The 9 Best Dental Floss & Floss Picks – Non-Toxic and PFA-Free
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Before I started my clean journey, I never thought about picking a clean, non-toxic dental floss and pick. After I started looking into clean products, I couldn’t believe that dental floss and floss picks were another thing I needed to be cautious about! Once you go down the rabbit hole of finding clean products, it can get pretty expensive to change everything at once. At least dental floss is inexpensive so it’s easy to switch if you know what you are looking for.
What Are The Toxins In Dental Floss?
I decided to look at all of the ingredients in dental floss and here are some things to avoid:
Fluoride, PFAs, Hydroxyapatite, Charcoal, Preservatives, Petroleum-based wax, Natural Flavors/Artificial Flavors, Artificial Colors, Fragrances, Plastic.
If you want to know why I don’t recommend fluoride, hydroxyapatite, or charcoal, check out my non-toxic toothpaste article for more info. As for the other ingredients, I’ve touched on a few of them below.
What Is Dental Floss Thread Made Of?
During my research, I found the most common materials are plastic, nylon, polyester, bamboo, or silk. Silk and bamboo dental floss are the safest and are biodegradable. They do not contain plastic or petroleum. Although silk comes from silkworms, many of these companies are cruelty-free because they gather silk from the cocoon after the moth has flown away. If you are looking for vegan floss, bamboo is the way to go. Before researching nylon and polyester, I didn’t think that they seemed bad, however, I found that both are made from plastic. They are also not environmentally friendly because they aren’t biodegradable.
In addition to looking at the thread of dental floss, it’s also important to pay attention to the wax. Some waxes on dental floss are petroleum-based wax. Petroleum is used to make gasoline! I definitely wouldn’t want to put that into my mouth. There are two waxes that I am familiar with that are plant-based and safe to use. Those waxes are candelilla wax and carnauba wax. Beeswax is also a safe option.
What Are PFAs?
Did you know that dental floss also contains PFAs? PFAs (per- and polyfluorinated compounds) are manufactured chemicals that break down very slowly and build up in our bodies over time. They can cause negative health effects down the line including hormone disruption, developmental delays in children, cancer, infertility issues, increased cholesterol, immune system problems, and increased risk of obesity (source). Unfortunately, PFAs are also found in food packaging, drinking water, non-stick cookware, and water-resistant clothing, carpets, and furniture. Make sure your water filter filters out PFAs. Here is a list of water filters that do the job. Also if you are looking for PFA-free air fryers, check out this article.
What Is The Safest Dental Floss To Use?
When searching for dental floss and floss picks, I searched for floss that was made out of silk or bamboo, unwaxed or made with plant-based waxes (instead of petroleum-based waxes), had no artificial flavors (I chose only flavored floss that was flavored with essential oils), and were PFA-free.
Although most of the items on my list are made of silk, I ended up leaving a few dental flosses and floss picks that are made out of polyester and nylon for one reason or another. I included everything in the description so you’ll be able to make the best-informed choice that works for you. With that said, all the other ingredients in the dental flosses below are safe and PFA-free. Take a look below and make the switch to clean dental floss and floss picks today!
1. Tree Bird Floss Dental Floss
This dental floss is made with biodegradable silk and coated with plant-based candelilla wax. It’s also flavored with natural mint essential oils. No artificial flavors, fragrances, or colors. No petroleum-based wax. No PFAs. This dental floss is sold in a reusable glass container that can be filled with future Tree Bird dental floss refills. The dental floss packaging is a compostable cardboard box. It’s made from recycled cardboard and the ink is made from soybean which breaks down quicker than petroleum or oil-based inks.
2. Nudge Pure Silk Floss Dental Floss for Sensitive Gums, PFAS Free All Natural Floss Made with Silk and Candelilla Wax, Sustainable Floss in a Reusable Glass Container
This dental floss is PFA-free and made with 2 ingredients, sustainable silk and candelilla wax. Like tree bird dental floss, it comes in a reusable glass container and you can buy refills on Amazon as well. It is packaged in a recycled cardboard container and is made in facilities that are known for treating workers fairly. In addition, it’s Leaping Bunny Certified.
3. SMARTLIFECO USDA Organic Bamboo Silk and Candelilla Wax Dental Floss
This USDA Organic bamboo silk floss is made up of only two ingredients, bamboo and candelilla wax. There are flavored options, but the description says “naturally flavored”. Since I assume “naturally flavored” means natural flavors, I would stay away from that one and go for the unflavored one. All steer clear of the charcoal one. The unflavored one is perfect!
This vegan PFA-free floss comes in sustainable packaging, FSC Certified recycled material and is hypoallergenic. It is fully compostable as well. Bamboo silk is less likely to fray, shred, or break while you floss. This floss is also backed with a guarantee. Shop now!
