You have to know Dangerous substances found in dental floss
The benefits of interdental cleansing with a special thread, floss, are scientifically proven and not in doubt. But a new study has shown that danger can lurk in the dental floss itself.
Oral-B Glide floss proved to be responsible for the increased level of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAV) in the body. Among the dangers associated with them, scientists call the risk of developing testicular cancer, thyroid disease, increased cholesterol, weight loss at birth, the risk of infertility and disorders of the immune system.
A study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology examines how people can reduce the amount of PFAV that enter the body through lifestyle changes.
“This is the first study showing that floss containing PFAV is associated with an increase in the level of these substances in the body. The good news is that, based on our report, consumers can choose non-PFAV floss, ”said Katie Boronow, author of the study, researcher at the Silent Spring Institute .
The authors measured the level of 11 substances from the PFAV group in the blood of 178 middle-aged women who participated in the Child Health and Development Studies study . To understand how lifestyle aspects affect the level of PFAS in the body, the authors compared the results of blood tests with data from interviews conducted with participants. They were asked about nine habits that could lead to an increase in the concentration of toxic substances in the body.
In women who cleaned their teeth with Oral-B Glide dental floss, higher levels of PFAVs such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOSC) were more commonly detected. Scientists have tested 18 types of dental floss for the presence of the PFAV marker. Three Glide products tested positive.
In a Washington Post comment, a spokesperson for Procter & Gamble, a manufacturer of these dental floss, said that consumer safety is the company’s top priority.
Scientists have reported that PFAV can also be ingested from fast-food packages, non-stick coatings, waterproof clothing, and anti-dust carpets. African-American women participating in the study reported that they often consumed fast food sold in packaging, the level of PFAV in the blood was also higher. However, for other ethnic groups such a connection was not found.
“The study reinforces the evidence that consumer goods are an important source of PFAV. Excluding these substances from products should be a priority, ”says Boronov.