Oral-B Glide Floss
The definitive PTFE floss - its slick "glide" comes from a fluoropolymer monofilament in the PFAS family, and independent testing has repeatedly flagged it. Choose a silk floss instead.
The verdict: Mostly plastic
Glide's signature slickness comes from a PTFE monofilament - polytetra- fluoroethylene, a fluoropolymer in the PFAS family - which is the exact material a silk floss avoids by construction. This is the historically definitive PTFE floss: an independent 2024 lab found a Glide product roughly 24% fluorine by mass, and a peer-reviewed 2019 study (Boronow et al.) linked Glide use to about 25% higher blood PFHxS. In early 2026 P&G said it had reformulated Glide to drop PTFE in favor of a "micro-textured fiber" - a claim that, as of writing, has not been independently verified, with older PTFE stock still on shelves. Per-use exposure from any one strand is modest, but it's real, cumulative, and entirely avoidable - so the slick-monofilament class is the signal to skip.
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Skin contact |
|---|---|---|
| thread PTFE monofilament - a fluoropolymer/PFAS | PTFE / Teflon nonstick fluoropolymer | Yes primary |
| dispenser | Plastic other / unspecified | No |
A single-filament floss sold on how smoothly it slides between tight contacts, dispensed from a molded plastic case. The low-friction feel is the PTFE monofilament doing its job; it's stronger and less shred-prone than woven floss, which is much of its appeal.
Pros
- Slick monofilament slides easily into very tight contacts
- Strong and shred-resistant compared with woven thread
Cons
- The thread is PTFE - a fluoropolymer in the PFAS family - dragged along the gumline each use
- Independent testing repeatedly flags Glide highest in organic fluorine, and a study tied its use to higher blood PFAS
- The 2026 "reformulated, PTFE-free" claim is self-reported and unverified, with older PTFE stock still circulating
Categories: Dental Floss
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://oralb.com Glide floss product line
- study https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0109-y Boronow et al. 2019 - Glide use tied to higher serum PFHxS
- other https://www.mamavation.com/beauty/toxic-pfas-dental-floss-tooth-floss.html 2024 lab test - Glide highest organic fluorine, ~24% by mass
- other https://silentspring.org/news/oral-b-stops-using-teflon-its-popular-glide-dental-floss 2026 reformulation claim, not independently verified
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