Non-crystalline saliva-soluble coatings for elastomeric monofilament dental tapes

Abstract

An improved dental tape treated with a substantive coating containing a crystal control substance, wherein said coating is: saliva soluble, substantially crystal-free, with a flaking value of less than about 20 and a release value of about 100.

1 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . A method for treating interproximal and subgingival sites in the oral cavity with a coated monofilament dental tape comprising flossing said sites with a coated monofilament dental tape having a substantive coating, wherein said coating: 
 contains a crystal control substance,    is saliva soluble,    is substantially crystal-free,    comprises from between about 20% and about 120% by weight of said tape, and has a flake value of less than about 20 and a release value of about 90 to 100.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said tape coating further comprises an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride, potassium nitrate, triclosan, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, domaphen bromide, metronidazole, doxycycline, aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       6 . A method for treating interproximal and subgingival sites in the oral cavity for the purposes of mitigating, curing or otherwise affecting systemic diseases which are caused or exacerbated by poor oral health such as heart disease, diabetes, tobacco-use related disease, low-birth weight babies, immuno-compromised patients, said method comprising flossing said sites with a coated monofilament dental tape having a substantive coating, wherein said coating contains an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride, potassium nitrate, triclosan, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, domaphen bromide, metronidazole, doxycycline, aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . A method for physically removing subgingival biofilms from interproximal and subgingival sites in the oral cavity with a coated monofilament dental tape comprising flossing said sites with a coated monofilament dental tape having a substantive coating, wherein said coating: 
 contains a crystal control substance    is saliva soluble    is substantially crystal-free    comprises from between about 20% and about 120% by weight of said tape has a flake value of less than about 20 and a release value of about 90 to 100.    
   
   
       8 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The method for treating interproximal and subgingival sites in the oral cavity with the coated monofilament dental tape according to  claim 5 , wherein the active ingredient is delivered interproximally and subgingivally upon flossing.  
   
   
       14 . A substantive coating for monofilament dental tape comprising: 
 at least one crystal control substance; and    an effective amount of at least one biologically active ingredient, wherein the coating is saliva-soluble and comprises between about 20% and about 120% by weight of the tape and has a flake value of less than about 20 and a release value of about 90 to 100, wherein the crystal control substance is a surfactant selected from the group consisting of TWEEN® 80 (POE sorbitan fatty acid ester), SPAN 60® (sorbitan monostearate), EMSORB® 2726 (polyethyleneglycol (PEG)40 diisostearate), and POLOXAMER 407 (a nonionic surfactant block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide).    
   
   
       15 . The substantive coating for monofilament dental tape of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-plaque substance is selected from the group consisting of emulsions of polydimethylsiloxanes and block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide including MICRODENT® and ULTRAMULSION®.  
   
   
       16 . Monofilament dental tape coated with a substantive coating, the coating comprising: 
 at least one crystal control substance; and    an effective amount of at least one biologically active ingredient, wherein the coating is saliva-soluble and comprises between about 20% and about 120% by weight of the tape and has a flake value of less than about 20 and a release value of about 90 to 100,    wherein the monofilament dental tape comprises an shred-resistant elastomer.    
   
   
       17 . The monofilament dental tape of  claim 16 , wherein the elastomer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON®).  
   
   
       18 . The monofilament dental tape of  claim 16 , wherein the elastomer comprises a bicomponent polymer.  
   
   
       19 . The monofilament dental tape of  claim 16 , wherein the elastomer comprises a homopolymer.  
   
   
       20 . The monofilament dental tape of  claim 16 , wherein the elastomer comprises a copolymer.