Patent ID: 8631807

Claim:
A dental flossing device for providing and supporting floss to the interproximal spaces between the teeth of a user, the user having an arch-wire spaced apart from the teeth, the device comprising a handle, the handle having a handle axis of alignment; and a floss support head attached to the handle, the floss support head being formed as a U-Shape, the floss support head having a head axis of alignment oriented at an acute angle with respect to the handle axis of alignment, the floss support head comprising a first floss support element ( 331 ) having a first support axis of alignment, the first floss support element comprising a first floss retention distal end ( 322 ) having a thickness less than the distance that the arch-wire is spaced apart from the teeth, and a first support section having a thickness less than the distance that the arch-wire is spaced apart from the teeth, the first floss retention distal end comprising a tapered neck portion ( 334 ) between said first floss retention distal end and said first support section, said tapered neck portion having a larger cross section adjacent said first floss retention distal end and a smaller cross section adjacent said first support section, such that, when the tapered neck portion is positioned in proximity to an interproximal space between the arch-wire and the teeth, the dental device may be freely pivoted with respect to the teeth without hitting the arch-wire; and said first floss retention distal end being a spatula tip, such that the spatula tip is broader than the tapered neck portion and has a thickness less than the distance that the arch-wire is spaced apart from the teeth; a second floss support element having a second support axis of alignment, the first floss support element and the second floss support element defining a head plane, the first support axis of alignment and the second support axis of alignment comprising the sides of the U-Shape, the second floss support element comprising a second floss retention distal end and a second support section spaced apart from the first support element; and a floss strand, the floss strand having a first end affixed to the spatula tip of the first floss retention distal end, the floss strand being supported by the second floss retention distal end.