| abstract |
A dental floss brush (2) comprises at least two thread sections (6, 8) having diameters, in their relaxed state, of at least 2.5 mm. The thread sections (6, 8) are separated by a brush section (4) having a diameter of up to 4 mm in its relaxed state and a diameter of 1.7 to 3.0 mm under a tension of 0.05 N. The brush section (4) can be coated with a low melting wax composition, optimally a polyethylene glycol ester of beeswax. This product is made by coating a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer, selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof in a volatile solvent. Then the solvent is selectively vaporized from thread portions (6, 8) while preventing vaporization of solvent from brush portions (4), while the yarn is maintained under a tension of 0.15 to 1 N. The brush portions (4) are steam treated while the yarn is under no tension until they have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn. Residual solvent is then removed from the brush portions (4) while the yarn is under no tension. |