Non-Toxic Natural Floss Reviews
Are there toxins in your floss? Some brands of floss contain harmful chemicals like PFAS that can harm your health. I’m sharing the best non-toxic and eco-friendly floss brands that you can feel good about using.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Floss is a product that you put in your mouth, and any chemicals or artificial sweeteners on the floss will be ingested. It’s shocking and surprising that companies can add harmful chemicals to floss that may benefit ease of use, but negatively affect the health of the consumer.
My Floss Story
It all started when I ran out of floss. I went to my local Target and discovered they were cleared out of most brands of floss, including the one I was searching for. I then went to Walgreens and CVS only to run into the same problem. Totally puzzled, I googled “floss recall”.
Every article I came across had PFAS in the title (I found no floss recalls, but the mention of PFAS in floss shocked me). PFAS is the same chemical found in Teflon, used to coat non-stick pans. Apparently it also makes floss glide easily in and out of your teeth. Seriously? I’ve probably been flossing with Teflon-coated dental floss all these years without knowing it. Ugh!
I’m the daughter of a former dentist, so I floss several times a day (I’m not exaggerating). Floss is one of the last things I ever thought I’d have to worry about being harmful to my health. That made switching to natural floss a no-brainer.
BUT, if you go and grab the first brand of natural floss on the shelf, it just may be the thickest, most rope-like substance that you’ve ever come across. Who wants to feel like all of their teeth are going to fall out every time they floss? Not me!
Why Is Flossing Important?
Aside from the most glaring reason of having broccoli or cream cheese lodged in the impossible to reach spaces in between your teeth, flossing every day is just plain good for the overall health of your mouth. Brushing alone can’t reach between your teeth where plaque and destructive bacteria hide out.
Gingivitis and periodontal disease are two dental problems that can arise from not flossing. When bacteria from periodontitis enters the circulatory system, it can trigger an inflammatory response throughout the rest of the body.
This inflammation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (1, 2). In a 2010 study, patients with established coronary heart disease were more likely to have a coronary event if periodontal disease was also present (3). And research has found a link between periodontitis and other diseases such as Alzheimer’s (4) and diabetes (5). So let’s all get that floss out, shall we?
Why Avoid PFAS chemicals In Floss?
If you look on a package of floss, chances are you won’t find a list of ingredients. That’s because Dental floss manufacturers aren’t required to list the ingredients. In a 2019 study, researchers tested 18 brands of dental floss and found that 6 of the brands contained the chemical PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) (6).
PFAS has strong chemical bonds, so it’s super powerful at repelling water and oil, even at high temperatures. The drawback is that PFAS does not break down in our bodies. That’s concerning, since PFAS has been linked to certain types of cancer (7, 8). PFAS is also associated with autoimmune diseases (9), neurotoxicity, thyroid disease, reproductive issues, and other scary health effects (10, 11).
PFAS chemicals are endocrine disruptors and can also be found in waterproof cosmetics, stain resistant fabric, waterproof outdoor gear, unfiltered water and non-stick pans.
Don’t Purchase These Brands Of Floss
Remember the 2019 study I mentioned above that found some floss brands testing positive for PFAS (6)? I’ve listed those six floss brands below, along with one brand that states they use a non-stick coating in their product. If any of these brands of floss are in your medicine cabinet, throw them out now!
- Colgate Total Dental Floss Mint
- Crest Glide Deep Clean Cool Mint Floss
- CVS Health SuperSlip Ease Between Waxed
- Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Mint
- Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Original
- Signature Care Mint Waxed Comfort Floss
- GUM Eez-Thru Mint Floss (lists non-stick coating in description)
On the upside, there are dental products out there that don’t contain PFAS or other harmful chemicals. Health forward companies also list ingredients, even though it’s not required by law.
How I Tested Floss Brands
Luckily I floss twice a day, so I had plenty of opportunities to test out each brand of floss. My front teeth are fairly close together, so if any of the floss brands that I tested took effort to get in the spaces between my teeth or if the floss made my teeth hurt, I sent it to the “thick” floss pile.
