GB2317828A

GB2317828A - Dental floss

Info

Publication number: GB2317828A
Application number: GB9619422A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mackenzie Hill
Original assignee: Peri Dent Ltd
Current assignee: Peri Dent Ltd
Priority date: 1996-09-18
Filing date: 1996-09-18
Publication date: 1998-04-08
Also published as: GB9619422D0

Abstract

Dental floss is formed from a yarn of polypropylene comprising a bundle of fibres which have been twisted, braided, woven or knitted. Alternatively, the floss comprises a ribbon slit from an extruded sheet of polypropylene. The edges of the ribbon may be rolled or folded over to form a ribbon of multiple thickness. The floss may be coated with polyethyleneglycol or a multi-wax.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DENTAL FLOSSES The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to dental flosses.

A relatively recent innovation in dental flosses has been the introduction of flosses either coated with or formed from polytetrafluroethelene (PTFE).

These flosses have proved popular because, to a large extent, they have achieved their stated aim of providing a floss with a low co-efficient of friction.

These are not only easier to use but considerably mitigate the danger of wounding the gum surrounding the tooth being flossed.

Unfortunately, PTFE is a relatively expensive material and this is reflected in the production costs and cost to the customer of PTFE flosses.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these and other disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dental floss comprising a ribbon of polypropylene, the ribbon having been formed from a sheet of polypropylene by slitting the ribbon therefrom.

Preferably the polypropylene sheet is formed by an extrusion process.

Preferably the ribbon has a thickness within the range .025 - .075mm and a width within the range 1 - 6mm. Preferably the thickness of the ribbon is .030mum and the width 3mm.

Preferably the ribbon has straight edges. Alternatively the edges of the ribbon may be rolled or folded over to form a ribbon of multiple thickness.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a dental floss formed from a yarn of polypropylene.

Preferably the yarn is a bundle of twisted fibres, is braided, woven or knitted.

Preferably the decitex of the floss is between 500 and 2,000. Preferably the floss can extend in length between 0 and 15% prior to rupture.

Preferably the tenacity of the floss is between 0.4 and 0.8 Newtons per tex per mm. Preferably it is .60 Newtons per tex per mm.

Preferably the floss is coated.

Preferably the coating may comprise PTFE. Additionally, or alternatively, the coating may comprise a multi-wax or polyethyleneglycol (peg) coating. The coating may include flavouring ingredients and active ingredients, for example, tooth whitener, tooth de-sensitiser.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only.

A sheet of polypropylene having a thickness lying within the range .025 to .075mm but preferably .050mm is formed by an extrusion technique and using a suitable slitting apparatus preferably adjacent the extruder head is split into continuous ribbons of lmm to 6mm, preferably 4mm, width. The ribbon may then be coated with PTFE using, for example, the method described in U.K.

Patent No. 0515408. Alternatively, or additionally, the ribbon may be coated with a wax coating, for example, multi-wax or polyethyleneglycol by any suitable technique. The wax may have flavouring and/or active ingredients incorporated therein, the active ingredients being, for example, fluoride, a tooth whitener or tooth de-sensitiser.

The polypropylene has a decitex lying within the range 500 to 2,000 preferably 1,500 decitex and has a tenacity of around 0.60 Newtons per tex per mm. The ribbon permits between 0 and 15% extension before breaking under tensile load.

The edges of the ribbon may be left in the form in which they assume after having been slit from the sheet or alternatively the ribbon may be folded or its edges may be rolled to reduce the "sharpness" thereof. A folded ribbon is preferably of double thickness with the edges of the unfolded ribbon abutting along the longitudinal centre line of the folded ribbon.

Various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention for example, the polypropylene ribbon may be directly extended.

In a further modification the floss may be made by braiding or knitting, or twisting polypropylene filaments into a yarn which is then coated as described above.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLS

1. A dental floss formed from a yarn of polypropylene.

2. A dental floss according to Claim 1 wherein the yarn is a bundle of fibres, which are twisted, braided, woven or knitted.

3. A dental floss comprising a ribbon of polypropylene, the ribbon having been formed from a sheet of polypropylene by slitting the ribbon therefrom.

4. A dental floss according to Claim 3 wherein the polypropylene sheet is formed by an extrusion process.

5. A dental floss according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the ribbon has a thickness within the range .025 - .075mm and a width within the range 1 6mm.

6. A dental floss according to Claim 3 wherein the thickness of the ribbon is .050mm and the width 3mm.

7. A dental floss according to any of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the ribbon has straight slitted edges.

8. A dental floss according to any of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the edges of the ribbon are rolled or folded over to form a ribbon of multiple thickness.

9. A dental floss according to any preceding claim wherein the decitex of the floss is between 500 and 2,000.

10. A dental floss according to any preceding claim wherein the floss can extend in length between 0 and 15% prior to rupture.

11. A dental floss according to any preceding claims wherein the tenacity of the floss is between 0.4 and 0.8 Newtons per tex per mm.

12. A dental floss according to Claim 11 wherein the tenacity of the floss is 0.6 Newtons per tex per mm.

13. A dental floss according to any preceding claim wherein the floss is coated.

14. A dental floss according to Claim 13 wherein the coating comprises PTFE.

15. A dental floss according to Claim 13 or 14 wherein the coating comprises a multi-wax or polyethyleneglycol (peg) coating.

16. A dental floss according to any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the coating includes flavouring ingredients and active ingredients.

17. A dental floss substantially as herein described.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.