantified in scientific literature; this is a category-wide concern, not specific to Colgate.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Wax coating composition and allergens
Colgate does not disclose the specific wax type (paraffin, beeswax, synthetic) or additives. Standard dental floss wax is food-grade and poses no known toxicity risk, but individuals with severe paraffin or beeswax sensitivity are not catered to by this lack of transparency.
Heavy metals
No recalls or public reports of lead, cadmium, or azo dye contamination in Colgate floss. Nylon is not a typical reservoir for heavy metals, and Colgate is a large multinational with supply-chain oversight, though no third-party testing data is available.
Source, FDA ↗Choking or airway obstruction risk
This is a user-behavior hazard, not a product defect. Dental floss is intended for spitting out after use; swallowing should be avoided, though small incidental amounts are not harmful.
Teflon-type coating (Teflon) presence as alternative risk
Colgate Floss Mint is nylon-based, not Teflon-type coating-based, so thermal fume risk from heating does not apply. Some floss brands use Teflon-type coating; this product does not.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive has no public recalls or safety warnings specific to their floss products. The company does not publish detailed ingredient or material sourcing disclosures for dental floss, which is typical in the category but limits independent verification. No third-party testing or certification (such as Natural Products Association or EWG) is documented for this product. Colgate maintains general oral-care safety compliance with FDA rules for over-the-counter devices.
How it compares in its category
Nylon monofilament floss is the industry standard; alternatives include silk floss (biodegradable but similar chemical profile), charcoal-infused nylon (not a material linked to PFAS), and Teflon-type coating/Teflon-based flosses (see hazard section below). Colgate's waxed version is mid-range in the category, with no distinguishing safety advantage or risk versus other major brands' nylon formulations. Travel-size packaging adds no material safety concern.
If you buy it
Use as directed, gently slide between teeth and along the gum line without forcing. Do not swallow floss; spit it out after use as with all dental floss. The wax coating presents lower concern if small amounts are ingested incidentally during normal use. Store in a cool, dry place; no special handling is needed. Replace the container if the floss becomes frayed or if wax coating degrades visibly, though this is uncommon in a sealed travel pack.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Colgate has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to 12 Pack, Colgate Floss Mint Waxed Dental Floss, Travel Size, 3 Yards?
- 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
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.