WO2002074184A1

WO2002074184A1 - Dental hygiene device made of composite material

Info

Publication number: WO2002074184A1
Application number: PCT/FI2002/000227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keijo Paunio; Antti Yli-Urpo; Pekka Vallittu; Timo NÄRHI
Original assignee: Keijo Paunio; Antti Yli-Urpo; Pekka Vallittu; Naerhi Timo
Priority date: 2001-03-20
Filing date: 2002-03-20
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Also published as: FI20010562A0

Abstract

The present invention provides a dental hygiene device made of synthetic composite material comprising a fibre or a plurality of fibres, and a matrix around the fibre or fibres and between the fibres. The fibre or plurality of fibres and/or the matrix are made of ceramic material. Examples of dental hygiene devises are toothpicks, interdental brushes, individual bristles in toothbrushes, dental flosses, dental tapes, and dental adhesives.

Description

DENTAL HYGIENE DEVICE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dental hygiene device made of composite material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In presence of suitable environmental factors the colonization of detrimental oral microorganisms can cause serious periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Advanced gingivitis and periodontitis can lead to gingival recession, root decay and loosening or loss of teeth. The physico-chemical conditions, such as oral pH and availability of oxygen in interproximal teeth areas and gingival pockets are important factors affecting the oral environment. In anaerobic circumstances detrimental microbial flora is easily formed in the gingival pockets, causing dental problems.

Gingival recession does not occur only as a consequence of dental diseases. It can be caused also by a normal ageing process or dental hygiene habits, .such as wrong teeth brushing technique, e.g. by using a too hard toothbrush.

Demineralisation of the teeth occurs when the calcium ions are leached from the dental enamel and dentin. This process can take place when the oral pH is lowered, e.g. as a result of detrimental bacterial activity in the oral cavity or during the consumption of acidic beverages, such as soft drinks. Demineralisation of dentin can also take place when the dentin has been exposed by gingival recession. Demineralisation of the teeth and/or gingival recession leads to hypersensitivity of the teeth and increased risk for dental caries. It is well known that proper dental care can prevent oral and dental diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. In order to limit or eliminate the growth of detrimental microorganisms on teeth surfaces and in gingival pockets, the recommended oral hygiene routine comprises regular cleaning of the mterproximal teeth surfaces. These surfaces are most conveniently accessed with a dental hygiene device, such as toothpick, dental floss or interdental brush. The choice of dental hygiene device usually depends on the individual distance between the teeth and individual preferences.

Traditional toothpicks are usually made of wood, metal or different kinds of plastic materials. In dental flosses different kinds of fibrous materials, such as waxed cotton or polymers, are used. The cleaning effect of these traditional dental hygiene devices is purely mechanical, i.e. they remove bacteria involved in gingivitis and periodontitis, as well as cariogenic bacteria and food particles from the interproximal areas of teeth only by mechanical abrasion and picking action. Therefore they cannot provide for effective prevention of or cure for the above- mentioned dental conditions, such as gingivitis, periodontitis and demineralisation.

The mechanical cleaning effect of dental hygiene devices, which are made of traditional materials, is not optimal. Traditional materials, such as wood, are relatively inflexible and they do not adapt to the three-dimensional shape of the interproximal gaps between the teeth. The physical limitations and properties of the traditional materials also limit the possible size of the dental hygiene devices, such as toothpicks; it is impossible to make them smaller than certain minimum dimensions, as they get too weak to use. Due to these material properties the dental hygiene devices are easily broken in pieces when inserted into tight gaps between the teeth, sometimes even requiring help of a dentist for extraction.

In the past some therapeutically active substances and flavourings have been coated on or impregnated into conventional toothpick and dental floss substrates. For example, US patent 5,875,798 describes a toothpick and US patent 5,875,799 a dental floss, where the therapeutically active agents can be different zinc compounds, antibiotics and vitamins. In these publications the active ingredient is impregnated into or coated on dental hygiene devices made of conventional materials. In the same manner in the PCT application W099/34772 conventional dental hygiene device substrates are impregnated with calcium and phosphate containing salts.

Nevertheless, the dental hygiene devices, which have been proposed earlier, do not have active agents or mineralising salts incorporated in their substrate material as an essential part of their basic structure. Impregnation and coating of active substance on the substrate material of the dental hygiene device has its drawbacks: the active ingredient may be affected by the substrate material itself, leading to inhomogeneous deposition of the desired substance on the dental hygiene device. This makes it difficult to control with sufficient accuracy the real concentration of active substance coated on the dental hygiene device. The release of active substances from existing functional dental hygiene devices cannot either be controlled.