There’s nothing wrong with the “thick” floss pile, but I personally can’t use thick floss. Hopefully it’s a good reference point for those of you starting on your natural floss journey. I also had Jeremy test each floss brand. He isn’t quite at the Olympic level of flossing that I am, but he agreed with my assessment of each brand of floss.
If you’re looking for non-toxic floss that free of harmful PFAS chemicals and artificial sweeteners, the brands listed below will get the spaces in between your teeth squeaky clean without the harmful chemicals.
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, it’s made with silk material. The package is glass, so it’s reusable. You can order refills.
- Cost: $0.40 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This is my favorite eco-friendly floss- I love that it’s biodegradable, and so far I’ve had no breakage when flossing. It’s on the thinner side as far as width, so it will fit in tight teeth spaces. I also like that its waxed with Candelilla wax so it’s gentle on my sensitive teeth and gums.
- From the Etee website: This PFAS-free floss is completely biodegradable & plastic-free. It comes in a glass container with a stainless steel lid.
- Ingredients: 100% Mulberry Silk, Candelilla wax, Natural Peppermint Flavoring
- Shop: Etee Waxed Silk Floss
- Is it biodegradable? No, the floss is made of polyester filaments, and the container is plastic.
- Cost: $0.31 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: I like how grippy Cocofloss is between my teeth – it really cleaned out the spaces between my teeth. This is Jeremy’s favorite since it doesn’t break between his teeth.
- From the Cocofloss website: This PFAS-free floss soothes your gums with coconut oil, a natural antimicrobial. Vegan wax enables Cocofloss to coast elegantly between tight contacts. Cruelty-free, vegan, gluten free, paraben free. Made in Italy. Cocofloss aromas are not all natural, except the mint flavor.
- Ingredients: Microcrystalline wax, coconut oil, spearmint oil, cornmint oil, anise camphor, menthol.
- Shop: Cocofloss Dental Floss
- Is it biodegradable? No, it’s made with nylon filaments. The container is plastic.
- Cost: $0.37 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This floss has the perfect level of thickness to fit between my teeth. I also love that it contains enamel-building hydroxyapatite that gets between your teeth.
- From the Risewell website: This PFAS-free floss is infused with hydroxyapatite to deliver remineralizing HA to the tough to reach spots between your teeth. Scrubby floss glides smoothly and comfortably between your teeth for optimal cleaning.
- Ingredients: Vegan Wax, Hydroxyapatite, Spearmint Oil, Xylitol, Stevia, Polyester Filament
- Shop: Risewell Scrubby Floss
Treebird Silk Eco Dental Floss
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, it’s made with silk material. The package is glass, so it’s reusable. You can order refills.
- Cost: $0.30 per yard
- Why I Love This Floss: I’m really impressed with this eco-friendly floss. I love that it’s biodegradable and compostable, and so far has very little breakage when flossing. It’s on the thinner side as far as width, so it will fit in tight teeth spaces. I also like that its waxed with Candelilla wax so it’s gentle on my sensitive teeth and gums.
- From the Treebird website: This PFAS-free floss is completely compostable & plastic-free.
- Ingredients: 100% Mulberry Silk, Candelilla wax, Mint Essential Oil Flavoring
- Shop: Treebird Silk Eco Dental Floss
- Is it biodegradable? No, it’s made with polyester fibers. The container is made with plastic-free FSC certified paperboard packaging, which can be easily recycled.
- Cost: $0.18 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This floss is stretchy and feels super comfy comfortable between my teeth. It’s really easy to floss with this!
- From the drTungs website: This PFAS-free floss is created with plastic-free packaging and without any sketchy chemicals. Dr. Tung’s Smart Floss is saving your gums–and the planet–one floss at a time. It gets an A+ in plaque removal, with its stealthy way of stretching and reaching in between every tooth.
- Ingredients: Cardamom flavor. Lightly waxed with a natural blend of vegetable and bees wax (no petrochemical wax)
- Shop: drTung’s Smart Floss
- Is it biodegradable? No, it’s made with nylon material. However, the package is biodegradable.
