# Biodegradable Dental Floss: What the Research Shows >

What Cochrane says about flossing, a study linking some conventional floss to PFAS, and which claims about biodegradable silk floss still lack proof.

- **URL:** https://sampsonecoshop.com/blogs/sampson-learning-center/biodegradable-dental-floss-what-the-research-shows Biodegradable dental floss is floss made from natural fibres such as silk instead of nylon, so it is meant to break down rather than sit in a landfill. This guide covers what the research says about flossing, a study linking some conventional floss to PFAS, and what we could not verify about biodegradability. We sell a [silk dental floss](/products/silk-dental-floss), so read this with that in mind. Where our own listing says more than the sources do, this page says so. For related swaps, see our [bamboo toothbrush vs plastic guide](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/bamboo-toothbrush-vs-plastic-what-the-research-shows) and our [fluoride-free toothpaste guide](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/fluoride-free-toothpaste-what-the-research-shows). In this guide [What Is Biodegradable Dental Floss?](#what-is-biodegradable-dental-floss) [Does Flossing Work at All?](#does-flossing-work-at-all) [Is Some Conventional Floss Linked to PFAS?](#is-some-conventional-floss-linked-to-pfas) [How Do You Choose a Biodegradable Dental Floss?](#how-do-you-choose-a-biodegradable-dental-floss) [What Do We Know About Our Silk Dental Floss?](#what-do-we-know-about-our-silk-dental-floss) [When Should You See a Dentist About Your Gums?](#when-should-you-see-a-dentist-about-your-gums) [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) **Key takeaways** A 2019 Cochrane review found low-certainty evidence that flossing, on top of toothbrushing, may reduce gingivitis at one month, based on 8 trials with 585 participants. A 2019 study of 178 women linked flossing with Oral-B Glide to higher blood levels of one PFAS chemical, and all three Glide products tested positive for fluorine. Silk floss is a natural-fibre alternative. Our listing says it breaks down fully, but we found no third-party test of how fast, so treat that as the seller's claim. Silk comes from silkworms, so this floss is not vegan, although its candelilla wax coating is plant-based. Choose by material and whether you will actually use it regularly. ## What Is Biodegradable Dental Floss? It is floss made from natural fibres, most often silk, usually with a plant or beeswax coating, instead of the nylon used in most conventional floss. The word describes how the material is meant to break down, not a measured time frame. - **Our floss:** The [product page](/products/silk-dental-floss) describes natural silk coated with candelilla wax, 30 metres per spool, in compostable packaging. - **What the listing claims:** That the floss and its packaging break down fully. We found no third-party biodegradation test, so this is the seller's own claim. - **What nylon floss is:** Nylon is a plastic. Some conventional floss is also coated with fluorinated compounds, covered below. ## Does Flossing Work at All? It may help gums a little, but the evidence is weak. A [2019 Cochrane review of home interdental cleaning devices](https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD012018_home-use-devices-cleaning-between-teeth-addition-toothbrushing-prevent-and-control-gum-diseases-and) compared floss plus toothbrushing with toothbrushing alone. - **Gums:** Low-certainty evidence suggested flossing, in addition to toothbrushing, may reduce gingivitis at one month (8 trials, 585 participants), and at three and six months. - **Plaque:** The review found no evidence of a difference in plaque, and described the plaque evidence as inconsistent. - **Our read:** None of this compares floss materials. We found no evidence that silk cleans better or worse than nylon. ## Is Some Conventional Floss Linked to PFAS? One study found an association, which is not proof of cause. [Boronow and colleagues (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30622332/) measured 11 PFAS chemicals in blood samples from 178 middle-aged women and compared them with nine reported behaviours, as [summarized by the Public Health Institute](https://www.phi.org/press/dental-flossing-and-other-behaviors-linked-with-higher-levels-of-pfas-in-the-body/). - **The link:** Women who flossed with Oral-B Glide tended to have higher levels of a PFAS called PFHxS than women who did not. - **The floss tests:** Researchers tested 18 flosses for fluorine, a marker of PFAS. All three Glide products tested positive, as did two store brands labelled "compare to Oral-B Glide" and one floss described as a single-strand Teflon fiber. - **A mixed picture:** A [2025 cross-sectional study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12082771/) reported that floss users had higher serum PFOA than non-users but lower levels of other PFAS (we read the abstract excerpt, not the full paper). - **Our floss:** The listing names silk and candelilla wax. It does not publish a PFAS test, so we cannot say it was tested. Featured in this guide Silk Dental Floss, 30m Natural silk floss with a candelilla wax coating. Full details are on the product page. [Shop now →](/products/silk-dental-floss) ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75 ## How Do You Choose a Biodegradable Dental Floss? Start with the material and ask what proof the brand gives. The steps below are our own checklist, built from the sources above. - **Check the material.** Look for silk or another natural fibre and note the coating. Nylon, PTFE or "Teflon" on the label means a plastic or fluorinated floss. - **Check the packaging.** A spool and case are waste too, so look for refillable or compostable packaging. - **Check it suits you.** Silk comes from silkworms. If you avoid animal products, choose a plant-fibre floss instead. - **Ask for proof.** Look for a published biodegradation or PFAS test. If the brand shows none, treat the claim as unverified. ## What Do We Know About Our Silk Dental Floss? Only what the listing says. The [Silk Dental Floss, 30m](/products/silk-dental-floss) page describes natural silk with a candelilla wax coating, a smooth glide between tight teeth, and compostable packaging. - **Not verified:** We found no biodegradation or PFAS test for this floss, and no comparison of its cleaning against nylon floss. - **Not vegan:** Silk is an animal product. The candelilla wax coating is plant-based. - **What it is not:** A treatment for gum disease or a replacement for dental care. ## When Should You See a Dentist About Your Gums? See a dentist if your gums bleed regularly, look swollen or red, or the problem does not improve. Floss alone cannot diagnose why gums are sore. This guide is information, not medical advice. ## Frequently Asked Questions Is biodegradable dental floss better than regular floss? The Cochrane evidence on flossing does not compare materials, so we cannot say it cleans better. The difference is what the floss is made of and what it leaves behind. Is silk dental floss biodegradable? Silk is a natural fibre, and our listing says the floss breaks down fully. We found no third-party test of how long that takes. Does dental floss contain PFAS? Some may. A 2019 study found fluorine in all three Oral-B Glide products it tested and linked Glide use to higher blood PFHxS. That is an association, not proof of cause. Is silk dental floss vegan? No. Silk comes from silkworms. The candelilla wax coating on our floss is plant-based. Does flossing help your gums? A 2019 Cochrane review found low-certainty evidence that flossing plus toothbrushing may reduce gingivitis at one month compared with brushing alone. [See the Sampson Silk Dental Floss — 30-Day Guarantee](/products/silk-dental-floss) ## Related Articles [Bamboo Toothbrush vs Plastic: What the Research Shows →](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/bamboo-toothbrush-vs-plastic-what-the-research-shows) [Fluoride-Free Toothpaste: What the Research Shows →](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/fluoride-free-toothpaste-what-the-research-shows)