Flavored dental articles

{
  "publication_number": "US3943949A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Flavored dental articles",
  "abstract": "A stabilized, flavored dental article for cleaning the interproximal surfaces of the teeth such as dental floss or dental tape comprising filaments with a wax coating containing spray-dried flavor particles.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A stabilized flavored article for cleaning the teeth comprising a plurality of filaments of a substrate material formed into a larger thread of a sufficiently small diameter to permit insertion between the teeth, said thread impregnated with water-insoluble wax with spray-dried flavor particles adhered to said water-insoluble wax.",
    "2. The stabilized flavored article of claim 1 wherein the spray-dried flavor particles consist essentially of a flavor oil dispersed in a matrix of a water-soluble medium selected from the group consisting of gums, starches and dextrins.",
    "3. The stabilized flavored article of claim 2 wherein the spray-dried flavor particles comprise about 1 to 10% by weight of the stabilized flavored article.",
    "4. The stabilized flavored article of claim 1 wherein the plurality of filaments are colored with a suitable color dye.",
    "5. The stabilized flavored article of claim 1 wherein the article is dental floss.",
    "6. The stabilized flavored article of claim 1 wherein the article is dental tape.",
    "7. A stabilized flavor article for cleaning the teeth comprising a plurality of filaments of a substrate material formed into a larger thread of a sufficiently small diameter to permit insertion between the teeth; said thread impregnated with a water-insoluble wax with spray-dried flavor particles adhered to said water-insoluble wax consisting essentially of a flavor oil dispersed in a matrix of a water-soluble medium selected from the group consisting of gums, starches and dextrins, with the water-soluble medium being capable of being dissolved by the saliva in the oral cavity when the article is applied to the teeth thereby releasing the flavor to the teeth and oral cavity."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to articles for cleaning the interproximal surfaces of the teeth and more particularly to flavored dental floss and dental tape.\n\nIt has been shown that tooth decay and dental disease can be attributed to bacterial action resulting from the formation of plaque about the teeth and/or the entrapment of food particles between the teeth and interstices therebetween. The removal of plaque and entrapped food particles reduces caries, reduces the tendency towards gingivitis, and reduces mouth odor as well as generally improving oral hygiene. Conventional brushing of the teeth has been found to be unsatisfactory to effect the removal of entrapped food particles from some crevices between the teeth and/or to effectively remove the plaque by which the bacteria adheres to the teeth. To supplement brushing, various materials have been used to clean the interproximal spaces and surfaces of the teeth, for example, dental floss and dental tape. It is to be understood that the use of the term \"dental floss\" hereinafter encompasses dental tape as well as any similar article.\n\nThe use of a flavored dental floss as opposed to the more common unflavored variety provides aesthetic advantages to the floss making the use of said floss more pleasant thereby encouraging better oral hygiene practices.\n\nPrior art dental floss and dental tape products have explored the possibilities of adding various flavors in their production in an attempt to impart a flavor to the finished product.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61Q 11/00",
    "A61C 15/041",
    "A61K 2800/412",
    "A61K 8/11"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61C 15/04",
    "A61K 8/11",
    "A61Q 11/00",
    "D02G 3/44"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Johnson and Johnson"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William Howard Ashton",
    "Robert Schenke Russell"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1974-11-26",
  "publication_date": "1976-03-16",
  "grant_date": "1976-03-16",
  "priority_date": "1974-11-26",
  "application_number": "US-52732774-A",
  "family_id": "24101030",
  "cited_by_count": 135,
  "citations": [
    "US174619A",
    "US2700636A",
    "US3699979A",
    "US3830246A",
    "US3744499A",
    "US3800812A",
    "US3837351A"
  ]
}