Dental floss article

Abstract: A dental floss article is provided comprising a towed fiber of a fluoropolymer material.

Description: The present invention relates to a dental floss article for promoting oral hygiene, for example such as disclosed in US-A-5 063 948. It is well understood that the use of dental floss is an important part of a total oral hygiene program. Flossing teeth helps to prevent periodontal disease, such as gingivitis for example. The use of floss helps to dislodge food particles and plaque from interstitial surfaces of teeth. Caries will develop on tooth surfaces where there is an accumulation of plaque. Although the use of a toothbrush reduces plaque on the occlusal areas of teeth, a tooth brush offers only a minimal reduction in plaque within the interstitial regions of the teeth. Dental floss is the only effective means to disrupt the accumulation of plaque in such interstitial regions, thereby reducing the likelihood for the carie development. Unfortunately, persons requiring fixed orthodontic appliances, commonly referred to in the United States as braces, and persons wearing dental bridges, such as a Maryland style bridge for example, can not benefit from the cleaning capabilities associated with normal dental flossing techniques without the aid of cumbersome apparatus. More particularly, standard flossing techniques are not appropriate for users of these appliances and devices because they prevent the dental floss from freely entering into the interstitial regions when performing the normal up and down motion of flossing. In the past, a floss threader or needle has been employed to thread dental floss between a gum line and an orthodontic appliance or Maryland bridge. One such floss threader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,658. A shortcoming of such a floss threader is that it is often very cumbersome to use, especially for a person lacking average dexterity. A user of such a floss threader must thread the device prior to application in the mouth for the purposes of flossing, much like a sewing needle. Another shortcoming associated with the use of a floss threader is the potential for the device to be swallowed during use if the threader becomes separated from the floss. Children may lack the motor skills to remove the separated pieces from their mouth, which, of course, is hazardous. Attempts have been made to bond a rigid floss leader to a flexible section of dental floss. Such an article is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,063. However, the bond between the two units often fails in use. Additionally, an enlarged cross-sectional diameter at the transition point between the leader and the floss may cause pain when passing the article through the space between the teeth and gums. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,499, a plastic coating may be applied to a dental floss to render a portion of the dental floss rigid. Although this method may be satisfactorily employed with dental floss materials consisting of thermoplastics, such as nylon or polyethylene, and natural fibers such as cotton, such a method is not useful with dental floss comprised at least in part of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). When such a method is practiced on non-modified monofilaments of polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or full density expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, the molten thermoplastic beads on the surface of the dental floss material and does not provide a rigid continuous network of the thermoplastic. The beading of the thermoplastic is due to the inherent low surface energy and high hydrophobicity of the polytetrafluoroethylene. The use of polytetrafluoroethylene as a dental floss is taught in such U.S. patents as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,033,488 and 5,220,932. It is well accepted that dental flosses made of polytetrafluoroethylene and forms of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene are superior to nylon and natural fiber materials. Flosses consisting of PTFE benefit from the low coefficient of friction inherent to PTFE thereby allowing the floss material to easily manoeuvre between tight oral contacts without excessive force or severe abrading of gum tissue. Notwithstanding the laudable benefits associated with dental flosses comprised at least in part of PTFE, to date, secondary floss threader devices are needed by persons having orthodontic appliances or dental bridges, and who wish to use such PTFE dental floss. The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present dental floss materials. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an improved dental floss article directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter. According to the present invention there is provided a dental floss article comprising a towed fiber of a fluoropolymer material. The hydrophobic fiber may be expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), for example. