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
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement 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
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
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 ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
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.
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 we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Colgate has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Dental Floss
Floss & Ploss
Love of Earth Co. Floss + Glass Case
Dental floss (plant-based or silk) and glass case
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed additives
Limited concern
Microbial growth if floss is stored damp
Limited concern
Lower concern. Floss and glass are inherently PFAS-free materials.
⚠Risky category by default
Waterpik
Cordless 1000 Water Flosser
Plastic housing, ABS/nylon components, stainless steel tip, silicone seals
Silicone seal breakdown and leaching
Limited concern
Bacterial biofilm in water reservoir
Limited concern
Electronic component exposure if housing cracks
Limited concern
Lower-concern water flosser; no known PFAS-prone materials.
⚠Risky category by default
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.