Some dental floss makers drop Teflon-like PFAS material
Some dental floss makers are quietly moving away from PTFE, a material in the PFAS family of "forever chemicals," according to The Washington Post. Procter and Gamble confirmed that Oral-B Glide floss has been reformulated without PTFE and PFAS. Experts say people should keep flossing.
Some dental floss makers are quietly dropping PTFE, the slippery synthetic material best known by the brand name Teflon, according to The Washington Post.
PTFE falls under PFAS, the group of so-called "forever chemicals," The Washington Post reported. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to health effects including a risk of certain cancers, reduced immune response and reproductive problems, though such risks have not been established specifically for PTFE, The Washington Post reported.
A Procter and Gamble spokesperson confirmed that Oral-B Glide floss has been reformulated to remove both PTFE and PFAS, The Washington Post reported. It now uses a "micro-textured fiber" made of nylon and elastic materials, the company said, according to The Washington Post. Some users online have said the new floss feels rougher, The Washington Post reported.
Colgate began removing PTFE from its floss in 2022, citing consumer concerns while maintaining that PTFE was "a safe ingredient in our dental floss," The Washington Post reported, citing a statement Colgate gave to a Danish consumer group.
A 2019 Silent Spring Institute study found that women who reported using Oral-B Glide had higher levels of another forever chemical in their blood, The Washington Post reported. The researchers found an association but did not establish the floss as the source, The Washington Post reported. Minnesota last year banned intentionally added PFAS in 11 categories of consumer products, including dental floss, The Washington Post reported.
The American Dental Association said ingredient questions are "best directed to the manufacturers," The Washington Post reported. "I would certainly look for floss that is PTFE-free," said Laurel Schaider, a senior scientist at the Silent Spring Institute, according to The Washington Post. "You should find a floss that works for you because it's really important to floss," she said.
What we know: Procter and Gamble says Oral-B Glide no longer contains PTFE or PFAS, and Colgate began removing PTFE in 2022.
What we don't: Only The Washington Post has reported this so far; NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation. Health risks have not been established specifically for PTFE in floss.
Where outlets agree This is one outlet's report: The Washington Post is the only outlet NewsHabit has counted for this story so far.
Where they differ The Washington Post reports on concerns about PTFE in floss, while Colgate maintains PTFE was a safe ingredient and researchers say the 2019 study did not establish floss as the source of higher PFAS levels.