The Humble Co. Plant-Based Floss Picks, Mint

1. Ingredients 40% of the rating 2 of 5

   Every material is named, with no PFAS, PTFE or BPA, but the thread is polyethylene and 47% of the handle is polypropylene, and the wax and flavor are not described.

2. Active ingredient 20% of the rating 3 of 5

   We found no outside trial of these picks, and a 2019 Cochrane review found only low-certainty evidence that floss of any kind helps; a handle makes flossing easier for some people.

3. Independent testing 15% of the rating 3 of 5

   A consumer lab screen found no detectable organic fluorine in one sample, but its methods note says it did not test picks while its list includes this one, so we count it as a partial result.

4. Trust 10% of the rating 4 of 5

   The maker states the exact materials, including the 47% polypropylene, and we found no Prop 65 notice, recall or safety lawsuit; “shred resistant” and “developed by dentists” have no source.

5. Value 15% of the rating 5 of 5

   About 4 cents a pick at the maker’s $5.99 for 150, the lowest cost per use of any floss here, though its own 50-pick pack costs about 9 cents a pick.

The rating, 3.0 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank oral care and our standard.

1. Handle: 53% plant-based material (type not stated)
2. Handle: 47% polypropylene
3. Thread: polyethylene

• Independent Mamavation and Environmental Health News (the site earns affiliate income) September 2022

  The Humble Co. Plant-Based Materials Floss Picks had no detectable organic fluorine, a PFAS marker, in one sample at an EPA-certified lab. Oral-B Glide Pro-Health in the same screen measured 248,900 ppm. The article’s methods note says dental picks were not tested, yet it lists these picks, so we are unsure what was sampled. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Maker’s own test The Humble Co. (statement on its product page)

  Says the picks contain no PFAS, PTFE or BPA. No test report is published. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are these picks really “plant-based”?

Only partly. The product page (opens in a new tab) says 53% of the handle is plant-based material, 47% is polypropylene and the thread is polyethylene, so most of what touches your mouth is plastic. The maker’s claim is that it removed more than half of the petroleum plastic of a conventional pick.

Do floss picks shed microplastics?

We found no study of these picks. They are single-use plastic, and our guide to reducing microplastics covers the wider question. A silk floss such as Dental Lace avoids it.

Is it really PFAS-free?

The maker says so, and Mamavation’s screen (opens in a new tab) found none in one sample. That screen measured total organic fluorine, not named PFAS, and says it did not test picks, so treat the result as a good sign and not a guarantee.

Are the picks as good as string floss?

We found no trial comparing them. The 2019 Cochrane review (opens in a new tab) of 35 trials found floss or interdental brushes with brushing may reduce gingivitis or plaque, with low to very low certainty, and that interdental brushes may do better than floss.

Are the influencers who recommend it paid?

We found no affiliate or ambassador page linked from the maker’s product page, and could not read Reddit or social media, so we cannot say.

• In a lab screen of 39 floss products by Mamavation and Environmental Health News (first published in 2022, updated in 2024), The Humble Co. Plant-Based Materials Floss Picks had no detectable organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS.
• The maker states the materials, including the plastic: handle 53% plant-based material and 47% polypropylene, thread polyethylene. It says no PFAS, PTFE or BPA.
• It is inexpensive: $5.99 for 150 picks on the maker’s US store is about 4 cents a pick.

• These are plastic picks. The thread is polyethylene and nearly half the handle is petroleum-based polypropylene, so they fall outside the category’s preferred silk, plant-fiber floss.
• The lab result is one sample in a screen for total organic fluorine, run for an advocacy outlet that earns affiliate income. Its methods note says picks were not tested, so the result is a partial one.
• The product copy says “shred resistant” without explaining how. In this category that phrase can mean a fluoropolymer coating, but the lab found no fluorine here.

1. The Humble Co. Plant-based Floss Picks, Mint (150 pcs): product page. Maker’s page. Materials, claims and price, seen 2026-10-23. The maker’s US store also sells a 50-pick pack at $4.49. Amazon and Target sell 200-pick packs (four packs of 50) at $15.99, about 8 cents a pick, so we list no other store for the 150-pick pack. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
2. Mamavation and Environmental Health News: 39 dental floss products screened for organic fluorine (first published September 2022; products added August 2024). Test report. An EPA-certified lab, one sample per product, total organic fluorine only. Mamavation is an advocacy outlet with affiliate links. The tested name was “The Humble Co. Plant-Based Materials Floss Picks.” Its methods note says picks were not tested. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
3. California Attorney General: Proposition 65 60-day notice search (Humble). Certifier or regulator listing. Only notices against unrelated companies (Humble Tea, Humble Beauty); none naming The Humble Co. as of 2026-10-23. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
4. Worthington et al. 2019: home use of interdental cleaning devices in addition to toothbrushing (Cochrane review). Independent source. 35 trials, 3,929 adults. Low to very low certainty; interdental brushes may do better than floss. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
5. Boronow et al. 2019: serum PFAS and exposure-related behaviors, including flossing with Oral-B Glide. Independent source. Why PTFE floss matters: 178 women, with higher levels of some PFAS among Glide users. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Dental Lace silk floss No plastic in the floss or jar, but you hold it by hand, and silk can shred on tight teeth.
• Radius Vegan Sponge Floss Woven nylon floss with plant waxes, about $5 a spool, with a clean result in Mamavation’s lab screen. No handle.

• How to Reduce Your PFAS Exposure Article Practical steps to minimize PFAS exposure from cookware, food packaging, water, and consumer products
• Reducing Your Microplastic Exposure Article Practical steps to minimize microplastic intake from water, food, and everyday products
• Beyond Brushing Article The oral microbiome, mercury fillings, root canals, oil pulling, and holistic approaches to dental care