- Cost: $0.06 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This floss is the “skinniest” of all the floss brands that I tested. I had no problem getting it through my front teeth, which are really close together. It glided well when using, and I never experienced breakage of the floss. My one complaint is that the floss tasted medicinal. After looking at the ingredient list, I can see that 11 different essential oils were added. Maybe that’s overkill? I would prefer a basic mint flavor. The floss comes in a biodegradable container that is supposed to house the floss as you use it. It has a little metal piece for cutting off pieces of floss. The container ripped immediately, and I luckily had an old plastic floss container that I am using to house the Ecodent floss.
- From the Ecodent website: This PFAS-free floss uses 100% vegetable wax and glides easily between tight teeth contacts. It has a refreshing clean mint taste.
- Ingredients: Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba seed) oil, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, Oryza sativa (rice bran) oil, Oryza sativa (rice bran) wax, menthol, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, anethole, Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil, Citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) oil, Illicium verum (anise) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, Ocimum basilicum (basil) oil, Rosa damascene (rose) flower oil.
- Shop: Eco-Dent GentleFloss
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, the floss is made with corn fibers. The container is made of glass, so it’s reusable. You can purchase individual spools of floss after purchasing the glass container.
- Cost: $0.13 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This PFAS-free floss is from the UK, so I can only imagine Kate Middleton is flossing with this brand as I write. Cherrio Kate! It has a mint flavor that is the perfect amount of mintiness for me. It’s on the thin side of all the floss brands I tested, coming in at just a little thicker than the Ecodent, so it easily gets through all the spaces between my teeth. Since they’ve changed the formula, it does break on me more than the old formula made with silk.
- From the Georganics website: This natural floss comes in a reusable glass container with metal cap dispenser, to be used again and again with their refills (approximately 100 applications). Packed in a fully compostable, plastic-free kraft box and made from 100% compostable corn based PLA.
- Ingredients: Corn-base PLA, coated with Vegetable Wax and organic Spearmint Oil
- Shop: Georganics Natural Silk Floss
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, the floss is made with silk fibers. The container is made of plastic.
- Cost: $0.08 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This floss is on the medium thickness side. I could still get it between the spaces in my teeth, but it was thicker than both Ecodent, Georganics and Bambo Earth. The cashier at Natural Grocers mentioned that it was her favorite floss. I found it to be on the stiff and slightly knobby side as far as floss material goes.
- From the Radius website: This PFAS-free floss glides easily between teeth for a meticulously clean finish. It’s free from glutens, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, unnatural coloring, phthalates and parabens.
- Ingredients: Natural silk, candelilla plant wax.
- Shop: Radius Natural Silk Floss
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, the pick is biodegradable, but the thread is not (it’s nylon).
- Cost: $0.07 per pick
- Why I Love This Floss: I love that this company is catering toward those with small spaces between their teeth (like me). Try Smartlife Co. Kids Floss Picks too!
- From the Smartlife Co. website: These PFAS-free floss picks are 100% biodegradable and feature the thinnest thread on a pick. Made for tight gaps and sensitive gums.
- Ingredients: USDA BioBased Straw Wheat, PLA (bio-polymer), Nylon-4
- Shop: Smartlife Co. Floss Picks
- Is it biodegradable? No.
- Cost: $89.99
- Why I Love This Floss: I love that this 3-in-1 tool is a flosser, gum stimulator and tongue scraper with gentle vibrations to aid in dislodging plaque and bacteria. If you have braces, try the Slate Orthodontic Electric Flosser.
- From the Slate website: This PFAS-free 3-in-1 flosser disrupts and removes as much plaque and bacteria as possible while simultaneously stimulating the soft tissues of the mouth that also harbor bacteria. The floss heads have proven to last between one to three weeks.
- Ingredients: Woven polyethylene thread.
- Shop: Slate Electric Flosser
Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Floss
- Is it biodegradable? No, the floss is made of polyester filaments, and the container is plastic.
