Dental floss containing PFAS chemicals has prompted scrutiny from consumer advocacy groups, with a recent report from Consumer Reports identifying several flosses utilizing the substances. The chemicals, linked to a range of health problems, are used to support floss slide more easily between teeth, but concerns are growing about their potential impact on human health and the environment.
The issue extends beyond floss, encompassing a wide range of dental products. Toothbrushes, with their plastic handles and bristles, contribute to plastic waste. Toothpaste, typically packaged in plastic tubes, and mouthwash bottles add to the problem. Even dental appliances like retainers and mouthguards, as well as fillings and whitening strips, are largely plastic-based, according to reporting from NBC News.
The plastics used in these products – nylon and polyester among them – are durable and hygienic, but they also shed microplastics as they are used and discarded. These microplastics, defined as particles between 1 and 5 millimeters in diameter, are increasingly being detected in human organs, breast milk, and urine, raising questions about their biological effects. The EPA estimates these particles can take between 100 and 1,000 years to decompose, leading to long-term environmental contamination.
Research published in The Conversation highlights that even seemingly eco-friendly alternatives can contribute to microplastic pollution. While bamboo toothbrushes and natural-fiber flosses reduce plastic waste, the shedding of bristles and fibers remains a concern. The shift away from mercury-containing amalgam fillings to resin-based composite fillings, while intended to reduce mercury pollution, may introduce new environmental risks as these plastic fillings break down and release pollutants.
Alternatives are emerging. Companies like David’s offer bamboo toothbrushes, and The Humble Co. Produces toothpaste tablets. SmartLifeco provides floss picks marketed as low-plastic, and Boka offers mouthwash tablets. However, finding plastic-free options for all dental care needs, particularly retainers and mouthguards, remains challenging, as noted by NBC News.
The UN Minamata Convention treaty in 2013 urged countries to phase out dental amalgam to cut mercury pollution, driving the adoption of resin-based composite fillings. However, a 2022 review in the British Dental Journal raised concerns about the potential for these fillings to contribute to pollution as they degrade, suggesting that the environmental costs of plastic fillings are only beginning to be understood.
