IES20140111A2 - Oral hygiene device for the flossing of teeth - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oral hygiene device to aid the flossing of teeth. In particular, the present invention comprises a continuous loop of dental floss, held by two identical rings for placing on the long fingers of both hands. Said rings provide a strong anchor for the index fingers to clean the teeth with the floss, while allowing the user to move the floss to a fresh section without having to remove the rings from the fingers. Said loop of floss may also have a section of sponge for cleaning larger spaces and for the application of medicament.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE FOR THE FLOSSING OF TEETH [0001] The present invention relates to oral hygiene. In particular the invention relates to a device for the flossing of teeth.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Dental floss is a device, consisting of a length of fine string usually made of nylon or teflon, which when pulled taught is used to scrape and clean the interproximal surfaces of the teeth.

[0003] Flossing is recommended as a means of cleaning between the teeth, an area where toothbrushing doesn't reach. This is particularly important in the back (molar) region of the mouth, where the inter-proximal (adjoining) tooth surface is a large flat area. Getting floss into this area of the mouth requires a certain degree of dexterity by the user.

[0004] Many people do not use floss correctly. The accepted correct use of floss involves wrapping a length of approximately 45 cm (1.5ft) of floss around the long fingers, three or four times, to achieve an anchor. A short length of approximately Λ cm of floss is then stretched taught between the tips of the index fingers or one thumb and one index finger. This short length is worked between the teeth, which are cleaned by scraping the floss up down against the inter-proximal surfaces. The user then moves on to fresh piece of floss by unwinding the floss off one hand, while simultaneously winding it onto the other. This process has some disadvantages such as 1. It requires the use of an uneconomically long piece of floss; 2. It is cumbersome. It is difficult to reach the back teeth with the thumbs; 3. The tight floss around the fingers can be uncomfortable.

S86501 -2[0005] Many flossing devices have been proposed as aids to dental flossing. These, however, have shortcomings such as (1) not incorporating a sufficient length of floss to clean the entire mouth; (2) requiring the user to cut off and attach a length of floss to the device, a time-wasting procedure that often requires as much dexterity as flossing itself; (3) requiring the user to attach a head of floss to a ’handle, said head often detaching from the “handle during flossing and lodging between the teeth; (4) requiring the fingers, thumbs and sometimes the entire device to be placed into the mouth, a difficult task to perform in the molar region; (5) not incorporating a sufficiently taut section of floss to pass between tight contact points of the teeth; (6) when caught between the teeth, the short fixed section of floss on many devices leaves little room to cut the floss to facilitate removal of the head or device.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION [0006] Accordingly, there is provided a dental flossing apparatus comprising a continuous loop of dental floss passing freely through and held by apertures, located either within the body of each of two identical rings, or in an extrusion on each of the rings, said rings for placing on the long fingers of both hands.

[0007] This invention is designed to incorporate the advantages of conventional flossing but without the disadvantages of either conventional flossing or other flossing aids. The advantages include the ability to pull on the floss to move to a fresh section as one moves around the mouth, without having to remove the rings from the fingers; the apparatus is more comfortable on the fingers than conventional floss; the apparatus can be packaged individually for hygiene; the individual packaging and the small size allows it to be transported in a purse, wallet or pocket; the apparatus requires much less dexterity than conventional floss; the apparatus is very strong and exploits the strength of the user's fingers, allowing the user to apply considerable force to the surface of the tooth being cleaned and thus the removal of more dental plaque and calculus; the apparatus -3[0008] has no replaceable heads, like other devices, that can dislodge from the main body of the device and get stuck between the teeth; in the event of the floss getting caught between the teeth, there is enough slack on the loop of floss, unlike other devices, to allow the floss to be cut and removed. Two further advantages of the device are that it helps prevent both a sawing motion, often performed with standard floss where trie user pulls the floss laterally between the teeth, and holding the floss too far away from the teeth, which can result in damage to the gums, both of which are ineffectual in cleaning.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, a section of sponge is incorporated into the loop of floss. This sponge can aid the cleaning of larger spaces between the teeth and remove food lodged between the teeth.

[0010] In another embodiment of the invention, said sponge is impregnated with a substance such as fluoride, chlorhexidine, triclosan or herbal extract, or a combination of substances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a side view and shows two identical rings (A) of internal diameter (E). An extrusion (B) is located on the outside of the external circumference of each ring. Each extrusion has one end fixed to the ring and one sharply pointed end (F) that touches the external circumference of each ring. A continuous loop of dental floss (C) is held by and passes freely through apertures in the extrusions. A section of the loop may consist of of sponge material (D). Figure 2 is a side view showing another embodiment of the apparatus. -4[0013] whereby both ends of each extrusion are continuous with the rings.

