Why flossing can be dangerous

PEOPLE need to be more aware of the type of dental floss they are using, as they can be bad for your health, a new study shows.

The research highlights that several flosses may contain man-made chemicals – called perfluorooctanesulfonic acids (PFAS) – that have been linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. The study highlighted that these chemicals do not break down and can remain in your bloodstream, and could increase the risk of certain cancers, decrease fertility, and trigger immune system complications.

Researchers from the Silent Spring Institute, in collaboration with the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California, analysed the blood samples of 178 middle-aged women and tested 18 of the dental floss products available. They found that those who flossed appeared to have higher levels of some of the 11 PFAS they were tested for.

Katie Boronow, the study’s lead author, said that the findings will hopefully help educate people about the dangers of these chemicals so they ‘can choose flosses that don’t contain PFAS’.

The study was published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, The Dental Council of Ireland did not want to comment on the findings, but did say much more research is required on the matter.