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a dental floss article comprising the steps of providing a towed fiber of a fluoropolymer material having a predetermined length; selectively coating said towed fiber with a polymer at at least one predetermined location along the length of said fiber; and curing said coated polymer to provide said fiber with at least one substantially rigid portion and at least one flexible portion. Preferably, the dental floss article is provided comprising a towed fiber of a fluoropolymer or polyolefin material. The towed fiber may be, for example, expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a planar view of a dental floss article comprising a 1200 denier towed fiber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a dental floss article of the present invention having a semi-rigid section formed by coating and curing a polymeric material onto towed portions of the dental floss article of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a test apparatus used to determine a resistance to buckling loads of various semi-rigid materials; Figure 4 is a side view of a lever arm of the test apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a dental bridge; and Figure 6 is a view of a fixed orthodontic appliance (braces). Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the dental floss article of the present invention is generally illustrated at 10 in Figure 5. Such a dental floss article comprises an expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fiber 11 that defines at least one semi-rigid portion 12 and at least one flexible portion 14. The dental floss article 10 may be rolled, or otherwise disposed on a bobbin-like apparatus, and may be placed on a supporting core so that it may be easily integrated within a suitable dispensing apparatus (not shown). Alternatively, the dental floss article may be defined by a single use length which includes a single semi-rigid portion 12 and a single flexible portion 14; such a floss apparatus may be packaged in a single use sterile package. As the term is used herein, expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) shall mean a membrane which may be prepared by any number of known processes, for example, by stretching or drawing processes, by papermaking processes, by processes in which filler materials are incorporated with the PTFE resin and which are subsequently removed to leave a porous structure, or by powder sintering processes. Preferably, the porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a microstructure of interconnected nodes and fibrils, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,566; 4,187,390; and 4,110,392, and which fully describe the preferred material and processes for making them. The expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may be produced in filament form, such a form is preferred. As best illustrated by Figure 5, a typical bridge comprises a pontic or false tooth 16, which is anchored by natural teeth 18 and 20 by way of metal supports 22. The semi-rigid portion 12 of the dental floss article 10 facilitates insertion thereof between the teeth, preferably at the gum line, thereby acting as a leader for the flexible portion 14. As best illustrated by Figure 6, the semi-rigid portion 12 also facilitates insertion of the dental floss article 10 between the interstitial regions of teeth in cases where the person has fixed orthodontic appliances, such as braces 24. As the term "floss" is used herein, it is intended to encompass a thread-like material suitable for facilitating oral prophylaxis. As should be understood, a preferred fiber 11 for use in the dental floss article 10 is a fiber of ePTFE. The stiffness of the semi-rigid portion 12 of the dental floss article 10 is a critical factor in that if a leader, or threader end of the article is too stiff, it becomes very difficult and painful to manoeuvre the semi-rigid portion 12 through the back region of an occlusal site. However, some degree of flexibility is required in the semi-rigid portion 12 so that a user can easily divert a tip of the semi-rigid portion towards the front of his or her mouth, using the tongue, thereby permitting the user to capture the semi-rigid portion with the fingers and pull the trailing flexible portion 14 into a desired location for the flossing activity. As illustrated in Figure 2, the semi-rigid portion 12 can be formed by application of a polymer coating or dispersion to the fiber 11 in selected predetermined locations, followed by curing of the polymer to a semi-rigid state. For example, suitable polymer dispersions may include, but are not limited to, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Though application of these polymers to the fiber alone will create some degree of adherence, it is important to modify the surface of the fiber to promote a much more tenacious bond. This surface preparation can be accomplished by a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, mechanical, chemical, or electrochemical means, such as roughening the surface with sandpaper, treatment with an etchant, or by corona surface modification treatment. A preferred technique is to use a fully towed fiber, or to intermittently "tow" a 12 to 125 mm, preferably 50 to 80 mm, section of an ePTFE fiber, approximately every 0.5 meters along the length. The towing operation consists of running the fiber 11 over