Having healthy teeth and gums is an important component of excellent overall health. We think of flossing as a healthy practice, yet, a prior study has discovered that some types of dental floss contain dangerous chemicals that may be seeping into our systems. These chemicals may be absorbed via our gums and into our bloodstream.

A study conducted in 2019 found that women flossed with Oral-B Glide and other brands of dental floss had greater levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in their blood than women who didn't floss their teeth. The study was conducted on participants who were of reproductive age. Fluorine is a signature of PFAS chemicals, and the tests verified that company's Glide floss, along with other of the company's rivals' products, contained fluorine.

The fact that this is the case is problematic, according to the researchers, since the same substances have been associated with major health concerns such as cancer, difficulties with reproduction, and weight gain. But how concerned should we be about brushing and flossing our teeth before bed? This is what we currently know.

What Are PFAS?

PFAS is a common family of compounds that may contribute to various substances' water- and grease-proofing. As a result, they may be found in a wide variety of consumer items, including just a few examples, the packaging used for fast food, Teflon and other non-stick cookware, flame-retardant textiles, and water- and stain-resistant clothes. People are vulnerable to PFAS contamination because of the things we use and the meals we consume, the dust in our homes, and the polluted drinking water.

Because of their propensity to persist eternally in both the human body and the environment, PFAS are often referred to as "forever chemicals." Decades of studies have shown a relationship between PFAS and various adverse health effects, including cancer, liver and thyroid illnesses, difficulties during pregnancy and development, and immunosuppression.

The level of worry is high enough that it prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a plan "to combat PFAS pollution countrywide" in October of 2021. The strategy is referred to as the Strategic Roadmap. This is the first big move a federal regulatory agency has taken to clean up drinking water systems and hold manufacturers responsible. One of the goals of this plan is to restrict the amount of PFAS that may be found in drinking water.

However, the chemicals have been connected to flossing for the first time in the research. According to the research authors, their results provide fresh insight into how these chemicals make their way into our systems and how we may limit our exposure to them by changing our behaviors and making more informed buying decisions.

What Kind of Results Did the Study Obtain?

The research included collecting blood samples from 178 middle-aged women, half of whom were white and half of whom were African American. In addition, scientists asked the women about nine activities they suspected would be connected to increased PFAS exposure. These behaviors included frequent flossing and intake of fast food, among others.

They discovered women flossed with Oral-B Glide, which "slides 50 percent more readily in small spots," tended to have higher levels of PFAS component known as perfluorohexanesulfonic acid. Only six of the 18 types of dental floss tested had measurable amounts of fluorine, a hallmark of PFAS. The other 12 brands did not show any fluorine at all.

Additionally, fluorine was found in two other store-brand floss products labeled as "comparable to Oral-B Glide," and in another item that referred to itself as "Teflon fiber."

When it Comes to PFAS, Exactly Why Should You Be Worried?

According to findings from earlier studies, people with higher amounts of PFAS in their blood are at a higher risk of developing kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, reproductive issues, and ulcerative colitis. An increased PFAS level has been related to several additional harmful consequences, including a lower birth weight in neonates, thyroid disorders, an impaired immune system, and reduced sex and growth hormones in children.

One research conducted in 2018 and published in PLOS Medicine indicated that women with greater levels of PFAS in their bodies tended to have slower metabolisms and gained more weight back after dieting than women with lower levels. On the other hand, this was not the case for male participants, and experts believe that the chemicals' impact on the sex hormones of females may be to blame.