I tested out these seven PFAS-free dental flosses. Some are synthetic, some are all-natural, some are biodegradable (to various degrees), one is unflavored.
I have listed out the ingredients in as much detail as the companies have declared them.
Six of the brands were tested for PFAS by Mamavation.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Reach POP
Reach Pop has been my everyday floss for a while now, it’s my top overall pick of the PFAS-free floss types I tried. I’m sticking with this after trying all the other ones on the list.
The downside is that Mamavation didn’t test this floss to confirm it’s free of PFAS.
Review: This is a plastic thread that is very sturdy – it is quite thick and substantially waxy, it glides easily.
It’s also a tough shred-resistant floss that doesn’t break off easily, a problem I had with cheaper flosses that could break and get stuck between my back teeth which are very tight.
What it’s made of: Plastic thread floss, vegan wax, peppermint flavor.
Other flavors: Mint, peppermint, cinnamon, and they also have a whitening version with baking soda.
Specs: American Dental Association (ADA) accepted. PFAS-free.
2. Toms of Maine Naturally Waxed Antiplaque Floss
Tom’s of Maine Naturally Waxed Antiplaque Flat Dental Floss was another one I tried.
I like that this is one of three that fully list out the ingredients.
Review: This one is not quite as waxy compared to the POP and doesn’t glide as easily, and for this reason I didn’t stick with it after I finished the roll.
It is however a strong floss and doesn’t shred easily between my difficult back teeth. It is however too thick and not waxy enough for my back teeth which are very tight.
What it’s made of: Nylon floss (type not specified), natural beeswax, carnauba wax and jojoba wax, acacia Senegal gum, propolis cera/propolis extract.
Other flavors: Only spearmint.
Specs: No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Not tested on animals. Confirmed PFAS-free by Mamavation testing. American Dental Association (ADA) accepted.
3. Bamboo Earth Pure Silk Eco Floss
Bamboo Earth Pure Silk Eco Floss is one of the two biodegradable options on the list for those avoiding plastic. And really the only truly (practically) biodegradable option.
I didn’t get the glass dispenser for this one (just the refills) because I didn’t think I would like this and I was right.
Review: It feels too much like string to me with little wax, it’s too harsh for me between the teeth. I wasn’t even able to finish the roll.
I hope this type works for some people because I love that it’s a natural string and biodegradable.
What it’s made of: Silk, candelilla wax, mint flavor (not specified what type).
Other flavors: It only comes in mint.
Specs: The product is listed as vegan on their website but note that silk is not vegan. It’s listed as natural, but the source of the mint flavor is not specified. Biodegradable with recyclable packaging and refillable glass dispenser. Confirmed PFAS-free by Mamavation.
4. Boka Ela Mint Floss
Boka Ela Mint Floss is the thickest floss on the list and it’s an expanding floss. I like the thick floss types because it feels like this cleans better.
Review: It was just a tad too thick for my tightest tooth but I think a lot of people will like this one. I did finish the roll.
What it’s made of: Unspecified plastic string, vegan non-petroleum vegetable wax, mint flavor. They declined to say more about the type of plastic and type of wax or mint flavoring in an email.
Other flavors: Mint and they used to have “Cinna Mint” but it doesn’t look to be available anymore.
Specs: Confirmed PFAS-free by Mamavation.
5. The Humble Co Floss Picks
The Humble Co Floss Picks have a thin but strong floss.
Review: It did work, even between my tightest teeth, with only slight damage to the floss (not fully shredded).
Personally, I don’t like the floss pick style as much because you need to clean off the floss between each tooth and I don’t like the use of so much plastic but it did work pretty well.
It was not as comfortable between all my teeth, sometimes getting stuck momentarily between my tightest teeth. Sometimes when it was stuck I had to push hard and then I hurt my gums. I am going to finish the bags but it’s not my preference.
I like that the mint flavor is natural (not too strong).
Claims: If you want to recycle the picks you would need to check if your area has a recycling option for a PLA/PP mix.
What it’s made of: The handle is made of a mix of corn-based plastic (PLA) and polypropylene, nylon thread, natural plant-based wax, and natural mint flavor from Mentha Piperita.
Other flavors: It comes in mint or charcoal-mint.
Specs: Vegan certified, cruelty-free certified. Confirmed PFAS-free by Mamavation.
6. Straw Wheat Floss Picks
I wasn’t that keen to try another floss pick style floss but I wanted to add an unflavored/unscented version to the list. It’s also biodegradable (sort of).
Review: Straw Wheat Floss Picks actually worked quite well, the string is strong and thin, and the whole construction is strong and sturdy. It did not shred easily even between tight teeth.
Claims: While they say it’s non-plastic, non-synthetic, and biodegradable, PLA (Polylactic acid) is a plastic. It’s just a bio-based one.
In a landfill, PLA can potentially take hundreds of years to decompose. The types of industrial decomposition facilities required for biodegradation are not common and it may not be recyclable depending on where you live. You can check to see if you can access enzymes that will allow it to be composted at home. The bright side is that when it breaks down it does decompose instead of breaking down into microplastics.
Nylon-4 is also a synthetic plastic that is petroleum-based, though it is considered biodegradable.
What it’s made of: Handle made of USDA bio-based straw wheat (PLA bio-polymer), no wax, Nylon-4 string.
Other flavors: Unflavored or mint.
Specs: Tested PFAS-free by Mamavation, Vegan, 100% biodegradable, USDA organic, cruelty-free, gluten-free.
7. Cocofloss
Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss is made of recycled PET, natural flavors in the mint variety, and artificial flavors/scents in the other varieties.
Review: This for me is the perfect thickness of floss, it’s similar to the POP which is my usual daily floss. It’s the perfect size for tight teeth and big spaces as well. It’s waxy and a bit expanding so it glides easily. It’s strong enough to not totally shred in my difficult teeth.
The scents: Some of these floss scents are very strong! I’ve never seen a stronger scented floss than the coconut flavor. Some people will really enjoy these smells and tastes.
Chemically sensitive folks will not likely be able to use this floss, you can smell it from a distance (especially the coconut) and the scent stayed on my fingers after flossing.
The coconut was the strongest scent of the four and it was my least favorite. The mint flavor is all-natural and less potent than the other scents, it’s more of a typical mint floss scent with maybe a slightly stronger taste than normal. I liked it. The strawberry scent and the orange are somewhere in the middle, and had a more prominent taste than smell at times for me.
The sample pack also makes perfect travel-sized floss.
What it’s made of: Polyester ~85% recycled PET water bottles (it is possible, unfortunately, for recycled PET to contain higher levels of contaminants than virgin plastic, including phthalates and metals (source)), coconut oil, vegan microcrystalline wax, essential oils, and food-grade aromas that meet the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standards.
The mint variety is 100% naturally fragranced with spearmint oil, cornmint oil, anise camphor, and menthol.
Other flavors: Mint, Coconut, Orange, Strawberry.
Specs: Confirmed PFAS-free by Mamavation, refillable plastic dispenser, Leaping Bunny certified. Vegan.
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