GB2458138A - Stretchable dental floss - Google Patents
Stretchable dental floss Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2458138A GB2458138A GB0804125A GB0804125A GB2458138A GB 2458138 A GB2458138 A GB 2458138A GB 0804125 A GB0804125 A GB 0804125A GB 0804125 A GB0804125 A GB 0804125A GB 2458138 A GB2458138 A GB 2458138A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- floss
- dental floss
- stretchable
- stretchable dental
- dental
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 241000628997 Flos Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 54
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000002421 anti-septic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000004944 Liquid Silicone Rubber Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 235000005979 Citrus limon Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000131522 Citrus pyriformis Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000002064 Dental Plaque Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 235000006679 Mentha X verticillata Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000024873 Mentha crispa Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002899 Mentha suaveolens Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000001636 Mentha x rotundifolia Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007799 cork Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 231100000053 low toxicity Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 208000035824 paresthesia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000004014 plasticizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100000614 poison Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000000346 sugar Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000008163 sugars Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000003440 toxic substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100000419 toxicity Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000001988 toxicity Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C15/00—Devices for cleaning between the teeth
- A61C15/04—Dental floss; Floss holders
- A61C15/041—Dental floss
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Brushes (AREA)
Abstract
The stretchable dental floss (10) is preferably made in the form of a short silicone extrusion or moulding capable of stretching to several times its original length. In use the amount of stretching is controlled by the user to decrease and increase its diameter to provide more surface contact with teeth and hence enhance cleaning by flossing. The floss may also have abrasive, taste enhancing or antiseptic additives. The floss may be biodegradable and may be contained in a housing.
Description
DENTAL FLOSS
The present invention relates to dental floss of a type used to manually clean gaps between teeth.
Flossing teeth is a well-known procedure and highly recommended by dental professionals. The common form of dental floss is a fibrous strand, often coated in a wax, with a high tensile strength, pulled taught to be guided into a gap between tccth in the user's mouth.
There are some variations of conventional dental floss such as a homogenous tape or strand provided in different sizes/thicknesses, but all rely on having a fixed length to be pulled taught, either by fingers or some additional device (like F or Y shaped "dental floss wands") The present invention seeks an alternative to conventional dental floss such as those made from bundles of thin nylon filaments or plastic (Teflon or polyethylene) ribbon.
In one broad aspect the present invention is a stretchable dental floss.
Preferably the floss is a short extrusion or moulding capable of stretching far beyond its original length. This has the effect of reducing its diameter to provide better access between tight teeth. Exact expansion can be controlled by the user, e.g. the floss can be retracted to increase its diameter (giving more surface area contact with a tooth) and hence improve the cleaning process.
Otherwise the method of using dental floss according to the invention can be similar to conventional floss, i.e. pulling a strand of floss tight between fingers and guiding it between teeth. However, the present invention has the advantage that it is inherently less likely to cut into gums during flossing than conventional floss made from a rigid strand.
The preferred material is silicone based, specifically LSR (liquid silicone rubber) . Such a material is used in toys and hence meets certification requirements for low toxicity.
Preferably the material will be of Sure 20 (hardness test) or below. Preferably the material should stretch to ten times its starting length and then return, i.e. it is resilient. LSR has a gel-like appearance.
It will be apparent that other stretchable rubber-type materials may be suitable for application with the present invention depending on the mechanical properties and other factors such as toxicity (i.e. some plastics may leach toxic substances like plasticizers) . Other plastics types are EVA and EPR.
Further features envisaged for the invention include biodegradability (and/or being recyclable) and additives to enhance usability, e.g. xylotol (or other friendly sugars) to provide an abrasive texture and a tingling sensation with a particular flavour such as "tangy lemon" or "fizzy mint".
Stretchable dental floss according to the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: -Figure 1 illustrates a length of stretchable dental floss according to the invention in its basic unused state; Figure 2 illustrates a length of stretchable dental floss according to the invention in a stretched state; and Figure 3 illustrates general use of a stretchable dental floss according to the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, in its most basic form, the stretchable dental floss of the present invention is a short extrusion or moulding 10. The floss is preferably formed from silicone or an equivalent material that is capable of stretching to several times its original length, but yet still exhibiting a reasonable resistance to breaking when it is held taught at its maximum stretch length.
Figure 2 illustrates floss 10 being prepared for use by stretching it between two pairs of fingers F of a user. For initial use it is preferable that floss 10 be stretched to its maximum possible length such that the diameter of the strand held between fingers F is at its minimum. It will be apparent that the portions of floss 10 on the unstretched side of fingers F remain at the original diameter. It is possible that these unstretched ends 11 be provided with an additional grip to aid pinching and holding by the user.
Furthermore, the floss may not be directly gripped by a user's fingers at all, but instead by a secondary device such as an F or Y shaped "wand" known in the art.
Figure 3 illustrates floss 10 in use. In the conventional way the usable length of floss 10 is guided between two teeth T of a user's mouth M. Preferably floss 10 is stretched to its maximum length and held taught; however, by virtue of the material, it will not break so long as there is no additional excessive force applied. Flossing can commence in the conventional way recommended by dental professionals.
Floss 10 according to the present invention has the additional advantage that the user can reduce the applied force and, due to its resilient nature, the length returns towards its "fatter" form of Figure 1. As the diameter increases this fills any gap between the teeth more is completely. The increased surface contact accordingly acts to more thoroughly remove food remains and dental plaque from teeth.