4. One Planet Dental Floss
This dental floss is made up of biodegradable silk, candelilla wax, and peppermint essential oil. Peppermint essential oil should be avoided in children so I would only use this one for adults and teens. It’s PFA-free, natural, biodegradable, and comes in compostable packaging. It also doesn’t contain any artificial dyes or plastic. A portion of this company’s proceeds is donated to programs in Australia, which provide dental health education and treatment to disadvantaged communities. This dental floss isn’t vegan since it comes from silk worms, but it is 100% cruelty-free since the silk is harvested from cocoons after the moth has hatched and flown away.
5. WooBamboo! All Natural Silk Floss Dental Floss
This non-toxic dental floss is made up of silk, beeswax, and mint flavoring (made up of spearmint oil, cornmint oil, and menthol). It’s PFA-free and plastic-free. The box is made up of post-consumer recycled paper coated in an eco-friendly aqueous coating that breaks down completely in nature. The sachet that keeps the floss spool sanitary is made from wood pulp and is also 100% home compostable.
This company is the world’s first Certified Plastic Negative oral care brand. Not only do they not use plastic in any of their products, every product purchased helps fund the removal of plastic from highly polluted areas across the globe. That sounds pretty great! If you want a 4-pack instead of a 2-pack, you can buy it here.
6. RADIUS Natural Unscented Silk Dental Floss
This dental floss is only made up of two ingredients, silk and carnauba wax (a safe plant-based wax). This natural floss is PFA-free, plastic-free, 100% biodegradable, and comes in 100% recyclable packaging. In addition, it’s made in a fair trade facility. Like all the dental flosses on this list, this dental floss is free of gluten, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, unnatural coloring, phthalates, parabens, and other harmful additives. You can purchase this in a pack of 3 or 6 at the link below. This one is definitely in the running for the best dental floss.
7. SMARTLIFECO Biodegradable Floss Picks – Natural Plastic Free Tooth Flosser for Adults & Kids
I was looking for dental floss picks made of silk that didn’t contain other harmful ingredients, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. These floss picks are made out of nylon thread. It is not as clean as silk, but it is still a good option if you prefer floss picks over string dental floss.
The other materials with these dental floss picks look good! The nylon is unwaxed and PFA-free. In addition, the handles are plastic-free and made out of straw wheat. They are 100% biodegradable, unflavored, gluten-free, vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and come with a toothpick on the end. If you are looking for floss picks, I would go with this these!
8. hello Peppermint Floss Picks, Natural Peppermint + Xylitol Infused, Pfas-Free Thread
This company does not say what material they use for the thread of their floss picks, however, they do say that the thread is coated with candelilla wax with xylitol, peppermint essential oil, and coconut oil. Other than not disclosing what material the floss thread is made of, all other ingredients are safe. Xylitol also helps with cavity prevention. They also say that they use a plant-based material to make the handle of the floss picks. These floss picks are PFA-free, non-GMO, vegan, cruelty-free, and no shred.
9. Slate Electric Flosser with 25 Green Reusable Floss Heads | Reusuable Floss Pick
I had to include this one because it’s pretty cool, but like some other ones on this list, the thread is made of nylon instead of silk. Also the tool is made of plastic so you’d have to decide if that works for you. Other than those two things, this electric flosser is clean. The thread is unwaxed, it’s PFA-free and doesn’t have anything artificial added. What I love about it is that you can use the same floss head for a week. Just floss, rinse, and reuse. There is also a tongue scraper on the device as well.
Final Thoughts On The Best Dental Floss And Floss Picks…….
Choosing the right dental floss and floss picks is just as important as daily flossing! This clean list above avoids toxic things like fluoride, PFAs, hydroxyapatite, charcoal, preservatives, petroleum-based wax, natural flavors/artificial flavors, artificial colors, and fragrances. I also tried to avoid plastic on the majority of them.
If flossing isn’t cutting it for you and you find yourself with cavities often, have you looked into water flossers? Water flossers are up to two times as effective as string floss for improving gum health. Water flossers are made of plastic so they aren’t completely toxin-free, however, they are PFA-free and free of all the other offenders listed above. It’s all about reducing your toxic load and finding products that work for you. No one is perfect. If you do decide to use a water flosser, I have heard good things about the Waterpik water flosser.
It says to put warm water in it. I would use more room temperature/cool water just because plastic leaches chemicals when it is hot. That is just my opinion and what I would do. Feel free to do as you please and/or follow the instructions. With that said, hopefully, you find the best dental floss and floss picks (or water flosser) that work for you and your family! Good luck taking your next step to clean mindful living.
Are you looking for non-toxic fluoride-free toothpaste? Check out my toothpaste article here!
