Being a dental hygienist involves a lot of talking about dental floss. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Maybe not for the majority of people, but for me… I love talking about floss and all the differences between the main brands. All of my patients are different, with different dental floss needs, and what dental floss is made out of can have a big impact on that.
Dental floss is made out of nylon, silk, polyester filaments, or corn PLA and is unwaxed or waxed. Waxed floss uses either microcrystalline wax, candelilla wax, beeswax, carnauba, castor oil and/or rice bran wax. Flavourings used for floss include essential oils, aromas and/or sweeteners.
Below, I list the ingredients of 11 of the major dental floss brands in alphabetical order that I have used myself and recommend to patients (I never recommend a product that I have never used). I only included the brands I have used myself, so this is as authentic as possible!
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1. Burst floss ingredient list
Mint Eucalyptus Flavour
Ingredient List: microcrystalline wax, aroma (flavour), charcoal powder, limonene, xylitol, sucralose, linalool, eugenol.
*Mint Eucalyptus expanding floss contains both natural mint and essential oil. The formulation doesn’t contain any salicylates.
Juniper Berry Flavour
Ingredient List: microcrystalline wax, charcoal powder, maltodextrin, aroma (flavour), Juniperus communis fruit oil, cyclodextrin, citric acid, xylitol, sucralose, potassium sorbate, limonene.
Both Burst floss products are made from texturized polyester!
2. Crest/Oral-B dental floss ingredients
For the Crest/Oral-B ingredients, the function/explanation of each ingredient is in brackets for example; Beeswax (Gripability).
Oral-B Complete Floss Picks
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), Gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), Mint (flavour), WS 3 (Coolant), FD&C Blue (colour), Polypropylene (Handle), PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene) fibre (Cleaning).
Essential Floss Unwaxed
Ingredient List: Polyamide polymer (Nylon) (Fiber integrity), Polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Fiber feel), Flavour, Saccharin (Sweetener), Isoeicosane (Solvent), Glyceryl Oleate (Humectant), Tri(nonylphenyl) phosphite (TNPP) (Antioxidant), Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Surfactant), Cyclotetrasiloxane (Processing aid).
Essential Floss Waxed
Ingredient List: Polyamide polymer (Nylon) (Fiber integrity), Polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Fiber feel), Flavor, Microcrystalline Wax (Gripability), Saccharin (Sweetener), Isoeicosane (Solvent), Glyceryl Oleate (Humectant), Tri(nonylphenyl) phosphite (TNPP) (Antioxidant), Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Surfactant), Cyclotetrasiloxane (Processing aid).
Essential Floss Mint Waxed
Ingredient List: Polyamide polymer (Nylon) (Fiber integrity), Polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Fiber feel), Flavour, Microcrystalline Wax (Gripability), Saccharin (Sweetener), Glyceryl Oleate (Humectant) Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (Antioxidant).
Oral-B Super Floss Unflavored
Ingredient List: Polyamide polymer (Nylon) (Cleaning), Polyacrylate (Fiber bonding), Microcrystalline Wax (Improved handling/grip), Isoeicosane (Viscosity), Glyceryl Oleate (Emulsifier), Cyclotetrasiloxane (Processing aid), Flavor, Hydrogenated castor oil (Surfactant), Saccharin (Sweetener), Tri(nonylphenyl) Phosphite (TNPP) (Antioxidant), Dualake Mint Green (Green colourant).
Oral-B Super Floss Mint
Ingredient List: Polyamide polymer (Nylon) (Cleaning), Polyacrylate (Fiber bonding), Flavor, Microcrystalline Wax (Improved handling/grip), Glyceryl Oleate (Emulsifier), Isoeicosane (Viscosity), Saccharin (Sweetener), Dualake Mint Green (Green colourant), Tri(nonylphenyl) Phosphite (TNPP) (Antioxidant).
Oral-B Glide 3D White Floss
Ingredient List: Floss (ePTFE), Flavor (Flavoring Agent), Acacia Senegal Gum (Adhesive), Beeswax (Binder), Water (Solvent), Potassium Acesulfame (Flavoring Agent), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Surfactant), Glycerin (Humectants), Silica (Abrasive).
Oral-B Glide 3D White Floss Picks
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), Acesulfame (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), Mint (flavour), WS 3 (Coolant), Polypropylene (Handle), PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene ) fibre (Cleaning).
Oral-B Glide Sensi-Soft Floss
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), Gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), Mint (flavour), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (emulsifier), PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene ) fibre (Cleaning).
