Granted Patent B2

US 7,997,287 · App. 11/671,561 · Granted Aug 16, 2011

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A dental flosser having a tongue cleaner, the flosser comprising:

a handle terminating at a head, where the handle further includes a tapered pick end opposite the head having a rugous cleaning surface on at least one side thereof;

a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the head, the spaced apart arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spaced apart arms adjoining the head of the handle;

a length of dental floss extending between the second end of the arms; and

a first rugous tongue cleaning surface defined on at least one of the arms between the first end and the second end.

2. The flosser of claim 1 , wherein the first rugous tongue cleaning surface comprises a plurality of elongate and spaced apart raised ribs defined on a surface of the arm and a portion of the head.

3. The flosser of claim 1 , further comprising a second rugous tongue cleaning surface on a portion of the arm opposite the first rugous tongue cleaning surface.

4. The flosser of claim 1 , wherein the dental flosser is of one-piece molded plastic construction and the rugous cleaning surfaces are provided during the molding process.

5. The flosser of claim 1 wherein the first rugous tongue cleaning surface comprises at least one elongate and spaced apart raised rib defined on a surface of the arm and a portion of the head.

6. A dental flosser, the flosser comprising:

a handle terminating at a head;

a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the head, the spaced apart arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spaced apart arms adjoining the head of the handle;

a tongue cleaning surface defined on at least one of the spaced apart arms between the first end and the second end;

a length of dental floss extending between the second end of the arms;

a tapered pick end defined on an end of the handle opposite the head; and

a rugous cleaning surface defined on at least one side of the tapered pick end.

7. The flosser of claim 6 , wherein the dental flosser is of one-piece molded plastic construction and the rugous cleaning surface is a textured pattern provided during the molding process configured to facilitate the removal of food particles and to stimulate the gums.

8. A dental flosser having a tongue cleaner, the flosser comprising:

a handle terminating at a head, where the handle further includes a tapered pick end opposite the head having a rugous cleaning surface on at least one side thereof;

a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the head, the spaced apart arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spaced apart arms adjoining the head of the handle;

a tongue cleaning surfaces defined on both of the spaced apart arms between the first end and the second end of the arms; and

a length of dental floss extending between the second end of the arms.

9. A method of tongue cleaning, the method comprising:

placing a dental flosser in a mouth of a user, the dental flosser having a handle terminating at a head, a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the head, the spaced apart arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spaced apart arms adjoining the head of the handle, and a length of dental floss extending between the second end of the arms;

cleaning the tongue with a first rugous tongue cleaning surface defined on at least one of the arms between the first end and the second end.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising flossing between one or more teeth of the user using the dental flosser.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first rugous tongue cleaning surface comprises at least one elongate and spaced apart raised rib defined on a surface of the arm and a portion of the head.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein cleaning the tongue further comprises cleaning the tongue with a second rugous tongue cleaning surface on a portion of the arm opposite the first rugous tongue cleaning surface.

Assignments (6)