Abstract: A dental guard and tray, includes a thermoplastic dental guard, and a generally rigid tray fittingly receiving the dental guard during heating and fitting of the dental guard to teeth of the user. The dental guard includes a pair of bite pads positionable below rear teeth of the user and a connection band that connects between the bite pads and is positionable behind upper or lower front teeth of the user. The rigid tray includes a pair of bite pad supports and a connecting arc, the bite pad supports each providing a planar depression or well for receiving one of the bite pads, the connecting arc spanning between the bite pads and having fingers located proximate a midpoint of the arc and configured to angle rearwardly and upwardly from the connecting arc so as to underlie and receive the band when the dental guard is received onto the tray.

Abstract: A dental guard for treatment of bruxism in a human dental arch. The dental guard comprises an elastically deformable body having a front band portion and a pair of molar portions contiguous with and extending from the ends of the front band portion. The distance between distal ends of the molar portions is configured to differ from the width of the human dental arch. The front band portion and molar portions form a U-shape configured and may have less curvature than a curvature of the human dental arch. The body includes a front side wall and an upper side wall extending at an angle from a longitudinal edge of the front side wall. The body is adapted to be positioned to fit over a plurality of teeth such that the inner surfaces of the front wall and the upper wall engage occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth.

Abstract: A dental flosser is provided for delivering to a mouth a moisture activated composition including a flavor agent. The dental flosser comprises a base portion forming a handle and terminating at a distal head portion. A pair of spaced apart arms extend from the head portion, each of the spaced apart arms having a proximal first end adjoining the head portion and a distal second end. A length of dental floss extends between the distal second ends of the arms. A surface of at least one arm of the pair of arms defines a cavity between the first end and the second end forming a well for accommodating the composition. The width of the cavity in a plane parallel to the surface of the at least one arm is substantially the same or greater than the width of the bottom of the cavity.

Abstract: A dental guard for treatment of bruxism in a human dental arch. The dental guard comprises an elastically deformable body having a front band portion and a pair of molar portions contiguous with and extending from the ends of the front band portion. The distance between distal ends of the molar portions is configured to differ from the width of the human dental arch. The front band portion and molar portions form a U-shape configured and may have less curvature than a curvature of the human dental arch. The body includes a front side wall and an upper side wall extending at an angle from a longitudinal edge of the front side wall. The body is adapted to be positioned to fit over a plurality of teeth such that the inner surfaces of the front wall and the upper wall engage occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth.

Abstract: A dental guard and tray, includes a thermoplastic dental guard, and a generally rigid tray fittingly receiving the dental guard during heating and fitting of the dental guard to teeth of the user. The dental guard includes a pair of bite pads positionable below rear teeth of the user and a connection band that connects between the bite pads and is positionable behind upper or lower front teeth of the user. The rigid tray includes a pair of bite pad supports and a connecting arc, the bite pad supports each providing a planar depression or well for receiving one of the bite pads, the connecting arc spanning between the bite pads and having fingers located proximate a midpoint of the arc and configured to angle rearwardly and upwardly from the connecting arc so as to underlie and receive the band when the dental guard is received onto the tray.

Abstract: A flavored, fiber-enriched liquid beverage concentrate of an acidulant, a flavor, a high-intensity sweetener, a dietary fiber, and water, the dietary fiber comprising about 20 to 60 percent by weight of the concentrate volume with a pH in a range of about 1.4 to about 4.0. A method of delivering dietary fiber from a liquid beverage concentrate is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes monofilament dental tapes for removing plaque and/or food debris from interdental spaces of a mammal, which dental tapes have a core body with an aspect ratio of greater than about 5:1 and a first cleaning surface and a second cleaning surface opposite the first cleaning surface, where at least one of the first and second cleaning surfaces includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the length thereof, and where the ratio of the width of the dental tape to the thickness of the dental tape is from about 4:1 to about 25:1.

Abstract: The present invention includes monofilament dental tapes for removing plaque and/or food debris from interdental spaces of a mammal, which dental tapes have a core body with an aspect ratio of greater than about 5:1 and a first cleaning surface and a second cleaning surface opposite the first cleaning surface, where at least one of the first and second cleaning surfaces includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the length thereof, and where the ratio of the width of the dental tape to the thickness of the dental tape is from about 4:1 to about 25:1.

Abstract: The present invention includes monofilament dental tapes for removing plaque and/or food debris from interdental spaces of a mammal, which dental tapes have a core body with an aspect ratio of greater than about 5:1 and a first cleaning surface and a second cleaning surface opposite the first cleaning surface, where at least one of the first and second cleaning surfaces includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the length thereof, and where the ratio of the width of the dental tape to the thickness of the dental tape is from about 4:1 to about 25:1.

Abstract: A bristle configuration providing enhanced cleaning of teeth. The bristle pattern includes large tufts having a greater cross-sectional area than standard toothbrush bristle tufts. The large tufts are contoured so that the top ends of the bristles comprising the large tufts are not all at the same height. More than one raised section is provided, the raised sections being spatially isolated from one another to function independently of one another. Preferably, at least one of the raised sections has a sufficient brushing surface area with bristles extending a sufficient height above surrounding bristles such that that raised section can reach into and clean interdental tooth surfaces, preferably while the remaining bristles in the large tuft clean other tooth surfaces. Another aspect of the invention relates to a zig-zag or sawtooth bristle profile, wherein each tuft making up the profile has its own unique substantially conical or frustoconical profile.

Abstract: The present invention includes monofilament dental tapes for removing plaque and/or food debris from interdental spaces of a mammal, which dental tapes have a core body with an aspect ratio of greater than about 5:1 and a first cleaning surface and a second cleaning surface opposite the first cleaning surface, where at least one of the first and second cleaning surfaces includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the length thereof, and where the ratio of the width of the dental tape to the thickness of the dental tape is from about 4:1 to about 25:1.

Abstract: The present invention includes monofilament dental tapes for removing plaque and/or food debris from interdental spaces of a mammal, which dental tapes have a core body with an aspect ratio of greater than about 5:1 and a first cleaning surface and a second cleaning surface opposite the first cleaning surface, where at least one of the first and second cleaning surfaces includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the length thereof, and where the ratio of the width of the dental tape to the thickness of the dental tape is from about 4:1 to about 25:1.