A disposable dental flosser has a floss release feature that is operated with one hand. A movable section of a flosser provides a clamp that clamps one end of a length of floss. Deforming the movable section opens the clamp to release the end of the length of floss. The release of one end of the floss from the flossing device facilitates the easy removal of the floss from teeth.

A molded polymer article is disclosed which includes a first structural portion, a second structural portion, and a living hinge connecting the first structural portion and the second structural portion. Both structural portions and the living hinge are all integrally molded from a polymeric composition which includes: (1) from about 20 to about 95 weight percent of polyhydroxyalkanoates, (2) from about 5 to about 75 weight percent of a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, poly(butylene succinate), poly(butylene-succinate-co-adipate), poly(caprolactone), and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), (3) from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of a nucleating agent, and (4) from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one mold processing aid, such as a mold release agent.

In one embodiment, a dental flosser includes a handle and a housing coupled to the handle. The housing includes a chamber for rotatably receiving a spool having first top and bottom surfaces and a side surface and having a supply of floss wound about the side surface, the supply of floss having second top and bottom surfaces. The housing further includes a floss orifice for directing at least a portion of the supply of floss therethrough. The dental flosser also includes an actuator including at least one contact surface configured to frictionally engage at least one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, the second top surface, or the second bottom surface. The actuator further includes a biasing member for biasing the at least one contact surface relative to the spool.

A dental floss appliance comprising a U-shaped frame; a plurality of movable fasteners held by the frame; and a plurality of dental floss sections strung between the fasteners.

A dental floss type tooth cleaning device that is configured to clean tooth gap in oral cavity is disclosed. The invention is mainly configured to allow the user, who is preparing to use dental floss to clean tooth gap, to quickly wind the dental floss which follows a floss groove and is tightened and fixed. The dental floss can be dismantled quickly and disposed after use, so as to achieve a recyclable effect.

A device for cleansing the teeth is provided. The device that improves the ability of the user to quickly, efficiently and thoroughly floss all interproximal spaces at once.

Hollow fiber drug delivery devices are described. Device can contain structural or solid fibers. Fabric can be formed by fibers being interwoven or joined to each other. All or some of the fibers can be resorbable. Fibers can be subdivided, by deformations or closure points, into numerous compartments that separately deliver drug. Deformations can be located at points of fiber intersection or joining. Different drug or drug formulation can be provided in different places. Fibers can be given appropriate surface treatments or coatings to achieve desired properties such as wetting of pores and surfaces. Different release characteristics in different directions can be achieved. The hollow fibers can contain solid particles of drug, and can contain gel. Possible applications include hernia meshes, pouches, sutures, catheters, wound dressings, stents, nerve regrowth guides, refillable/drainable devices, and devices that deliver drug to lymphatic flow.

An adjustable flossing tool includes a tool body having a major tool axis and a headstock. At least one string positioner having first and second positioner arms is positioned on the headstock. A floss string extends from the first positioner arm to the second positioner arm of each string positioner. Adjustment can be made to position the first string in a first string position in parallel to or at an angle to the major tool axis. Adjustment can also be made to position the first string to a second string position, the second string position being different from the first string position relative to the major tool axis.

A dental flosser having a handle, a dental floss support mounted to the handle and having first and second projections, each projection defining a tip, a floss dispensing spool mounted to the handle, and a floss collecting spool mounted to the handle. The dental flosser also includes a thumbwheel operable to rotate the collecting spool to cause uptake of floss from the dispensing spool, across the tips of the first and second projections, and onto the collecting spool, and a spool brake member mounted to the handle and operable to fix rotated positions of the dispensing and collecting spools, and to automatically release the dispensing and collecting spools to rotate upon operating the thumbwheel.

A disposable toothbrush with a readily-dispensable amount of toothpaste is an apparatus that is single-use and self-pasting. The apparatus includes a toothbrush and at least one toothpaste dispenser. The toothbrush includes a brush handle, a paste channel, and a plurality of bristles. The paste channel traverses from one side of the brush handle to the other side of the brush handle. The toothpaste dispenser is in fluid communication with an inlet of the paste channel, while an outlet of the paste channel is positioned amongst the plurality of bristles so that a quantity of retained toothpaste can be readily dispensed for use amongst the plurality of bristles.