a rotating pinwheel to create a "tow yarn". As shown in Figure 1, a tow yarn 20 is a lattice structure of long randomly interconnected filaments 22 of ePTFE making up a continuous fiber 24. As shown in Figure 2, the tow yarn 20 is then coated with a polymer in predetermined locations, followed by curing for an appropriate time and at an appropriate temperature, for the particular polymer used, to form a semi-rigid section 12. In doing so, the polymer has much greater surface area to bond with during polymerization, and at the same time mechanically locks the tow filaments together with a continuous network of polymer to form one continuous semi-rigid desired section. The shape and texture of the semi-rigid portion 12 can be manipulated by processing the polymer containing end through a molding die while still in the semi-viscous state. In doing so, one can achieve different end characteristics suitable and desired for guiding the floss through the interstices between the teeth and gums of the user. The color too can be manipulated by placing desired pigments into the polymer prior to the coating or dipping process thus helping the user to identify the semi-rigid sections to be used as the threading device of this article. To enhance gripping of the dental floss article of the present invention, the article may be in part or in total, coated with a layer of wax. The wax may be any suitable wax such as carnuba, natural beeswax, candelilla, petroleum wax, synthetic petroleum wax, oxidized polyethylene, or micro crystalline. It has been found that a wax coating of from 0.5% to about 20% by weight is achievable, but a coating of 2 to 10% is preferable. The dental floss article of the present invention may be waxed using standard lick roller type waxing machines. The article may also be waxed using a number of liquid wax spray techniques such as those used for application of waxes on citrus fruit or other produce. The article may also be dip coated in a molten bath of wax. In addition to enhanced grippability of the dental floss article, the wax may be used to cover, or to carry an assortment of materials on the dental floss article to be delivered to the mouth and teeth. These materials may include, but are not limited to, flavoring oils, whiteners, abrasives, anti-bacterials, anti-tarter agents, or medicaments, such as, tetracycline, iodine, vitamins, etc. As best seen by reference to Figure 3, a testing apparatus 40 was developed and built to determine the stiffness of the semi-rigid portion 12. The testing apparatus comprises an artificial dental contact site made from two parallel adjacent 6.35 mm glass stirring rods 42, approximately 50 mm long. The bottom glass rod is stationary and fixed to a base 44 while the top glass rod is mounted to a lever arm 47 that is counterbalanced by member 46 and free to pivot about its bearing 48. The bearing is fixed to an anvil 50 which is stationary and fixed to the base 44. A load can be applied to the glass contacts by placing various weights into a load tray 52. A stiffened fiber or threading device 12 is presented perpendicular to the glass contacts and guided so that a tip of the semi-rigid portion meets a tangent line between the two glass rods. The fiber is mounted to a tray assembly 54 which travels along two guide rails 56 and is fixed to the tray by clamp 58, 25 mm behind the tip, exposing 25 mm of the semi-rigid portion. The tray assembly is then hand cranked moving the fiber horizontally into the glass contact point 42. The semi-rigid portion will either lift the contacts and penetrate through, or buckle from the applied load. Referring to Figure 4, the load tray 52 is mounted with its center 50 mm away from the pivot point of the bearing 48, distance "a". The glass rod contact point is 150 mm away from the bearing, distance "b". For the purpose of calculating the applied load at the glass contact point, which will cause a fiber to buckle rather than force the two glass rods apart, the mass applied to the load tray 52 is assumed to be centrally located in the tray above the center line of the lever arm 47. This allows for the calculation that, F GC = F A (a)/b. The load to resist buckling F GC of different fibers can be quantified in this fashion. A range of 3 to 1200 grams has been determined to be suitable for the semi-rigid portion, as measured by the testing apparatus, with a preferred range of 10 to 60 grams. Without intending to limit the scope of the present invention, the apparatus and method of production of the present invention may be better understood by referring to the following examples: EXAMPLE 1 A 1200 denier towed ePTFE fiber (obtained from W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD, Part No. WY012T1-Tow) was cut into a 600 mm section. The tow fiber was tied at both ends to a two peg aluminum stand supporting the fiber under slight tension so that it did not rest on the base of the stand. A section of fiber between 50 to 80 mm long was coated with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dispersion obtained from Whitford Corporation, West Chester, PA under the trade name DYKOR® 202 Clear Topcoat. The coating was applied with a small paint brush or cotton swab. The