Your Floss Shouldn’t Be Toxic

September 27, 2024

The Slate Electric Flosser is completely free of PFAS and PTFE but what exactly does that mean? Here at Slate, we prioritize sustainability alongside innovation, and that extends beyond just waste. We also care about what chemicals are used in the creation of our product. While designing the Slate Electric Flosser, Slate founders, Brynn Snyder and Dr. Danny Snyder, made the crucial but costly decision to use woven floss rather than tape floss in Slate’s floss heads (tape floss is MUCH cheaper). The driving force behind this decision was the overwhelming presence of PFAS found in tape floss. Chances are you’ve heard the terms PFAS and PTFE thrown around, so let’s break them down and explain why you absolutely do not want them in your floss.

PFAS & PFTE Explained

PFAS are a large class of synthetic chemicals under scrutiny for their health risks and environmental impact. You may have heard them referred to as forever chemicals because they don’t break down naturally. They stick around in soil, water, and even in human bodies, accumulating over time. “Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.” Unfortunately, PFAS are everywhere. Summer Streets, a research scientist for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, emphasized the massive scale of the PFAS problem. "Take high-volume production, wide usage, couple it with the fact that these compounds don’t break down, and they move readily through the environment," she says, "and you have the perfect recipe for global contamination."

You may also have heard of PTFE—the slick material often used in non-stick pans and, surprisingly, in some dental floss. Although many people refer to PFAS and PTFE separately, it’s important to understand that PTFE is part of the PFAS family and may cause similar problems.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) makes up about half the market for PFAS products and is widely used because of its slick, non-stick properties. PTFE (also known as Teflon) is most famous for its use in cookware, but it’s also found in textiles, electronics, and even dental floss. PTFE is partially responsible for tape floss’s ability to easily glide between your teeth. Much like the nonstick qualities of a Teflon pan, tape floss prevents your floss from sticking. Part of the issue here, is that some companies claim that their products are free of PFAS but still contain PTFE. There is a lot of debate about whether or not this is safe, or even possible.

ChemSec, an organization focused on chemical safety, has reported that some proponents of PTFE claim that it’s safe to use. The truth is that there isn’t enough solid evidence to definitively say so. As with many chemicals, we are often left with more questions than answers about their long-term effects on human health and the environment. However, much of the industry is moving away from PFAS, including PTFE, due to mounting concerns over their safety. Since manufacturers must use PFAS in order to produce PTFE, the chances that one is present without the other are slim. So, if you’re looking to make the switch to non-toxic products, it’s best to check that the products you’re using are free of BOTH PFAS and PTFE.

Do We Need PTFE in Floss?

NO. According to Streets, manufacturers don’t need to use PFAS in dental floss because safer, more sustainable alternatives exist. Many brands (like Slate) are already opting for other alternatives such as toxic-free woven floss or floss that utilizes natural coatings made from substances like beeswax, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax. These options provide the same level of ease in flossing without the added risk of toxic chemical exposure.

Non-toxic Innovation: The Slate Electric Flosser

Slate knows that consumers care about the ingredients in the products they use, especially when it comes to something as personal as dental floss. We’re proud to promote that Slate’s woven floss is not only more effective at grabbing and removing plaque than tape floss, but it’s also free of PFAS and PTFE. While designing the Slate Electric Flossser, our founders knew that a superior flossing tool should not only be innovative and effective but safe as well. If you don’t have a Slate Flosser yet but want to make the switch, click here to be directed to our product page!

If you’re a consistent flosser but you don’t use Slate, take a moment to do a bit of research. Is your floss toxic? Just because a company claims their product is safe doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free from harmful chemicals. Be sure to check their packaging and websites to find out if your preferred brand contains PFAS or PTFE. As consumers, we want you to be mindful of the ingredients in the products you use, especially those that come into contact with your body.

Let’s talk about some quick and essay steps to vetting your products. Consumer Report recently published some helpful tips to promote healthy, environmentally-friendly flossing and we want to share them with you!