Gum Dental Floss Fresh Mint
Lower concern dental floss; no PFAS evidence, but brand silent on sources.
Dental floss is typically nylon filament without intentional PFAS coatings. GUM has not disclosed PFAS testing or sources, but the product category poses minimal PFAS risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
nylon filament, mint flavoring
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Gum Dental Floss Fresh Mint is made of, ingredients and materials
GUM Dental Floss is a nylon monofilament or multifilament product coated or waxed for glide and durability. Nylon is a synthetic polymer that does not leach known endocrine disruptors or heavy metals under normal oral use. The fresh mint flavoring is applied as a surface additive; mint extract itself is not a regulated cosmetic hazard, though synthetic flavor compounds are not typically disclosed by floss manufacturers. Wax coating (often beeswax, paraffin, or plant-based) serves to reduce shredding and improve slip; neither type poses ingestion risk at the trace amounts present in floss use.
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.
Fragrance/flavor allergens
Fresh mint flavoring compound identity is not disclosed; natural mint extract is low-allergy, but synthetic flavor agents occasionally trigger oral or contact sensitivity in susceptible users. Incidence is rare and not documented for this product.
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 (unspecified)
GUM does not publicly disclose whether wax is beeswax, paraffin, or plant-based. None of these pose documented ingestion or systemic risk at the minute levels present in floss. Some paraffin grades may contain trace minerals, but FDA-compliant floss wax is low concern.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon manufacture can involve formaldehyde as a processing aid, but finished nylon filament does not retain or off-gas formaldehyde. No evidence of this hazard in nylon dental floss products.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding during use
Nylon filament can fragment if floss is pulled hard or snagged on teeth, releasing microscopic fibers. These are ingested in negligible quantities and pass through the GI tract; no documented adverse effect. Not a unique concern for this brand.
Heavy metals
GUM fresh mint floss is typically white or translucent; if pigmented, no azo dyes or heavy-metal inks are known in dental floss. Not a documented hazard in this product category.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Sunstar (GUM's parent company) does not publish ingredient lists or detailed material sourcing for dental floss, which is standard across the category. GUM has no major product recalls or safety controversies on record related to this floss product. The brand's stance on PFAS and other chemical inputs remains silent, meaning no proactive third-party testing or transparency statements are publicly available. ISO 16409 certification (if present on packaging) indicates floss meets mechanical performance standards but does not address chemical safety.
How it compares in its category
Nylon floss is the dominant material globally and carries no higher inherent hazard than alternatives like polyethylene or Teflon-coated (Teflon-type coating) filaments. Unlike dental products with resin components or colorants, plain nylon floss does not involve azo dyes or antimicrobial coatings that trigger testing concern. Unwaxed nylon and plant-based waxes exist but are not more or less safe; choice is functional (shred resistance, slip) rather than hazard-driven. Compared to tooth picks or water flossers, floss poses minimal systemic exposure risk because it is not ingested and contact is brief and saliva-rinsed.
If you buy it
Use as directed (daily, 1-2 feet per session) with no special precautions; nylon does not require temperature control or storage away from heat. Discard after use; floss is not reusable. If mint flavoring causes oral irritation or allergy (rare), switch to unflavored or different flavor. Store in a cool, dry place; moisture exposure does not degrade nylon significantly but may promote bacterial growth in the dispenser if left wet.
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
- GUM has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.