Nylon or PTFE floss swap to Silk floss

Why make the swap

• Why switch to silk floss

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

• What's the concern with nylon or PTFE floss

  Some smooth flosses, including Oral-B’s Glide before its 2026 reformulation, used PTFE, a PFAS, pressed against your gums every day. Women who used one popular brand had higher levels of one PFAS in their blood, a link, not proof it came from the floss. Nylon floss is plastic.

• General information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing or have a health condition.

• Good to know before you buy

  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 (4)

  1. Boronow et al. 2019: Glide users had higher blood PFHxS (opens in a new tab)
  2. Silent Spring (2026): Oral-B removed PFAS, including PTFE, from Glide (opens in a new tab)
  3. TreeBird listing: peace silk coated with candelilla wax, paper packaging (opens in a new tab)
  4. Colgate: the two main floss types are nylon (multifilament) and PTFE (monofilament) (opens in a new tab)

  Health and safety facts on this page come from these sources. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.