Composite materials comprising fibre material and a polymer matrix have normally been used in dental prostheses and implants as well as in bone surgery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental hygiene device.

The present invention provides a dental hygiene device made of composite material comprising inert or bioactive glass or polymer fibres, and a polymer matrix impregnated between the fibres. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is the brief description of the drawings.

Figure 1 shows schematically a dental hygiene device according to the invention remineralising the interproximal teeth surfaces.

Figure 2 shows a top view of elastic thermoplastic toothpick between two teeth during the cleaning procedure. The elasticity of the toothpick is exaggerated to clarify the properties of the toothpick.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a toothpick according to one embodiment of invention.

Figure 4 shows a schematic picture of a toothbrush head where individual bristles are made according to one embodiment of invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Typical dental hygiene device according to the present invention is made of synthetic composite material comprising - a fibre or a plurality of fibres, and

- a matrix around the said fibre or fibres and/or between the said fibres, wherein the said fibre or fibres and/or the matrix are of ceramic material.

It has been surprisingly found out that dental hygiene devices according to the present invention, which are made of composite material comprising ceramic material, such as bioactive glass, are able to mineralise and/or remineralise teeth effectively. It is also simple to incorporate other active agents into the structure of the dental hygiene device according the invention during the manufacture of the device. As the dental hygiene devices according to the invention can be made at relatively low temperatures, no deactivation of the active agents occurs during the manufacture.

Dental hygiene devices according the invention enable controlled release of mineralising agents and/or other active agents to the teeth surface and on interproximal areas of the teeth. By selecting the fibre and matrix components dental hygiene devices, which slowly release active agents over a period of time, such as weeks and months, can be obtained. By selecting different fibre and matrix components, dental hygiene devices with fast release characteristics are obtained, i.e. dental hygiene devices where mineralising and/or active agents are released in minutes, hours or days. The present invention relates especially dental hygiene devices, which enable release of mineralising agents and/or other active agents with controllable release rate, which can be chosen according to patients needs. Release rate of different active agents can be controlled be selection of composite components.

Dental hygiene devices according the present invention are made of composite material, which includes a ceramic component. The ceramic component, which is used, comprises preferably silica, calcium and phosphorous compounds. It easy to include to the ceramic component also other inorganic compounds, which promote mineralising. The dental hygiene devices produced can therefore have extremely strong mineralising effect on the teeth and interproximal areas between the teeth.

Controlled slow release, when used in context of the present invention, denotes a time period from 15 minutes up to several hours, under which time period silica, sodium, potassium, calcium phosphorus and/or drugs are released in effective amounts. The controlled fast release denotes a time period of 1 - 60 minutes, under which time period the above-mentioned compounds or ions can be released in effective amounts. According to one embodiment of invention a dental hygiene device can have one type of compounds that are released according to slow release and another type of compounds that are released according to fast release mechanism. For example, a fast released drug for gingivitis treatment can be incorporated into a dental hygiene together with calcium ions that mineralise the teeth and are released slowly from the dental hygiene device. In this way the drug first treats the gingivitis and the calcium ions afterwards mineralise the teeth.

Dental hygiene device according to one embodiment of the invention can also include components, which have different release rates when compared to each other. It can comprise for example of fibres, which have a slow release rate, and a matrix which have fast release rate when compared to each other. In this case the disintegration rate of the fibres would be slower than the disintegration rate of the matrix, and the fibres would therefore give support to the total structure of the dental hygiene device when the matrix component would start to disintegrate during the use of the device.

The term "dental hygiene device" when used in context of the present invention encompasses toothpicks, interdental brushes, individual bristles in toothbrushes, dental flosses and dental tapes.

The terms "composite" and "composite material" when used in context of the present invention encompass synthetic, i.e. man-made, materials comprising a fibre or a plurality of fibres, which are at least partially parallel, and a matrix around the said fibre or fibres and/or between the said fibres. The fibres itself can be of natural origin, e.g. cellulose, but the fibre/matrix combination is synthetic. The fibres are attached to the matrix, e.g. the fibres and the matrix in the composite are bonded together chemically. In forming of composites according to the invention the matrix and the fibres are consequently at least partially amalgamated together. "Ceramic material" or "ceramic component" when used in context of the present invention is preferably understood to encompass different types of bioactive glasses, inert glasses, silica gels or organic modified silica gels. Bioactive glass induces a specific biological response at the interface of the material. Silica gels are porous and contain siloxane and silanol groups. Organic modified silica gels, also known as ORMOSILs, are hybrid organic-inorganic materials fabricated by sol-gel process.

