Colgate Dental Floss
Lower concern. Standard floss material unlikely to contain PFAS.
Colgate dental floss uses nylon or silk core with wax, materials not typically associated with PFAS. Brand makes no PFAS claims; no lab data publicly available, but product category carries minimal PFAS risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
nylon or silk core with wax coating
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Colgate Dental Floss is made of, ingredients and materials
Colgate Dental Floss typically uses a nylon monofilament or multifilament core coated with wax (usually paraffin or beeswax blend). Nylon and silk are inert polymers that do not leach into the oral cavity during the brief contact of flossing. The wax coating serves only to ease sliding between teeth and is either swallowed in tiny amounts or spit out; neither nylon nor standard paraffin wax has established toxicity at the exposure levels from flossing.
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.
Allergens in wax or core materials
Beeswax floss variants may trigger mild oral irritation in persons with bee product allergies. Colgate does not clearly label floss wax source on all products, so consumers with known sensitivities should verify the product composition.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Wax coating additives (colorants, flavorings)
Colgate floss may include approved food-grade dyes or mint flavoring in the wax. No toxicological concern is established at the minute amounts used and the fleeting oral exposure.
Nylon fiber aspiration risk
Floss fibers do not fragment or shed during normal use. Risk of aspiration or gastrointestinal obstruction from dental floss is documented only in cases of heavy swallowing of entire spools or improper use in young children.
Heavy metals
Approved colorants in floss wax are subject to FDA oversight and do not present an ingestion hazard given the trivial dose. No recalls or testing results document heavy metal contamination in Colgate floss.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate does not publish detailed material safety disclosures or third-party certifications specific to floss products, which is standard for this low-risk category. No recalls, safety complaints, or regulatory warnings for Colgate Dental Floss appear in FDA or consumer safety databases. The brand's overall oral-care safety record is strong with no pattern of contamination or mislabeling in floss products.
How it compares in its category
Dental floss is one of the lowest-risk oral-care products because contact time is seconds and ingestion is negligible. Colgate's floss is comparable to most major brands (Oral-B, Crest) in material choice and safety profile. Some specialty alternatives (e.g., charcoal-infused, mint-flavored) add minor additives but do not materially change the safety assessment for standard products.
If you buy it
Use floss daily as directed without concern for chemical exposure. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent wax degradation, though this affects performance, not safety. Replace the spool when the floss becomes frayed or the wax coating depletes. Swallowing small amounts of floss or wax accidentally is harmless; there is no need to rinse extensively after flossing.
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 Colgate Dental Floss?
- 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.