Elastomeric Dental Floss with Variable Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental flosses are inefficient in cleaning between teeth due to fixed diameters that do not accommodate varying tooth spacings, often causing discomfort and potential injury when forced through tight spaces, and lack sufficient flexibility and tensile strength for effective gum massage.
Innovation Solution
A dental floss comprising an elastomeric matrix with protruding particles, made from a blend of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer and polypropylene, which can be elongated up to 1500% without breaking, providing improved flexibility and gentler gum application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dental floss has a fixed diameter, then it maintains structural integrity and tensile strength, but it cannot accommodate varying tooth spacings and causes discomfort or injury when forced through tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The dental floss transitions from a static fixed-diameter structure to a dynamic variable-diameter structure through elastic deformation. When force is applied, the floss elongates and its diameter reduces, allowing it to adapt to different tooth spacings. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need to force a fixed-diameter floss through tight spaces, preventing gum injury while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the floss by incorporating elastomeric materials that allow the diameter and length parameters to vary under applied force. The floss can elongate up to 1500% of its original length, which simultaneously reduces its diameter to fit between tightly spaced teeth while maintaining sufficient tensile strength through the elastic recovery property of the elastomeric material.
2Productivity
If dental floss diameter is increased to improve cleaning between teeth and gums, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but it becomes difficult to pass between teeth without excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The floss utilizes dynamic dimensional changes to resolve the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and ease of passage. A floss with larger initial diameter can provide better cleaning surface area, but when elastic force is applied during use, it elongates and narrows to pass easily between teeth. This dynamic adaptation allows the floss to achieve both large diameter for cleaning and small diameter for passage without requiring excessive force.
Solution Approach 2:
The floss is pre-configured with elastomeric properties that enable it to undergo significant elongation (up to 1500%) when force is applied. This preliminary elastic capability ensures that even floss with larger initial diameter can be easily inserted between teeth, as the material is designed to compress and elongate in anticipation of the passage requirement, then expand back to provide effective cleaning surface area once in position.
3Ease of operation
If excessive force is applied to pass floss between teeth, then the floss can be inserted, but it causes painful collision with gums and may shred or fray the floss
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic-dynamic floss transforms the static force application problem into a dynamic energy absorption process. Instead of requiring excessive force that causes floss shredding and gum injury, the elastomeric material absorbs the applied force through elastic deformation, elongating smoothly to pass between teeth without sudden collisions. The gradual elastic expansion prevents both gum trauma and floss structural failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material provides inherent cushioning capability before force is applied. The elastic property acts as a pre-built shock absorber that prevents excessive force transmission to both the floss structure and gum tissue. When force is applied to pass the floss between teeth, the elastomeric material compresses and elongates gradually, cushioning against sudden impacts that would otherwise cause floss fraying or gum laceration.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If gelatinous elastomeric material is used to provide softness and stretchability, then gum gentleness improves, but tensile strength becomes insufficient and the material breaks too easily
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite elastomeric system combining multiple polymer components with complementary properties. By formulating a composite material system, the floss achieves both the softness and stretchability needed for gum gentleness and the tensile strength required to prevent breakage during use. The composite structure allows simultaneous optimization of conflicting mechanical properties that cannot be achieved with single materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric composition is engineered with specific parameter ranges to achieve the desired balance between softness and strength. By controlling the molecular weight, crosslinking density, and polymer composition parameters, the material can elongate up to 1500% to provide gum gentleness while maintaining sufficient tensile strength. The parameter optimization allows the same material to exhibit both extreme extensibility and adequate strength retention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The elastomeric dental floss effectively navigates between teeth without causing injury, offers enhanced gum massage, and maintains tensile strength and flexibility for efficient interdental cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric block copolymer blend of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer and polypropylene, and a plasticizer... which can be elongated up to 1500% without breaking
Implementation Method 2
a gelatinous composition comprised of an intimate blend admixture of poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) triblock copolymer with a high level of a plasticizing oil
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are dental floss compositions comprising an elastomeric matrix containing one or more particles, and methods of making and using the same.