Dental floss manufacturers, including Oral-B and Colgate, are quietly reformulating their products to remove synthetic materials linked to forever chemicals. The industry shift follows consumer scrutiny and state-level bans on perfluoroalkyl substances, though some users report that replacement fibers feel noticeably rougher.
A casual online discussion on Reddit earlier this year exposed a quiet manufacturing shift in everyday dental hygiene. Users of Oral-B floss noticed an abrupt change in texture, describing the string as rougher and more plastic-like than previous purchases. Behind those user complaints lies an industry-wide retreat from polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known by the brand name Teflon.
Oral-B Glide floss has been reformulated to strip out both PTFE and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
What Research Shows About Floss and Forever Chemicals
PTFE belongs to the broader class of PFAS compounds, synthetic chemicals frequently dubbed forever chemicals
because they persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. Exposure to these substances carries documented health risks, though researchers note those risks have not been established specifically for PTFE.
Laurel Schaider, a senior scientist at the institute, noted in an interview that researchers observed additional relationships, including higher PFAS concentrations in individuals with stain-resistant home textiles.
To test the products, the institute collaborated with Graham Peaslee, a nuclear physicist and chemist at the University of Notre Dame, who scanned 18 floss samples for fluorine, termed the marker of Teflon
by Schaider.
Peaslee pointed out that The correlation with PFHxS could be related to other behaviors that weren’t controlled in the study,
noting that the team did not test for PFHxS inside the floss itself.
Colgate Removes PTFE from Dental Floss Amidst State Bans
Colgate began removing PTFE from its dental floss products in 2022, according to a statement given to Forbrugerrådet Tænk, a Danish consumer organization that independently tested multiple brands and found undisclosed PTFE contents.
While maintaining that PTFE remained a safe ingredient in its products, Colgate pointed to consumer concerns in deciding to transition its entire floss line to PTFE-free fibers. Those corporate adjustments align with tightening legislative restrictions. Minnesota enacted a state law banning the intentional addition of PFAS to 11 consumer product categories, with dental floss specifically included among the restricted goods.
Consumer Feedback on Textured Floss and Safety Advice
The elimination of synthetic coatings has altered the tactile experience of flossing. Shoppers sharing experiences online expressed frustration with the changes, with one user remarking that It feels more plastic-like, rougher, less smooth,
and another complaining that It feels like I’m going to take a tooth along with it when I pull it out.
When asked for guidance on what shoppers should check for on packaging, the American Dental Association deferred regarding PTFE or PFAS.
I would certainly look for floss that is PTFE-free, and in terms of safer alternatives from a more sustainable point of view, something like a silk-based floss is more sustainable than nylon, which is a petroleum-based material.
Laurel Schaider, senior scientist at the Silent Spring Institute