coated fiber and a 2-peg stand were then placed into an air oven at 265 degrees centigrade for a period of 5 minutes to cure the polymer. The stand and fiber were removed from the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. The cured polymer physically and mechanically locked the towed fiber together in the specified section and created a semi-rigid section of fiber having an oval shape with major outer diameter of 0.68 mm (0.027") and minor outer diameter of 0.53 mm (0.021"). The fiber was then removed from the stand and cut to length. The remaining uncoated section of the fiber was then waxed. EXAMPLE 2 The procedure of Example 1 was used to create a dental floss article, with the exception that slightly more polymer dispersion was coated onto the towed fiber prior to curing, resulting in a semi-rigid section having a major outer diameter of 0.635 mm (0.025") and a minor outer diameter of 0.58 mm (0.023"). EXAMPLE 3 The procedure of Example 1 was used to create a dental floss article, with the exception that slightly more polymer dispersion was coated onto the towed fiber prior to curing resulting in a semi-rigid section having a major outer diameter of 0.76 mm (0.030") and a minor outer diameter of 0.61 mm (0.024"). EXAMPLE 4 1150 and 2200 denier ePTFE fibers of various lengths (obtained from W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD. Part No. GY012T1 and GY012T 1-Tape, respectively) were intermittently towed in discrete locations of approximately 50 to 80 mm along the length of the fiber. The towed sections were located approximately 1 meter apart from each other. The fibers were then cut into 600 mm sections, with each section containing one towed location of 50 to 80 mm in length. These fibers were tied at both ends to a two peg aluminum stand supporting the fibers under slight tension so that they did not rest on the base of the stand. The towed sections of the fibers were coated with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dispersion obtained from Whitford Corporation, West Chester, PA. under the trade name DYKOR® 202 Clear Topcoat. The coating was applied with a small paint brush or cotton swab. The coated fibers on the 2-peg stand were then placed into an air oven at 265 degrees centigrade for a period of 5 minutes to cure the polymer. The stand and fibers were removed from the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. The cured polymer physically and mechanically locked the towed fiber section together thereby creating a semi-rigid portion. The fibers were then removed from the stand and cut to length. The remaining uncoated section of the fiber was then waxed. Table 1 shows the resistance to buckling loads of various articles as determined by the teachings herein. A preferred range for resistance to buckling for the article of the present invention was determined to be from about 10 to about 60 grams. TESTED ARTICLE LOAD AT CONTACTS (FGC) IN GRAMS Example 1: DYKOR® 202 Clear Topcoat 0.53 mm (.021") x 0.68 mm (.027") dia. 18 Example 2: DYKOR® 202 Clear Topcoat 0.58 mm (.023") x 0.45 mm (.025") dia. 32 Example 3: DYKOR® 202 Clear Topcoat 0.61 mm (.024") x 0.76 mm (.030") dia. 42

Claims: A dental floss article (10) comprising a towed fiber of a fluoropolymer material, wherein the towed fiber is a lattice structure of long, randomly interconnected filaments making up a continuous fiber. An article (10) as claimed in claim 1 in which the towed fiber is expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene. A dental floss article (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, in which the towed polymeric fiber has a predetermined length; and said towed polymeric fiber is selectively coated with a cured polymer at at least one predetermined location along the length of the fiber to provide said fiber with at least one substantially rigid portion (12) and at least one flexible portion (14). An article (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cross-sectional dimension of the fiber remains substantially constant along the entire length of said fiber. An article (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the fiber is a hydrophobic fiber. A method of producing a dental floss article (10) comprising the steps of providing a towed fiber of a fluoropolymer material having a predetermined length; selectively coating said towed fiber with a polymer at at least one predetermined location along the length of said fiber; and curing said coated polymer to provide said fiber with at least one substantially rigid portion (12) and at least one flexible portion (14). A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the towed fiber is of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, comprising forming the fiber with a cross-section which is sustantially constant along the entire length of said fiber. A method as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, in which the fiber is a hydrophobic fiber.

Inventors: BACINO JOHN EDWARD, DOLAN JOHN WILLIAM, GRAY THOMAS MICHAEL, BACINO, JOHN EDWARD, DOLAN, JOHN WILLIAM, GRAY, THOMAS MICHAEL
Applicants: GORE & ASS, W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61C15
IPC codes: A61B17, A61K8, A61Q11, A61L17, A61C15