Health & Wellbeing

Blizzident promises one bite flossing

Blizzident promises one bite flossing
No, it's not a medieval torture device, it's Blizzident's 3D-Flosser
No, it's not a medieval torture device, it's Blizzident's 3D-Flosser
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Diagram showing the dental floss moving between the teeth with just one bite
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Diagram showing the dental floss moving between the teeth with just one bite
Top view of the 3D-Flosser showing the lattice of dental floss
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Top view of the 3D-Flosser showing the lattice of dental floss
No, it's not a medieval torture device, it's Blizzident's 3D-Flosser
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No, it's not a medieval torture device, it's Blizzident's 3D-Flosser
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The American Dental Association, like many oral hygiene bodies around the globe, recommends cleaning between teeth at least once per day. Generally, this is done using a strand of dental floss to get into the small gaps that toothbrushes just can't reach. Though important, it does take time. What if you could floss all your teeth in one bite? That's what Blizzident is promising with its 3D-Flosser.

In 2013, Blizzident released a tailored toothbrush design which looked like a mouth guard that had melted in a microwave oven, and was claimed to give teeth a full and complete clean in just 6 seconds.

Before folks could get their funny-looking toothbrush though, they would need to visit a dentist to get a 3D scan or impression made. This would be sent to Blizzident, and a 3D-printed "negative" of the teeth produced, and lined with angled bristles. Brushing was then a simple matter of biting up and down, and having a good old grind.

The pre-production process for the 3D-Flosser is similar. Once Blizzident receive a customer's 3D scan, a user-specific frame is made. Four rolls of dental floss in the grip are fed through channels in the frame so that each gap in a user's teeth is covered by a short strand of floss. All a rapid flosser has to do is bite down on the frame, and the floss slides between the teeth to a depth of around 2 mm. Job done.

Diagram showing the dental floss moving between the teeth with just one bite
Diagram showing the dental floss moving between the teeth with just one bite

After flossing, the user pulls the used part of the floss out through the frame and cuts it off with the integrated blade. As the old floss is pulled out, new floss is fed through from the spools in the grip – Blizzident told us that the channels have been optimized to reduce friction between the floss and the frame, and "to keep the floss safely and precisely in place while flossing."

Floss spools are reported to last about 500 cleans, after which rolls can be replaced. The 3D-printed frame has been designed to last indefinitely, though the company admits that "you can never rule out a break, it is plastic. Our intention is 'infinite,' and we would further optimize it if a break occurred. The forces applied to it are not small."

Blizzident reckons that dental scans will cost in the region of US$75 - $100, so this will need to be factored into the overall cost of the 3D-Flosser – which is priced at $199. The order books are open now, with shipping taking around 4 weeks.

Source: Blizzident

View gallery - 3 images
7 comments
7 comments
AmericanBadger
This sounds like a truly horrible idea. And it looks even worse.
guzmanchinky
Interesting, but how do you keep the gunk on the floss from getting caught in the device when you pull the floss out? Or maybe you rinse it first?
Buellrider
So you will find out that you are out 300+bucks when you find that this thing doesn't do diddly. Also, what do you do when that floss gets stuck and instead of only having a hard time getting it out between two teeth, you now are freaking out because this thing is completely wedged and solidly stuck in your mouth. What a ridiculous contraption. Their next product will be Radium Rinse to kill 100% of the bacteria in your mouth and you can use it until your jaw bones disintegrate.
Roger Garrett
I'm thinking that the person who invented this has never actually flossed or has huge gaps between all his teeth.
DavidStonier-Gibson
Checking my calendar ... no it's not April 1.
ljaques
Dentists and attorneys will surely love these. Think of the money they'll make when everyone's teeth fall out from lack of proper flossing! 2mm depth? That's only 5/64 of an inch. My hand floss stick gets down half an inch, at least. Y'know, all the way to the gums, where most of the plaque sticks. I'd sooner chance Buell's Radium Rinse.
jeannie33
I think this 3D-flosser is really ingenious.