Abstract: A dental floss brush made from a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn comprising at least two thread sections having diameters, in their relaxed state, of at least 2.5 min. The thread sections are separated by a floss brush section integral therewith having a diameter of from up to 4 mm in its relaxed state and a diameter of from 1.7 to 3.0 mm under a tension of 0.05N. The brush floss has a breaking strength of at least 5N. The floss brush section can be coated with a low melting wax composition, optimally a polyethylene glycol ester of beeswax alone or in combination with a flavoring oil, silicone oil lubricant or mixtures thereof. This product is made by coating a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying coatings to yarns, particularly yarns to be utilized as dental floss. In a preferred arrangement, an array of parallel spaced yarns are continuously fed while being intermittently deflected by a cam or deflector. As the yarns are deflected, they enter a grooved liquid applicator, with the grooves maintaining a predetermined amount of liquid therein by capillary action. A predetermined amount of liquid is thus applied at intermittent or spaced locations along the length of the yarn. The method and apparatus is particularly suitable for providing dye at spaced locations along a continuous length of floss, thereby demarcating lengths suitable for individual use. Various aspects are also applicable to a variety of yarn coating and/or dyeing applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a flosser-type tooth cleaning device comprised of a handle, a holder affixed to an end of the handle comprised of two protruding arm members positioned at least parallel to each other, and a strand of dental floss which is drawn between the arms and anchored at the distal end of each arm, wherein of these several tooth cleaning device may be non-permanently held together forming an inter-locking stack. The flossers of the present invention may be held non-permanently in a stacked configuration by way of a friction fit or a snap-lock mechanism.

Abstract: An interproximal brush for carrying on the person has an elongated one piece body member of elastomeric material forming a planar surface disposed between two leg members from which a substantially rigid boss extends for supporting a brush member. A plurality of hinges are formed in the body member at either side of the boss and the oppositely extending leg members are folded one adjacent the other and attached for slidable movement relative to one another. The planar surface is disposed transverse to the direction of relative movement of the leg members and rotates to move the brush from a position in alignment with the direction of movement of the leg members to a position forming an angle with the direction of movement of the leg members, when the leg members are moved relative to one another. The one piece body member may also be made foldable in the opposite direction to encase the brush within the leg members, or a bumper may be provided for supporting the planar surface when the brush is so rotated.

Abstract: A process for making a shaped, highly flavored floss and the floss product of that process. The process comprises coating a multi-filament thread with a first liquid or semi-solid wax composition having a high melting temperature and cooling the coating to a temperature at which the first wax composition has become a solid to form a shaped thread. The thread is optionally reshaped. The shaped thread, carrying the primary coating, is coated with a lower melting liquid or semi-solid wax composition having a temperature less then the melting point of the first coating without disrupting the first wax composition of the shaped configuration of the thread. The lower melting wax composition contains volatile flavoring oil.

Abstract: A flavored interproximal dental cleaning article having an open, porous brush portion with matrix particles comprising flavor particles encapsulated in a water-soluble matrix bound to the surfaces of the brush portion by a water-insoluble, matrix particle encapsulating hard, flexible polymeric film which is preferably a urethane polymer. The brush portion can be integrally connected to a threader portion and/or a floss portion, and the threader portion and the brush portion can be further stiffened by a second outer polymeric hard flexible film coating which can be free of flavor particles. The matrix particles can be flavor oils encapsulated in a matrix comprising malto-dextrin or non-toxic gums. The cleaning article is made by impregnating a open, porous brush portion of an interproximal dental cleaning article with a coating solution comprising a coating material dissolved in a volatile solvent.

Abstract: A sustained-release matrix for dental application includes either an anti-microbial agent or a colorant that is released from the matrix when the matrix contacts water. The preferred matrices include a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble support resin.

Abstract: An anti-microbial composition includes particles having an outer surface onto which an anti-microbial agent has been adsorbed. The particles can be used, for example, for coating the bristles of toothbrushes.