The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1997
David C Sokal, Mebane, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
Personal oral hygiene of the general population is improved by making flossing considerably easier and less time consuming than it is when performed pursuant to current recommendations of the dental profession. This invention is an improved method for cleaning the interproximal tooth surfaces, comprising alternating the flossing of the lower teeth and the upper teeth in separate flossing sessions. A preferred embodiment is to floss the lower teeth on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the upper teeth on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (or Sundays). This invention can maintain gingival health with less than half the time and effort of currently recommended methods. An alternative embodiment is to floss the lower and upper teeth on alternate days, irrespective of the day of the week. The invention may be carried out with any type of dental floss, and with any mechanical or electrical flossing aid, as well as other kinds of interdental cleaners. The invention includes novel floss dispensing devices to help users remember to floss properly according to the invention. One such device is a floss dispenser with six floss cutters (FIG. 1). A memory aid in the form of day-of-the-week indentifiers next to each cutter reminds the user which teeth to floss on which day.