Dental floss

An improved method of adding chemotherapeutic preparations to dental floss containing several multi-fiber bundles comprising:

• treating said multi-fiber bundles with texturizing means selected from the group consisting of:
• false twist,
• air jet, and
• stuffer box,
• and introducing said chemotherapeutic preparations into said textured multi-fiber bundles;
• while maintaining dental floss integrity.

An improved method of adding chemotherapeutic preparations to dental floss containing several multi-fiber bundles comprising:

• A. texturizing said multi-fiber bundles,
• B. air entangling said texturized multi-fiber bundles,
• C. twisting said air entangled multi-fiber bundles,
• D. repetitively spreading said multi-fibers and introducing said chemotherapeutic preparations into the space around said fibers, and
• E. returning said fibers to their pre-spread twist, such that from between about 20 and about 200 mg of said chemotherapeutic preparation is contained in one yard of said floss.

A method of treating interproximal and subgingival areas of the oral cavity with various site specific chemotherapeutic preparations comprising:

• a. activating dental floss comprising several multi-fiber bundles having expanded interstitial space between said fibers, wherein said expanded space contains one or more chemotherapeutic preparations;
• b. working said activated dental floss between teeth and subgingivally to mechanically clean said areas while releasing said chemotherapeutic preparation;
• and
• c. removing the spent multi-fiber dental floss from the interproximal and/or subgingival area along with entrapped food particles, debris, loosened plaque and tartar.

A method of treating infected, diseased, bleeding, or traumatized interproximal and subgingival areas of gums with site specific chemotherapeutic preparations comprising:

• a. activating a dental floss comprising several multi-fiber bundles, containing cleaners and adsorbents;
• working said activated dental floss interproximally and subgingivally to release said cleaners and adsorbents and removing the spent dental floss along with any entrapped debris, bacteria, bacteria ladened fluids and toxins;
• b. activating a second dental floss comprising several multi-fiber bundles containing chemical aspirants, working said activated floss subgingivally and interproximally to aspirate the sites of infection, disease or bleeding, and removing the spent dental floss along with any entrapped debris, aspirated bacteria, bacteria ladened fluids and toxins;
• and
• c. activating a third dental floss comprising several multi-fiber bundles containing appropriate chemotherapeutic preparations selected from the group consisting of:
• antimicrobials, antibiotics, healants, soothants, oxygenating compounds and antibacterial agents, working said activated floss subgingivally and interproximally into the sites of infection, disease or bleeding, and removing the spent dental floss leaving behind an effective amount of an appropriate chemotherapeutic preparation selected from the group consisting of antimicrobials, antibiotics, healants, soothants, oxygenating compounds and antibacterial agents.

An improved dental floss consisting of several multi-fiber bundles wherein said bundles of fibers have undergone bulking, said floss further containing one or more chemotherapeutic preparations;

• and wherein the texturized multi-fiber bundles are air entangled and twisted prior to the introduction of the chemotherapeutic preparations;
• the improvement consisting of
• said floss having two physical states;
• a contracted form and an expanded or bulkier form, wherein expansion of the contracted floss to the bulkier physical state is achieved by release of tension applied to the contracted floss during use thereof.

An improved dental floss consisting of several multi-fiber bundles wherein said bundles of fibers have undergone texturizing, said floss further containing one or more chemotherapeutic preparations;

• and wherein the texturized multi-fiber bundles are air entangled and twisted prior to the introduction of the chemotherapeutic preparations;
• the improvement consisting of
• said floss having two physical states;
• a contracted form and an expanded or bulkier form, wherein expansion of the contracted floss to the bulkier physical state is achieved by release of tension applied to the contracted floss during use thereof.

An improved dental floss consisting of several texturized, multi-fiber bundles containing a chemotherapeutic preparation selected from the group consisting of tetracycline, penicillin, polymyxin B, vancomycin, kanamycin, erythromycin, niddamycin, and spiromycin, suitable for ameliorating bacteria laden fluids, toxins, and sites of infection in interproximal and subgingival areas;

• and
• wherein the texturized multi-fiber bundles are air entangled and twisted prior to the introduction of the chemotherapeutic preparations;
• the improvement consisting of
• said floss having two physical states;
• a contracted form and an expanded or bulkier form, wherein expansion of the contracted floss to the bulkier physical state is achieved by release of tension applied to the contracted floss during use thereof.

An improved dental floss consisting of several texturized, multi-fiber bundles containing a chemotherapeutic preparation having the propensity to expand dramatically during use to release said chemotherapeutic preparation along with improved splaying;

• and
• wherein the texturized multi-fiber bundles are air entangled and twisted prior to the introduction of the chemotherapeutic preparations;
• the improvement consisting of
• said floss having two physical states;
• a contracted form and an expanded or bulker form, wherein expansion of the contracted floss to the bulkier physical state is achieved by release of tension applied to the contracted floss during use thereof.