- Cost: $0.07 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This floss was too thick to get between the spaces in my teeth comfortably, but it may work if you have wide spaces between your teeth.
- From the Desert Essence website: This PFAS-free floss is infused with Australian Tea Tree Oil and a sweet fusion of mint to keep your breath fresh and clean. It helps remove plaque with regular use. Vegetarian, no animal testing, no alcohol, artificial detergents, color or synthetic perfumes.
- Ingredients: None listed except in the description. Desert Essence is a company that’s been around for over 35 years and is dedicated to bringing its customers quality products, listing all ingredients used in their products here.
- Shop: Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Floss
Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque Flat Floss
- Is it biodegradable? No, it’s made with nylon filaments. The container is plastic.
- Cost: $0.13 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: This floss was too thick to get through most of the spaces between my teeth, but if you have wide spaces between your teeth it may work for you.
- From the Tom’s of Maine website: This PFAS-free easy glide floss is naturally waxed to prevent snapping or fraying while removing particles efficiently and thoroughly to help keep teeth and gums healthy. No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Not tested on animals.
- Ingredients: Purified beeswax (Cera alba), Carnauba wax (Brazilian Wax Palm Tree), Spearmint (Mentha Viridis) Leave, Jojoba Wax, Acacia senegal gum, Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) resin extract, Propolis Cera.
- Shop: Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque Flat Floss
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, it’s made with silk material. The container is stainless steel, so it’s reusable. You can order refills.
- Cost: $0.14 per meter
- From the Wowe website: This PFAS-free 100% biodegradable dental floss is made from natural silk, natural candelilla wax, and natural essential oils. The silk is sustainably harvested.
- Ingredients: 100% peace silk, Candelilla wax, natural essential oil flavoring
- Shop: Wowe Silk Floss
Bambo Earth Pure Silk Eco Floss
- Is it biodegradable? Yes, the floss is made with silk fibers. The container is made of glass, so it’s reusable. You can purchase individual spools of floss after purchasing the glass container.
- Cost: $0.30 per meter
- Why I Love This Floss: I liked this floss, but it’s a little on the stiff side. It’s a little thicker than the Ecodent, but it still got through the close spaces between my teeth fairly easily. The main drawback is that the ingredients state “mint flavoring”, but give no detail on what that flavoring is.
- From the Bambo Earth website: This PFAS-free floss is made of the highest quality natural silk fiber and coated with candelilla wax to ensure easy and safe use. It features mint flavor for fresh and clean after-effect.
- Ingredients: Organic silk (floss fiber), candelilla wax, mint flavoring.
- Shop: Bambo Earth Pure Silk Eco Floss
The Humble Co. Natural Dental Floss Picks
- Is it biodegradable? No, it’s made with polypropylene and polyethylene.
- Cost: $0.07 per pick
- Why I Love This Floss: If traditional floss isn’t for you, this floss has an easy to use handle.
- From the drTungs website: These PFAS-free double-threaded floss picks are smooth, sturdy, and shred resistant with a flexible pick end. They removed more than half of the petroleum-based plastic found in conventional floss picks to offer a kinder pick.
- Ingredients: The pick handles are made from 53% plant-based material and 47% Polypropylene. The thread is made of Polyethylene.
- Shop: The Humble Co. Natural Dental Floss Picks
Tips When Shopping For Dental Floss
- When shopping for a coated floss, opt for a coating made of beeswax, carnauba wax, cerifera or natural candelilla wax.
- Avoid “nonstick” or “glides easily” when buying floss, as they are red flags for PFAS coating. PFAS coatings do not have to be disclosed.
- Look for natural fiber dental floss made from biodegradable materials like silk, as opposed to plastic.
- For flavored floss, look for essential oils and extracts on the ingredient list. Try to avoid ingredients listed as “flavor”, “natural flavors” or “artificial flavor”
- You can contact the floss company to ask if a specific product contains PFAS, plastic, or flavors.
Are Water Flossers Effective?
