Abstract: The nylon fiber strand is coated with a coating to produce a coated surface on the nylon that mimics the surface characteristics of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The coating is comprised of a base prime coat and a top finish coat. These coatings are applied separately to the nylon fiber strand. The top finish coat which is also known as the nylon wax coat is comprised of waxes, an ester and a silicone, and primarily of waxes. The waxes are comprised of a mixture of a low melting point wax and a high melting point wax.

Abstract: The floss is of a yarn type that has a first thickness when under no tension and a considerably diminished thickness when under tension. The thickness of the floss can be decreased to as low as 10 percent of the thickness of the relaxed floss. This allows for easier insertion into interdental spaces. This floss is produced by coating a yarn and curing the coating on the yarn while the yarn is under minimal tension. This preserves the elasticity of the yarn and the property of the yarn having a range of thickness from a point of relaxation to a point of being under tension.