The basic form of floss 10 as illustrated can be modified in a number of ways. Stretchable floss according to the invention can be shaped to enhance abrasive performance (e.g. cylindrical, cork screwed or triangular) or impregnated with a taste, e.g. mint or antiseptic. The floss can be made in any colour or fluorescent etc. The illustrated embodiment is comparable, in use, to conventional dental floss, however, the material could be shaped into a generic or character based product to appeal to children. Furthermore, it could be formed as a thimble with a stretchable protrusion to fit on the end of a finger or toothbrush. A suction cup form can be provided for convenient storage.
It may be desirable to provide a sleeve or other form of protective cover for the floss when not in use, although the general product would probably be disposable or disposed of after a few uses. It should be noted, however, that silicon is non-porous and readily cleaned such that product life is probably more limited by when the usable length is worn away after multiple uses.
Stretchable dental floss according to the present invention is a novel alternative to conventional dental floss types which do not stretch. Furthermore, it provides clear advantages in use.
Available manufacturing processes and materials can put the stretchable dental floss of the invention into practice.
Claims (11)
- WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A stretchable dental floss.
- 2. The stretchable dental floss of claim 1 in the form of a short extrusion or moulding capable of stretching to several times its original length.
- 3. The stretchable dental floss of claim 2 wherein the floss is formed from silicone.
- 4. The stretchable dental floss of any of the preceding claims wherein the floss is biodegradable.
- 5. The stretchable dental floss of any of the preceding claims wherein the floss includes an abrasive additive.
- 6. The stretchable dental floss of any of the preceding claims wherein the floss includes a taste enhancing or antiseptic additive.
- 7. Method of using a stretchable dental floss according to any of the preceding claims wherein stretchability is controlled by the user to decrease and increase its diameter as desired.
- 8. A dental flossing kit including a stretchable dental floss according to any of claims 1 to 6 and a housing for containing a length of said dental floss.
- 9. Dental floss formed from a resilient material.
- 10. Stretchable dental floss substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- 11. A method of using stretchable dental floss substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0804125A GB2458138A (en) | 2008-03-05 | 2008-03-05 | Stretchable dental floss |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0804125A GB2458138A (en) | 2008-03-05 | 2008-03-05 | Stretchable dental floss |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0804125D0 GB0804125D0 (en) | 2008-04-09 |
| GB2458138A true GB2458138A (en) | 2009-09-09 |
Family
ID=39316022
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0804125A Withdrawn GB2458138A (en) | 2008-03-05 | 2008-03-05 | Stretchable dental floss |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2458138A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106456297A (en) * | 2014-10-01 | 2017-02-22 | 布勒士莱恩有限公司 | Silicone dental floss |
| WO2018065851A1 (en) * | 2016-10-03 | 2018-04-12 | Alzureigi Haitham Abdelmajid | Dental flossing device and packaging thereof |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4974615A (en) * | 1989-07-26 | 1990-12-04 | Doundoulakis George J | Elastic filament for oral hygiene |
| JPH0810272A (en) * | 1994-06-27 | 1996-01-16 | Sunstar Inc | Biodegradable intraoral cleaning means |
| US6003525A (en) * | 1998-03-14 | 1999-12-21 | Katz; Harry S. | Elastomer floss and related flossing devices |
| WO2000009034A1 (en) * | 1998-08-17 | 2000-02-24 | Athena Nordic Ab | Extensible polishing mono-filament dental floss |
| US6192896B1 (en) * | 1996-10-24 | 2001-02-27 | Gillette Canada Company | Particulate modified elastomeric flosses |
| US20040070187A1 (en) * | 1994-04-19 | 2004-04-15 | Chen John Y. | Inflatable restraint cushions and other uses |
| JP2004174110A (en) * | 2002-11-28 | 2004-06-24 | Yoshiko Sagano | Floss pick |
| EP1671603A1 (en) * | 2004-12-16 | 2006-06-21 | Kerrhawe SA | Clamping cord with polymeric wedge component, and method of affixation |
| US20060207628A1 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2006-09-21 | Millis Charles R | Rubber floss |
-
2008
- 2008-03-05 GB GB0804125A patent/GB2458138A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4974615A (en) * | 1989-07-26 | 1990-12-04 | Doundoulakis George J | Elastic filament for oral hygiene |
| US20040070187A1 (en) * | 1994-04-19 | 2004-04-15 | Chen John Y. | Inflatable restraint cushions and other uses |
| JPH0810272A (en) * | 1994-06-27 | 1996-01-16 | Sunstar Inc | Biodegradable intraoral cleaning means |
| US6192896B1 (en) * | 1996-10-24 | 2001-02-27 | Gillette Canada Company | Particulate modified elastomeric flosses |
| US6003525A (en) * | 1998-03-14 | 1999-12-21 | Katz; Harry S. | Elastomer floss and related flossing devices |
| WO2000009034A1 (en) * | 1998-08-17 | 2000-02-24 | Athena Nordic Ab | Extensible polishing mono-filament dental floss |
| JP2004174110A (en) * | 2002-11-28 | 2004-06-24 | Yoshiko Sagano | Floss pick |
| EP1671603A1 (en) * | 2004-12-16 | 2006-06-21 | Kerrhawe SA | Clamping cord with polymeric wedge component, and method of affixation |
| US20060207628A1 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2006-09-21 | Millis Charles R | Rubber floss |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106456297A (en) * | 2014-10-01 | 2017-02-22 | 布勒士莱恩有限公司 | Silicone dental floss |
| WO2018065851A1 (en) * | 2016-10-03 | 2018-04-12 | Alzureigi Haitham Abdelmajid | Dental flossing device and packaging thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0804125D0 (en) | 2008-04-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |