Is your dental floss a health hazard?

Unlike many people, I’ve never dreaded visits to the dentist. I’ve been dealt a pretty good hand when it comes to dental health, and I’m grateful to have avoided fillings, crowns, root canals, and periodontal disease.

Along with good genetics, I floss daily, which dentists say is crucial to keeping teeth and gums healthy. However, I hadn’t considered what dental floss is made of or the chemicals it may contain. For most widely available brands, the news isn’t good.

It turns out that the substances used by many brands that make their floss glide easily between teeth are none other than PFAS, or forever chemicals. That’s right, the chemicals that never break down and are linked to hormone disruptions, kidney disease, cancer, and other serious health issues.

Additionally, floss itself is typically made from plastic, which contains chemicals like bisphenols and phthalates—also linked to serious health conditions for us and the planet.

Currently, floss manufacturers aren’t required to disclose their products’ ingredients, which makes finding non-plastic and PFAS-free brands challenging.

Fortunately, in this Consumer Reports article, you’ll learn their top choices for the cleanest floss, as well as the biggest offenders to avoid. I know I’ll be switching brands.
https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/dental-floss-...