Flossing toys and methods of making and using the same

A flossing toy comprising:

• a central base portion defining a horizontal plane,
• two, spaced floss-supporting members extending downward from said centralbase portion,
• a fixed length of floss extending between and connected to each of said two, spaced floss-supporting members, and
• two finger-engaging members extending upward from said central base portion, wherein each of said two finger-engaging members independently comprises (i) a first end connected to said central base portion and (ii) a second end opposite said first end, said two finger-engaging members combining with one another to form an open expandable loop having a disconnecting slot therein, said disconnecting slot being positioned between opposing and separated end surfaces of said second ends of said two finger-engaging members, said disconnecting slot being positioned a distance from said central base portion and a further distance from said fixed length of floss, said open loop being sized to adjustably extend over and grasp a finger positioned therein,
• wherein (I) said central base portion, said two, spaced floss-supporting members, and said two finger-engaging members form a monolithic flossing member, (II) said central base portion has an outer perimeter that extends horizontally beyond outer front and rear edges of each of said two, spaced floss-supporting members, said front and rear edges being parallel with said fixed length of floss and (III) said two finger-engaging members and said fixed length of floss extend within a vertical plane transverse to the horizontal plane.

A flossing toy consisting of:

• a central base portion defining a horizontal plane,
• two, spaced floss-supporting members integrally connected to and extending downward from said central base portion,
• a fixed length of floss extending between and connected to each of said two, spaced floss-supporting members, wherein (i) opposite ends of said fixed length of floss are embedded within end portions of said two, spaced floss-supporting members, (ii) said fixed length of floss is up to about 1.05 times an overall width of the flossing toy, and (iii) said fixed length of floss remains constant throughout a life of the flossing toy,
• two finger-engaging members integrally connected to and extending upward from said central base portion, wherein each of said two finger-engaging members independently comprises (i) a first end connected to said central base portion and (ii) a second end opposite said first end, said two finger-engaging members combining with one another to form an open expandable loop having a disconnecting slot therein, said disconnecting slot being positioned between opposing and separated end surfaces of said second ends of said two finger-engaging members, said disconnecting slot being positioned a distance from said central base portion and a further distance from said fixed length of floss, and said open loop being sized to adjustably extend over and grasp a finger positioned therein,
• said two finger-engaging members and said fixed length of floss extend within a vertical plane transverse to the horizontal plane, and
• one or more additive materials coated onto said flossing toy or incorporated into said flossing toy, said one or more additive materials being selected from:
• (i) a fluoride-containing component, (ii) an anti-bacterial component, (iii) a colorant, (iv) a flavor, (v) a scent, or (vi) any combination thereof.