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Myth vs fact · Bathroom

Is Glide floss bad for you? The coating changed

Not any more, its maker says: the new floss isn’t made with PTFE, a PFAS. Older smooth floss was, so check the label or choose silk.

Some smooth floss was coated with PTFE, a PFAS. Glide’s maker says its new floss no longer is, but not every smooth floss says what it’s coated with.

2 min read · Written by · Checked · 3 sources

Myth

Smooth floss is full of PFAS.

Fact

Some smooth floss used to be coated with PTFE. A big brand has since dropped it, so check the label.

What changed, in order

  1. The coatingSome smooth flosses were coated with PTFE, a PFAS, so they glide between teeth.
  2. 2019 studyOf 178 women, those who used a PTFE-coated floss had higher levels of one PFAS in their blood. Source 1
  3. Since thenA big brand dropped PTFE from its smooth floss. Others may still use it. Source 2
The study measured blood levels, not health effects.

Was Glide floss coated with PTFE?

Yes: Glide and some other smooth flosses were coated with PTFE, the slippery coating also used on non-stick pans, and PTFE is a PFAS. Source 2

In a 2019 study of 178 women, those who used a PTFE-coated floss had higher levels of PFHxS, one PFAS, in their blood. It measured blood levels, not health effects. Source 1

Is Glide still made with PTFE?

No, its maker says. Oral-B’s own page says: “The new Glide floss fiber material is no longer formulated with PTFE.” It says the new floss is made of nylon and an elastic material. Source 3

Other smooth flosses may still use PTFE, so check the label.

Is there a plastic-free floss?

Silk floss coated in plant wax: a natural fibre, with no fluoropolymer coating and no nylon.

Silk is softer than nylon and can fray between tight teeth, so guide it gently. It isn’t vegan. Makers’ ‘PFAS-free’ claims aren’t independently tested.

Sources (3)
  1. Boronow et al. 2019: users of PTFE-coated floss had higher blood PFHxS
  2. Silent Spring Institute: a big brand dropped PTFE from its floss
  3. Oral-B: “The new Glide floss fiber material is no longer formulated with PTFE” (maker’s page, last updated Dec 2025)

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