According to the invention the dental hygiene device comprises a fibre or a plurality of at least partially parallel fibres in the composite structure. The fibre or plurality of fibres can give stability to the dental hygiene device structure, even if the matrix component in the composite would be relatively fast disintegrating. Because of the fibres in the composite material the dental hygiene devices according to the invention will have enough strength needed for practical use, i.e. they will not start to disintegrate at normal body temperatures prevailing in the oral cavity. Thermoplasticity of the dental device can be chosen to suit the type of the device, and the way the device is usually used. The fibres can be made of inert or bioactive glass or polymer. The diameter of the used fibres varies normally from 5 to 30 μm, preferably from 6 to 20 μm, more preferably from 7 to 14 μm.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention the fibres in the composite material are made of ceramic material and the matrix around and between the fibres is made of a polymeric material. For example, the fibres can be made of a bioactive and/or inert glass fibres and the matrix around and between these fibres can be made of a thermoset polymer, such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, urethane diacrylate or a dendrimer. Dendrimers are types of macromolecules in which a number of chains radiate out from a central atom or cluster of atoms, i.e. they are polymers having a regular branched structure leading to a tree-like or generational structure. The matrix around and between fibres can be as well made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polylactide, epsilon-caprolactone mixtures, polymethylmetacrylate, polyacrylate, polyethylene or polyvinylchlori.de. The polymer used can also be a mixture of the above-mentioned substances, where the amounts of the individual components are chosen so that the optimal properties for the polymer are obtained.

The structure of the polymer matrix between the fibres can be either dense or porous. Dense polymer matrix is preferably used in those embodiments of the invention where the polymer matrix contains therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents and slow release of these agents is desired, for example in toothbrush bristles. Porous polymer matrix is preferably used in those embodiments of the invention where fast release of active agents is needed, for example in toothpicks and dental flosses. Porous polymer matrix can also, when used in context of the present invention, give some advantages regarding the adaptation of the matrix to the fibres.

According to another preferred embodiment the present invention the fibres in the composite material can be made of polymeric fibres or natural fibres, such as cellulose, and the matrix around and between the fibres can be made of ceramic material. For example, the fibres can be made of modified cellulose and the matrix around and between them can be made of silica gel.

Polymeric fibres can be made of a thermoset polymer, such as dendrimer, or it can be made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polylactide, epsilon-caprolactone mixtures, polymethylmetacrylate, polyacrylate, polyethylene or polyvinylchloride. The polymer used can also be a mixture of the above-mentioned substances and it can biodegradable. The structure of the polymer fibres can be either dense or porous.

According yet another preferred embodiment the present invention both the fibres and matrix in the composite material are both made of the ceramic material. For example, the fibres can be made of an inert glass and the matrix around them is made of organic modified silica gel.

The fibre and matrix components and their amounts in the composite material are preferably chosen so that the composite material will have desired mechanical properties. It is clear that mechanical properties, such as flexibility and thermoplasticity need to be different depending on if the dental hygiene device is e.g. a toothpick, an interdental brush, an individual bristle in toothbrush, a dental floss or a dental tape. Flexural strength of the dental hygiene device according to the present invention is preferably 200 - 1200 MPa. When compared, for example to conventional wooden toothpicks having flexural strength around 80 MPa, it is clear that the present invention enables manufacture of dental hygiene devices having improved flexibility.

One interesting and desired property of dental hygiene devices according to the present invention that can be obtained by proper selection of the different components of the composite material is thermoplasticity. Thermoplasticity is here understood so that flexibility and elasticity of a device made of the composite material increases with increasing temperature, and when the temperature decreases the device is able to retain its original shape. The temperature where the composite material will have elastic thermoplastic properties does not have to be high, these properties will occur already at normal body temperature prevailing in the oral cavity. Thermoplasticity of the dental hygiene device will make it easier to reach tight interproximal areas between the teeth, because the dental hygiene device will adapt better to the interproximal area.

According to one embodiment of the invention the bioactive glass used in the composite material either as fibre material or as matrix material comprises preferably following oxides in the following amounts: SiQ₂ 53 - 56 wt-%, Na₂0 0 -34 wt-%,

K₂0 1 -20 wt-%,

MgO 0 - 5 wt-%,

CaO 5 -25 wt-%,

B₂0₃ 0 - 4 wt-%, p₂o₅ 0.5- 6 wt-%, where Na₂0 + K₂O = 18 30 wt-%, K₂0 + MgO = 7 - 20 wt-% and

MgO 4 - CaO =12-25 wt-%.

