Method of making flavored function specific toothpicks

Abstract

A flavored toothpick and a method for preparing such, the product exhibiting improved capacity for delivering flavor and additives to the user, among other advantages. The toothpick may be prepared by pretreating the wooden substrate to increase porosity and decrease hardness. The toothpick is then immersed in a solution containing an additive, a masking agent, and a sweeting agent, where the toothpick absorbs the solution. Alternatively, the toothpick may be placed with the solution in a sealed chamber under vacuum pressure to infuse the toothpick with the additive solution and any desired flavoring.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing a flavored toothpick, the toothpick being formed of a substrate of unitary construction, the method comprising the steps of:
 pretreating the toothpick in a wash comprising a solution with pH above 7 to increase the porosity of the substrate;   preparing an additive solution;   placing the pretreated toothpick in the additive solution within a sealed chamber;   subjecting the sealed chamber to a vacuum pressure for a period of time; and   removing the toothpick to an environment of low relative humidity for curing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the additive solution is water-based. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of pretreating the toothpick also results in a decrease in the hardness of the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the additive solution is a biologically active compound. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the additive solution contains a masking agent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the additive solution contains a sweetening agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the additive solution comprises a flavoring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of curing the toothpick is performed in an environment of less than 18% relative humidity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum pressure is applied using a mechanical pump. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum pressure is more than 10% below atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the wash is flowing or agitated so that heavy cellulose and other constituents of wood of the toothpick are carried away. 
     
     
         22 . A method of preparing a flavored toothpick, the toothpick being formed of a substrate of unitary construction, the method comprising the steps of:
 pretreating the toothpick in a flowing or agitated wash, so that heavy cellulose and other constituents of wood of the toothpick are carried away, to increase the porosity of the substrate;   preparing an additive solution;   placing the pretreated toothpick in the additive solution within a sealed chamber;   subjecting the sealed chamber to a vacuum pressure for a period of time; and   removing the toothpick to an environment of low relative humidity for curing.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the additive solution is water-based. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of pretreating the toothpick also results in a decrease in the hardness of the substrate. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the additive solution is a biologically active compound. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the additive solution contains a masking agent. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the additive solution contains a sweetening agent. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the additive solution comprises a flavoring. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of curing the toothpick is performed in an environment of less than 18% relative humidity. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the vacuum pressure is applied using a mechanical pump. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the vacuum pressure is more than 10% below atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the wash comprises a solution with pH above 7.