Dental floss incorporating controlled-release therapeutic agents

摘要

A strip of dental floss that is capable of receiving and retaining a substantially solid coating is coated with an ingestible binder that is capable of being stripped from the dental floss by the mechanical forces of flossing and being deposited in situ in the interproximal region of the teeth. The binder incorporates a medicament, particularly being an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine that is slowly released from the binder over a predetermined period of time responsive to oral fluid and oral temperature. This invention accomplishes delivery of the medicament to specific areas of the teeth where plaque build-up is likely to occur and minimizes staining of the teeth by the antibacterial agent.