Colgate Total Pro Gum Health Interdental Floss 25m
Lower concern, though no PFAS disclosure from brand.
Standard nylon with wax coating isn't known to contain PFAS. No independent testing or brand claims about PFAS exist for this product.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Nylon filament, waxed coating
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Colgate Total Pro Gum Health Floss 25m is made of, ingredients and materials
This floss is nylon monofilament (a synthetic polymer) coated with wax, typically paraffin or beeswax blend. Nylon is chemically stable and inert when used as intended in the mouth; the wax coating aids gliding and does not leach into saliva under normal use. Unlike some specialty floss products, there are no reported additives such as antimicrobial agents, fluoride, or charcoal in the standard Colgate Total Pro Gum Health variant that would introduce secondary chemical concerns.
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.
Bacterial growth or biofilm on stored floss
Floss stored in humid bathrooms may harbor surface bacteria if left wet, though oral use of floss typically introduces it directly to the mouth without prior contamination risk. Proper drying after use mitigates any concern.
Choking or physical entanglement hazard
Floss is a choking risk for young children under age 3 if unsupervised. This is a mechanical, not chemical, hazard. Adult and supervised use eliminates this risk.
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 (paraffin vs. beeswax)
Colgate does not specify wax type on packaging. Paraffin wax is food-safe and cosmetic-grade; beeswax is minimally processed. Neither is known to leach under oral use conditions. No contamination or degradation hazard is established for dental floss wax.
Nylon polymer degradation or breakdown
Nylon is stable at oral temperatures and saliva pH. Mechanical breakage (fraying) is cosmetic; no chemical breakdown or microplastic shedding risk is established or reported for standard nylon dental floss.
Additives or colorants in packaging ink migration
Floss is housed in a plastic spool dispenser. No migration of printing inks or plastic additives into the floss itself is established. The floss does not contact the dispenser interior during storage.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive has faced scrutiny over microbeads in older formulations and heavy metal testing in toothpastes, but dental floss itself has not been a focus of regulatory action or voluntary recalls for chemical hazards. The company does not publicly disclose material composition or PFAS testing for floss products, which limits transparency but does not indicate contamination. Colgate holds no specific third-party certifications (such as NSF or EWG) for floss lines.
How it compares in its category
Nylon waxed floss is the dominant category standard and poses no greater chemical risk than competitor brands (Oral-B, Glide, store brands). Alternatives such as silk floss or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon-type coating) branded products (e.g., Glide) carry similar or equivalent safety profiles. Unwaxed nylon and natural fiber options exist but offer no documented safety advantage; the wax itself is inert.
If you buy it
Use as directed, wind around fingers and guide between teeth with gentle sawing motions. Floss is not ingested in significant quantity; small amounts swallowed pose negligible risk. Replace the product when fraying occurs or every few months with regular use. Store in a cool, dry place; no special handling is required. This product is suitable for daily use by adults and children with parental supervision.
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 Pro Gum Health Interdental Floss 25m?
- 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.