Listerine Ultraclean Floss
Lower concern; standard nylon floss with no known PFAS treatments.
Dental floss is typically nylon monofilament without Teflon-family coating coatings or water-repellent finishes. Listerine does not disclose PFAS, but no public evidence links this product to PFAS contamination.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Nylon monofilament fiber
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Listerine Ultraclean Floss is made of, ingredients and materials
Listerine Ultraclean Floss is a nylon monofilament fiber, a single continuous strand of synthetic polymer commonly used in dental floss because it resists fraying and cleans between teeth reliably. Nylon monofilament does not leach into the mouth during normal use because the fiber is inert and not consumed. No coating or treatment beyond standard nylon extrusion is documented for this product, so hazards typical of coated or medicated flosses do not apply here.
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.
Microplastics
Nylon monofilament floss is designed to remain intact during use and is not meant to be swallowed. However, microscopic degradation or fraying over time is theoretically possible with worn spools; replacement upon visible fraying minimizes this risk.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Fragrance allergens
Listerine Ultraclean Floss is an unflavored or mint-flavored dental floss; no proprietary fragrance blend is documented, and mint extract is a standard, low-allergen ingredient in oral care. No reports of contact dermatitis or allergic reactions specific to this product are on record.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon monofilament does not require formaldehyde-based resins or antimicrobial finishes in its manufacture. No preservatives or releasers are documented for plain floss of this type.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Nylon monofilament for dental use is regulated under FDA device standards and does not typically bioaccumulate heavy metals in the mouth during brief, daily contact. No lead, cadmium, or antimony contamination has been reported for this product.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Johnson & Johnson, Listerine's parent company, does not publicly disclose ingredient-level PFAS testing or mitigation statements specific to this floss product. The brand has a general safety and compliance record in oral care but does not volunteer transparency beyond regulatory minimums. No product-specific recalls or contamination reports for Listerine Ultraclean Floss are on record.
How it compares in its category
Dental flosses span nylon monofilament (this product), waxed nylon, silk, and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon-type coating) variants. Teflon-type coating floss carries documented PFAS concerns; silk and waxed nylon introduce potential for contaminants in natural or additive layers. Nylon monofilament plain floss represents a simpler material base with fewer additive surfaces, placing it in the lower-concern tier of the category.
If you buy it
Use daily as directed by dental hygiene practices; nylon monofilament does not degrade or off-gas from normal mouth moisture or temperature. Do not heat or expose to extreme temperatures before use, as this is not a temperature-dependent product. Replace the spool when fiber frays visibly or loses tension. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve spool integrity.
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
- Listerine has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Listerine Ultraclean 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.