Figure 3 shows how the invention is intended to be held for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, the two rings (A) have an internal diameter (E) long enough to slide freely onto the long fingers of each hand i.e. approximately 2 cm. Said rings are ideally made of plastic, but can be made of any material. Said rings are ideally circular but can be any shape. Located at any point on the external circumference of each ring is an extrusion (B). Said extrusion can be any shape and any size. At the centre of each extrusion is an aperture (G). Said aperture can be any shape and of varying diameters from 2 mm to 5 mm. Each extrusion (B) has one ending fixed to the outer circumference of the ring and one sharply pointed ending (F) contiguous with, but not continuous with, the outer circumference of each of the rings (A) whereby the external side of the pointed ending is at an acute angle to the outer surface of the ring. Said ending allows the insertion of the loop of floss past the contact point and into the aperture (G) (either during the manufacturing process or by the end-user) but doesn't easily allow the floss to come out.

[0015] A single continuous loop of dental floss (C), of approximate total length 14cm (but may be any length) is held by the extrusions (B) by passing though the apertures (G) in both extrusions. The floss can move freely through the apertures.

[0016] A variation of the invention has a section (D) of the floss loop consisting of sponge material. Further variations of the invention provide a section of sponge of varying length and diameter. Said section of sponge may be manufactured from 1. Cellulose, 2. Polyether foam, 3. Polyurethane foam, 4. Polyethylene foam, or any other material necessitated by the manufacturing process. Said section of sponge may be the means of closing the loop of floss, or may be attached to a pre-existing loop of floss by a number of means, such as 1. Stitching or knotting; -5[0017] 2. Bonding with chemically cured bonding agent; 3. Bonding with light cured bonding agent; 4. Heat bonded, or any other method of attaching the sponge to the floss, as necessitated by the manufacturing process. In further variations of the invention, said section of sponge (D) may be impregnated with a substance, either singly or in combination, such as fluoride, chlorhexidine, triclosan, or herbal extract, but not solely confined to these substances. In different variations of the invention, the medicament can be in dry (such as a crystalline or powdered material soluble in saliva), or wet form (such as a liquid or gel). A further variation on the invention consists of two or more sections of sponge material.

[0018] Referring to Figure 2, in a further variation of the invention the extrusions (B) are continuous with the rings. Said extrusions may be very small or practically non-existent whereby the apertures are located within the bodies of the rings.

[0019] Referring to Figure 3, bent long fingers of each hand hold the two rings. The user then uses the tips of the index fingers to stretch taut a section of floss of length approximately 2 cm. This taut section of floss is then used to clean between the teeth in an up and down motion. This means that only the tips of the index fingers and a short section of floss, and not the entire device or the thumbs, is required to be placed in the mouth. The anchorage of the rings and the dexterity of the index fingers, results in a strong and effective flossing tool while allowing the floss to be pulled in order to move to a fresh section of floss.

[0020] The above description refers to dimensions. These are typical only and the invention is not limited to them.

[0021] The above description relates to the preferred embodiments by way of example only. Mariy variations on the apparatus for delivering the invention, as would be clear to those knowledgeable in the field, are within the scope of the invention, whether or not expressly described.

Claims (5)

1. [0022] 1. A dental flossing apparatus comprising a single continuous loop of dental floss passing freely through and held by apertures, located either within the body of each of two identical rings, or in an extrusion on each of the rings, said rings for placing on the long fingers of both hands. [0023]

2. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in Claim 1, whereby the plane of each of said extrusions can be at any angle to the plane of the ring, and fixed to the ring either by being part of the same body of material as the ring, such as when manufactured by injection moulding or when the ring and extrusion are cut or milled form the same piece of material, or where the ring and extrusions are separate components joined together by any means. [0024]

3. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in Claim 1 and 2, whereby each of said extrusions has two ends fixed to and continuous with the ring, or one end fixed to the ring, and one sharply pointed end contiguous with, but not continuous with, the ring whereby the pointed end points inwards such that it's external side lies at an acute angle to the outer circumference of the ring, so that the floss can enter the apertures by being pulled through the contact point between the pointed end of the extrusion and the ring, but can't easily exit the apertures once inside. [0025]

4. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in Claim 1, 2, and 3, whereby one or more sections of the loop of dental floss comprises sponge material, said sponge being made of polyester foam, cellulose, polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam, but not limited to these materials, and being attached to the floss by means of stitching, knotting, chemically-cured bond, light-cured bond or heat bond, but not limited to these methods; and whereby one or more of said sections of sponge may or may not be impregnated with a substance of artificial, natural or herbal origin. -7[0026]

5. An apparatus for the flossing of teeth, the apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.