Oral-B Essential Floss
Oral-B says its floss is now made without Teflon-type coating or PFAS, a claim we have not verified.
Oral-B says its Glide floss is no longer formulated with Teflon-type coating and that none of its floss products are formulated with Teflon-type coating or any type of PFAS. We record that as an unverified brand claim. Glide was made with Teflon-type coating for decades, so older packs still on some shelves may predate the change.
Brand says: “Oral-B says its Glide floss is no longer formulated with PTFE and that none of its floss products are formulated with PTFE or any type of PFAS.”
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Nylon floss, waxed coating
Brand disclosure
Brand claims PFAS-free
Lab data
No public lab test
What Oral-B Essential Floss is made of, ingredients and materials
Oral-B Essential Floss is nylon filament with a wax coating. Nylon itself is a synthetic polymer with no known leaching hazards under normal oral use, where exposure is brief and the product does not contact food or heat. The wax coating (typically paraffin or plant-based) serves to aid gliding between teeth and is swallowed in small quantities during flossing; standard food-grade waxes used in dental products carry no documented toxicity at these exposure levels.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
What’s reassuring
Brand-stated PFAS-free
The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Wax coating identity and purity
Oral-B does not publicly specify the exact wax type (paraffin, plant-based, etc.) or confirm absence of contaminants. No recalls or adverse reports exist for Essential Floss wax ingestion.
Microplastics
Nylon floss can shed microscopic fibers during use, but no evidence links this to harm at the exposure levels from occasional flossing. Swallowed fibers pass through the digestive tract without retention.
Source, EPA ↗Dyes or colorants in filament
Oral-B Essential Floss is typically white or light-colored; no heavy metal pigments or azo dyes are known to be used. Color in dental floss is minimal and non-toxic by category standard.
Residual manufacturing solvents or additives
Nylon floss undergoes standard extrusion and coating; no public evidence of residual solvent contamination. Dental products are subject to FDA oversight in the U.S., though pre-market safety data is not publicly disclosed.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Oral-B (owned by Procter & Gamble) has made a public commitment to remove Teflon-type coating and PFAS from its floss formulations, though independent verification of this claim is not available in public records. The brand has not faced recalls or documented safety controversies specific to Essential Floss. Oral-B provides minimal detailed ingredient disclosure on packaging, which is typical for the dental floss category but limits third-party assessment.
How it compares in its category
Most dental flosses use nylon or silk with wax coatings; nylon-based options like Essential Floss are the category standard and have no known advantage or disadvantage versus silk in terms of chemical safety. Premium brands sometimes emphasize natural waxes or Teflon-type coating-free formulations, but Essential Floss's hazard profile is indistinguishable from comparable mid-range nylon flosses. The category as a whole presents minimal chemical risk compared to other personal care products.
If you buy it
Dental floss requires no special care or maintenance; simply use as directed and discard after flossing. There are no heat limits or storage concerns relevant to nylon floss. Replace the roll when depleted or if the floss becomes shredded or worn; most users do this naturally. No evidence suggests oral absorption of wax or nylon components poses a health concern under normal use.
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
- DentaFloss has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.