Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss
Lower concern. Standard nylon floss carries minimal inherent PFAS risk.
Colgate Total Mint Floss is nylon monofilament, an inherently low-risk material for PFAS. No coatings, water-repellent treatments, or nonstick features typical of PFAS use. Colgate makes no PFAS disclosure either way.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Nylon monofilament fiber
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss is made of, ingredients and materials
Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss is extruded nylon monofilament, a single continuous plastic fiber, coated with wax (typically paraffin or beeswax blend) and mint flavoring. Nylon monofilament is chemically inert under the wet, room-temperature conditions of mouth use, meaning it does not leach additives or break down into microplastics during normal flossing. The wax coating is food-grade and serves only as a slip agent; mint flavoring is synthetic menthol or natural mint extract at cosmetic trace levels.
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.
Mint flavoring allergens or sensitizers
Synthetic menthol and mint extract are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for oral use but can cause contact sensitization in rare cases of gum sensitivity or allergy. Individual reactions are documented anecdotally but not systematically tracked for this product.
Ingestion of swallowed floss
Swallowed floss is non-toxic but poses a rare choking or GI blockage risk if swallowed in long pieces, especially in young children. This is a mechanical hazard, not a chemical one, and is standard to all floss products.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Microplastic shedding during use
Nylon monofilament is designed to resist fraying and fragmentation during normal flossing. No published data documents microplastic release from dental floss under typical mouth use conditions.
Wax coating additives (paraffin-based)
Paraffin and beeswax coatings in dental floss are food-grade and non-toxic. No leaching or degradation occurs at mouth temperature and pH. No regulatory concerns are on record.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon monofilament is produced via polymerization without formaldehyde. Unlike some textiles or particle board, floss does not use formaldehyde-releasing binders and does not off-gas.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive does not publish detailed material safety data sheets for dental floss, a typical practice for the oral care industry where finished consumer products are considered low-risk. No recalls, safety warnings, or toxicological concerns have been recorded for Colgate Total Mint Dental Floss by the FDA or independent safety agencies. The brand maintains general certification under ISO 9001 quality management but does not pursue third-party chemical certifications (e.g., EWG Verified) for floss products.
How it compares in its category
Nylon monofilament floss is the industry standard and carries the same safety profile as competitors (Oral-B, Glide, store brands). Waxed vs. unwaxed floss differs only in slip; both are nylon-based. Silk floss alternatives exist but are less durable and similarly undisclosed in chemical composition. No published comparative safety data favors one brand over another in this product class.
If you buy it
Dental floss is a low-ingestion product; only trace amounts of wax and flavoring enter the mouth, and stomach acid degrades any swallowed material. Replace the spool or roll when fibers begin to fray or catch, typically every 3-6 months with regular daily use. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent wax degradation, though this does not pose a safety issue. No special precautions needed for children or pregnant people; floss is non-toxic if swallowed in small amounts.
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 Total Mint 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.