Oral-B Glide Plus Scope Outlast Floss Picks
Ingredient List: Polypropylene (Handle), Polytetrafluoroethylene (Fiber), Flavour, Gum Arabic (Encapsulant), Beeswax (Grip), Potassium Acesulfame (Sweetener), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Emulsifier), Glycerin (Humectant), Silica (Dental Type NF Zeodent 119) (Abrasive), Water (deionized)(Solvent).
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Floss Picks Deep Clean Angle
Ingredient List: Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) The material Glide floss is made of enables the floss to slide easily between teeth but makes it slippery to hold onto without the light coating of wax., Mint (Natural Flavor), Acesulfame K (Artificial sweetener), Gum Arabic (Thickening agent), Glycerin (Helps during processing), Silica (Cleaning), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Original Floss
Ingredient List: Polytetrafluorethylene (Fiber), Beeswax (Gripability).
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Mint Floss
Ingredient List: Polytetrafluorethylene (Fiber), Beeswax (Gripability), Flavour.
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Advanced Floss
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), Gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame Potassium (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), peppermint oil (flavour), WS 23 (Coolant), Outlast (G180) (Coolant), Cetylpyridinium Chloride (Emulsifier), FD&C Blue no 1 (Colour), PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene) fibre (Cleaning).
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Advanced Floss Picks
(Only Version with no Wax)
Ingredient List: Polypropylene (Handle), Polypropylene colourant (Handle colourant), Polypropylene nucleating agent (Additive), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Fiber.
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Cool Mint Floss Picks
Ingredient List: Polypropylene (Handle), Polypropylene Concentrate Blue 17633 (Handle Colorant), Beeswax (Gripability), Gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame Potassium (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), Peppermint Oil (Flavor), WS 3 (Coolant), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Emulsifier), PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene )(fibre).
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean Floss
Ingredient List: Polytetrafluoroethylene Fiber, Flavor, Gum Arabic (Encapsulant), Beeswax (Grip), Potassium Acesulfame (Sweetener), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Emulsifier), Glycerin (Humectant).
Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Threader Floss
Ingredient List: Polytetrafluoroethylene Fiber, Beeswax (Grip), Nylon filament (Threader), Hot-melt adhesive (Bonding).
Oral-B Glide Floss Pro-Health Multi Protection
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), Gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame Potassium (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), Peppermint Oil (Flavor), WS 3 (Coolant), Outlast (G180) (Coolant), Sodium Pyrophosphate (Cleaning), Cetylpyridinium Chloride (Emulsifier and kill bacteria), FD&C Blue No 1 (Colorant), Yellow No 5 Colorant, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene ) fibre (Cleaning).
Oral-B Glide Deep Clean Floss Picks
Ingredient List: Polypropylene (Handle), Polypropylene colourant (Handle colour), Polypropylene nucleating agent (Additive), PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) fibre (Cleaning), Flavour, Gum Arabic (Binder), Beeswax (Gripability), Acesulfame Potassium (Sweetener), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Emulsifier), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier).
Oral-B Pro Health Comfort Floss
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), Gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), Water (Carrier), Mint (flavour), WS 3 (Coolant), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (emulsifier), PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene) fibre (Cleaning).
Oral-B Pro Expert Premium Floss
Ingredient List: Beeswax (Gripability), gum Arabic (Binder), Acesulfame (Sweetener), Glycerin (Carrier), CPC (cetylpyridium chloride) (Emulsifier), Water (Carrier), peppermint (flavour), FD&C Blue (colour), WS 3 (Coolant), PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene) fibre (Cleaning).
MINT: Satin Floss/Satin Tape
Ingredient List: Polyamide polymer (Nylon) Fiber integrity (strength), Polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Pebax) Fiber feel (lubricity), Flavour, Microcrystalline Wax (Gripability), Mineral oil (Carrier), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (Antioxidant).
UNFLAVORED: Satin Floss/Satin Tape
Ingredient List: PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) fibre, Nylon (Provides lubricity and allows easy insertion between teeth), Peabax (Provides lubricity and allows easy insertion between teeth), Microcrystalline Wax, Mineral Oil, and BHT Act as a binder for the powder flavour.
3. Cocofloss dental floss ingredients
Cocofloss is made of polyester filaments infused with microcrystalline wax, coconut oil, essential oils, and aromas. It is also gluten-free and soy-free! The specific added ingredients for flavourings and aromas are indicated below for each flavour option:
Delicious Mint: spearmint oil, corn mint oil, anise camphor, menthol
Fresh Coconut: triacetin, propylene glycol, ethyl vanillin
Pure Strawberry: Triacetin, propylene glycol, furaneol, leaf alcohol, methyl cinnamate, caproic acid
Cara Cara Orange: orange sweet oil, lemon oil, citral, lauryl alcohol
Delicious Mint is 100% naturally fragranced.
