Oral-B Glide floss contains high levels of PFAS, toxic chemicals

Oral B Glide. The floss that many use for cleaning between the teeth could in fact contribute to increasing the concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in our body, causing risks for our health. Especially the one with the presence of fluoride is under accusation

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

The good old PFAS, the infamous family of chemical compounds used mainly in the industrial field, are also lurking in the use of the apparently harmless dental floss, thus causing possible damage to health.

For years now we have been talking about these so-called perfluoroalkyl substances used in a wide range of consumer products because they are particularly present in water and fats. But there are many known risks associated with cancer, developmental and immune problems, and more.

Especially in Veneto, there are hundreds of thousands of people with traces of this carcinogenic substance in the blood, carcinogenic in the blood due to the pollution of the aquifers from industrial spills.

Now, an American research team led by scholars from the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, United States, in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and Child Health and Development Studies Participant Advisory Council of Berkley, California.

The experiments, which involved 178 middle-aged women and in which the levels of 11 distinct PFAS were measured from blood samples, showed that women who floss from a well-known brand had higher levels of a given PFAS. , the PFHxS (perfluorohexanosulfonic acid). There presence of fluorine (a marker of PFAS) in dental floss was demonstrated through particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) “spectroscopy”, which also detected it in two other products among those tested.

Women who flossed Oral-B Glide tended to have higher levels of a type of PFAS called PFHxS (perfluorohexanosulfonic acid) in their body than those who didn't. To better understand the connection, the researchers tested 18 flosses (including 3 Glide products) for the presence of fluorine - a marker of PFAS - using a technique called particle-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy (PIGE). All three Glide products tested positive for fluoride, consistent with previous reports that Glide is manufactured using Teflon compounds.

But beware, not all flosses have the offending substances. "This is the first study to show that the use of floss containing PFAS is associated with a higher body load of these toxic chemicals," said Dr. Boronow who conducted the analyzes. "The good news is that, based on our findings, consumers can choose floss that does not contain PFAS."

In short, Pfas, present in a multitude of products (waterproof clothing coatings, food containers, leathers and carpets, fire fighting foams, insecticides, non-stick pans and pots just to name a few) are a serious danger on several fronts, especially because they tend to remain in the body for a long time even for many years. Pfas are believed to affect the endocrine system, compromising growth and fertility, and to be carcinogenic substances. In addition, the researchers argue that these substances are related to the onset of kidney and testicular cancers, the development of thyroid disease, hypertension in pregnancy and ulcerative colitis.