A randomized controlled study found that flossing with an oral irrigator was just as effective as regular flossing at removing interdental plaque. I’m personally going to stick with regular flossing, but for those with braces or for those with dexterity issues, an oral irrigator like this Waterpik Cordless Water Flosser works to dislodge particles.
Flossing With Braces
Both of my daughters used the Waterpik Cordless Water Flosser that was recommended by their orthodontist. I just came across the Slate Orthodontic Electric Flosser and it looks like it works well. A more budget-friendly option would be to use floss picks like these Plackers Orthopicks Floss Picks.
What Is Good Oral Hygiene?
Practicing proper oral care habits includes avoiding certain foods and beverages known for causing cavities (food and drinks high in sugar, starches and acid), brushing twice daily (I use hydroxyapatite toothpaste), flossing and getting regular dental checkups.
Why I Don’t Use Charcoal Dental Products
I’ve noticed that several brands of dental products now carry charcoal floss and toothpaste. It’s black, which weirds me out as far as dental products go, but beyond that, charcoal dental products can erode tooth enamel if used on a daily basis (12). A 2017 review found insufficient evidence to back up charcoal’s so-called teeth-beautifying benefits (13). I don’t feel the need to buy and test any floss or toothpaste that has the potential to erode the enamel on my teeth and has no proven benefits. This is a personal preference, but I thought I’d mention it.
More Natural Dental Inspiration
References
- Kebschull M, Demmer R, Papapanou P. “Gum bug, leave my heart alone!”—epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence linking periodontal infections and atherosclerosis. J Dent Res. 2010;89(9):879–902.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20639510 - Loos B. G., Teeuw W. J., & Nicu E. A. Plausible Mechanisms Explaining the Association of Periodontitis with Cardiovascular Diseases In Pedersen A. M. L. (Ed.), Oral Infections and General Health (pp. 19–33). The Netherlands: Springer International; 2016.
https://dare.uva.nl/search?identifier=61463817-7841-47b2-ad5c-818fedb01d99 - Dorn JM, Genco RJ, Grossi SG, Falkner KL, Hovey KM, Iacoviello L, et al. Periodontal disease and recurrent cardiovascular events in survivors of myocardial infarction (MI): the Western New York Acute MI Study. J Periodontol. 2010;81(4):502–11.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20367093 - Teixeira, F. et al. Periodontitis and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Possible Comorbidity between Oral Chronic Inflammatory Condition and Neuroinflammation. Front Aging Neurosci. 2017; 9: 327.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5649154/ - Preshaw, P.M. et al. Periodontitis and diabetes: a two-way relationship. Diabetologia. 2012 Jan; 55(1): 21–31.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228943/ - Boronow, K.E. et al. Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 29, pages206–217(2019).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-018-0109-y - Nicole, W. PFOA and Cancer in a Highly Exposed Community: New Findings from the C8 Science Panel. Environ Health Perspect. 2013 Nov-Dec; 121(11-12): A340.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855507/ - Hurley, S. et al. Breast cancer risk and serum levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances: a case-control study nested in the California Teachers Study. Environ Health. 2018; 17: 83.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6260688/ - Ulcerative colitis PFOA
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3734500/ - Schaider, L. Everyday Exposures to PFAS Chemicals. Silent Spring Institute.
https://silentspring.org/project/everyday-exposures-pfas-chemicals - Environmental Working Group. EWG Assessment of EPA Draft Human Health Risk Assessment for the Teflon Chemical PFOA. Nov. 2007.
https://www.ewg.org/research/ewg-assessment-epa-draft-human-health-risk-assessment-teflon-chemical-pfoa#.WkVkolQ-eCQ - Linda H. Greenwall, Joseph Greenwall-Cohen & Nairn H. F. Wilson. Charcoal-containing dentifrices. British Dental Journal volume 226, pages 697–700(2019).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-019-0232-8 - Brooks, J et al. Charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices: A literature review. JADA. September 2017 Volume 148, Issue 9, Pages 661–670.
https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(17)30412-9/fulltext