I love Cocofloss because it uses over 500 filaments of the polyester filaments that come together and act as a spongy string that grabs and holds onto the plaque really well to give a better clean than most of the smooth gliding floss!
Holly Verran RDH
I love this floss so much that I pay extra for it to be shipped to my home here in Canada!
4. Colgate dental floss ingredients
Ingredient List:
- PTFE-free floss fiber
- Mint flavour wax
- Micro-crystalline coating
5. Dr. Tungs dental floss ingredients
Ingredient List: multi-filament polyester fibre, natural cardamom essential oil, vegetable/beeswax blend. It contains beeswax plus one or more of candelilla, carnauba, castor oil and rice bran wax.
Dr. Tungs Smart Floss does not contain genetically modified ingredients, known allergens, phthalates, soy or silica and is dairy-free, gluten-free and fluoride-free.
6. GUM
GUM has been extremely hard to reach and has not gotten back to me about the ingredients in their floss. I have recently sent several follow-up emails, but still no response. Poor communication from such a large company.
7. Johnson and Johnson Listerine dental floss ingredients
I have been on the hunt for the complete list of ingredients of all the REACH/J&J/Listerine dental floss products. I never received a reply to my multiple enquiries, which I think is bad because ingredients should be easy to source.
8. Plackers dental floss ingredients
Plackers are an awesome alternative to using string floss. I especially love the ones made for braces, and I always recommend them to my patients who are going through orthodontic treatment!
Holly Verran RDH
The following information was sent to me from the Plackers company.
“Artificial mint flavour – polyethylene glycol, sucralose, food grade PEG,
The materials in the Gentle Slide consist of a plastic handle is made of Acrylonitrile Butly Styrene and the floss fibre, made of PTFE. The only Plackers flosser that is made with PTFE is our Gentle Slide flosser. Our other flossers are made with UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene).
No PFAS/PFOS was detected in third-party testing performed on Ranir PTFE floss fibre. All Plackers PTFE floss is subject to rigorous safety and quality assurance testing and complies with strict industry and government regulations. It is generally recognized as safe by the FDA and we stand behind the safety of our products.”
Read Now: Plackers vs String Floss: Do Picks Work as Well as String?
9. Quip dental floss ingredients
I have only used Quip floss once because I ordered their battery-powered toothbrush. The floss was good quality but shredded a bit because my teeth are tight together.
- Quip Floss is made with a mint-flavoured expanding waxed nylon string
- Rigid end wax – Food-grade carnauba wax
- Floss wax – Vegan microcrystalline wax
- Pre-marked ink – Food-grade dye
- Flavour – Natural peppermint
- String is Vegan and Kosher
- Does not contain Gluten but may be made in a facility that works with other products that do
- Free of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is commonly found in Teflon, poly-perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- BPA-free
10. Radius dental floss ingredients
Peppermint Sponge Floss- Virgin Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Erythritol, Soft Nylon
Clove Cardamom Sponge Floss- Virgin Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Cardamom Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Erythritol, Clove Flavor, Soft Nylon
Vanilla Mint Sponge Floss – Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Spearmint Oil, Vanilla Flavor, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Erythritol, Soft Nylon
Biodegradable Green Tea Jasmine Silk Floss – Virgin Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Oriental Jasmine Green Tea, Erythritol, Natural Silk
Natural Biodegradable Silk Unscented- Natural Silk, Candelilla Plant Wax
Natural Biodegradable Silk Floss Sachets – Natural Silk, Candelilla Plant Wax
Vegan Xylitol Mint Floss Sachets –USA-made Xylitol, Natural Mint, Natural Tea Tree Oil, Vegan Candelilla Plant, Wax, Soft Nylon
Vegan Xylitol Cranberry Floss Sachets – USA-made Xylitol, Natural Cranberry Essence, Candelilla Plant Wax, Soft Nylon
11. Toms of Maine dental floss ingredients
Ingredient List: Beeswax, Carnauba wax, Natural Flavor, Jojoba Wax, Acacia senegal gum, Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) resin extract, Propolis Cera, multiple nylon filaments woven together.
I hope that you have found what you are looking for in this post. Dental floss can seem simple, but it really isn’t, as they all vary in the materials and ingredients they are made out of.
Keep up the flossing!
Holly 🙂