Twisted Dental Floss for Interproximal Access and Plaque Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental flosses face difficulties in penetrating the gaps between neighboring teeth and effectively removing food residue due to their shape and configuration, necessitating an improved design.
Innovation Solution
A dental floss comprising a first strand of material twisted with a second strand at a twist density of between 60 twists/meter to 300 twists/meter, which allows for greater deformation and increased contact surface area when inserted, enhancing interproximal access and plaque removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional single-stranded or simple multi-stranded floss is used, then the floss maintains structural simplicity, but it has difficulty penetrating interproximal gaps and effectively removing food residue
Solution Approach 1:
The floss is divided into multiple individual strands (typically 3-7 strands) twisted together, rather than using a single solid strand. Each strand can independently deform and penetrate into the interproximal space, with the segmented structure allowing better adaptation to the gap geometry while maintaining overall flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The twist density of the floss is optimized within a specific range (60-300 twists per meter) to achieve the desired balance between flexibility for penetration and structural integrity for plaque removal. This parameter optimization allows the floss to deform sufficiently to enter tight gaps while maintaining enough rigidity to effectively scrape plaque surfaces
2Ease of operation
If the floss is made more flexible to penetrate gaps easily, then interproximal access improves, but the floss may lack the strength to effectively remove plaque
Solution Approach 1:
The floss combines multiple strands of material twisted together, creating a composite structure where individual strands provide flexibility for penetration while the collective twisted structure provides the necessary strength and rigidity for plaque removal. The composite nature allows simultaneous achievement of both softness for gap entry and hardness for surface scraping
Solution Approach 2:
The twisted strand configuration creates a helical/curved structure that naturally adapts to the curved surfaces of teeth and the geometry of interproximal gaps. This curvature allows the floss to conform to tooth surfaces while maintaining structural integrity, enabling both easy penetration and effective plaque removal along the contoured tooth surfaces
3Productivity
If higher twist density is used to increase contact surface area, then plaque removal efficiency improves, but the floss becomes less flexible and harder to insert
Solution Approach 1:
The twist density is controlled within an optimized range (60-300 twists per meter) that balances flexibility and plaque removal efficiency. Within this range, the floss maintains sufficient flexibility for easy insertion while generating adequate surface area and mechanical action for effective plaque removal, avoiding the extremes of too loose (ineffective cleaning) or too tight (excessive rigidity)
Data Source
AI summary
A dental floss includes a first strand of material twisted with a second strand of material at a twist density of between 60 twists/meter to 300 twists/meter, inclusive.