According to another embodiment of the invention the bioactive glass used in the composite material has a high durability and slow release characteristics. This glass preferably comprises following oxides in the following amounts:

Si0₂ 53 -60 wt-%,

Na₂0 0-19 wt-%, κ₂o 1 - 17 wt-%,

MgO 3 - 5 wt-%,

CaO 5 -22 wt-%,

B₂O_s 0- 4 wt-%, p₂o₅ 0.5- 6 wt-%, where Na₂0 + K₂O = 16 20 wt-%, K₂0 4- MgO = 5 - 20 wt-% and

MgO ^■ CaO =10-25 wt-%.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention the bioactive glass used in the composite material has a low durability and fast release characteristics, and it can be used for example in toothpicks. This glass comprises preferably following oxides in the following amounts: Si0₂ 53 -56 wt-%,

Na₂0 5 -33 wt-%,

K₂0 2 -20 wt-%,

MgO 0 - 3 wt-%, CaO 7 - 25 wt-%,

B₂0₃ 0 - 2 wt-%,

where Na₂0 4- K₂0 = 25 - 35 wt-%, K₂0 4- MgO = 5 - 20 wt-% and MgO 4- CaO = 10 - 25 wt-%.

The ceramic or polymeric material used in the fibres and/or matrix can have micro- and/or macropores. Pore size varies from 0.1 μm to 500 μm. The micro- and macropores can contain one or several mineralising substances, e.g. silica, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus. The structure of the composite material itself used in the dental hygiene device can be porous and/or net-like. In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention the polymer used in the composite is a biodegradable polymer.

The pores in the fibres and/or matrix may also enhance mechanical cleaning effect as they make the device surface irregular thus creating more attrition between the tooth surface and the dental hygiene device during the use of the device. The surface irregularities create also rubbing and massaging effects on the gingiva enhancing its blood circulation.

Some non-limiting examples of possible composite fibre/matrix combinations, which are preferred in the dental hygiene devices according to the present invention are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Possible combinations of matrix and fibre/filler according to present invention.

Composite material used in the present invention can comprise in addition to fibres and the matrix around them also particulate filler material. The filler material is preferably bioactive or inert glass particles, silica gel particles or organic polymer particles. In the same dental hygiene device can be used different types of filler particles, for example a mixture of polymeric and bioactive glass particles. The particulate filler material can contain drugs, therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents. One example of particulate organic polymer fillers that can be used is dendrimers.

The present invention provides also a dental hygiene device made of composite material, where various active substances can be incorporated in the composite material structure in addition of the mineralising compounds. Thus, improved dental hygiene device according the invention can be used for prevention and/or limitation of detrimental bacterial growth in the oral cavity, as well as, for mineralisation of the dental enamel or dentin. The active substances that can be incorporated in the composite material structure are e.g.: - different flavour additives,

- xylitol and the related substances,

- substances having a limiting effect on detrimental bacterial growth,

- antibacterial agents preventing detrimental bacterial growth,

- antibiotics, - substances having an oral defensive effect, substances indicating the pH value of the oral cavity by colour change, - mineral substances having mineralising and/or desensitising effect on the teeth,

- other substances having therapeutical effects on the teeth, and/or

- drugs used in medicine by oral administration.

Active substances can be incorporated into the structure of the composite material used for the dental hygiene device. They can change the physico-chemical milieu in the area between the teeth and on the surface of the teeth under treatment in the oral cavity, thus locally limiting growth and adhering of detrimental bacterial flora. The active substances are embedded either in the fibres or the polymer matrix between the fibres, or both. These substances can also inhibit the transfer of detrimental bacteria inside the oral cavity from one interproximal tooth area to another, thus preventing the cross-contamination of the gingival pockets. The dental device can also be used more than once, when active substances inhibit the bacterial growth on the device itself. Examples of therapeutic substances, which can be incorporated into the fibres, are different antibiotics and antibacterial agents.

As the dental hygiene devices according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured of components that can be shaped at relatively low temperatures, the active agents will not be destroyed during the manufacture. Many of the active agents are sensitive to elevated temperatures, which have to be used in manufacture of conventional synthetic dental devices. Manufacture temperatures for the dental hygiene devices according to the present invention vary typically from - 10 °C to 4-80 °C, more typically from -5 °C to 4-40 °C, most typically from 0 °C to 30 °C.

It is possible to incorporate into the composite material also active substances having not only therapeutic but also prophylactic effects; they can prevent e.g. the growth of the detrimental bacteria. At the same time the incorporated substances can promote the growth of useful micro organisms that will strengthen oral resistance to different dental diseases.

In one embodiment of the invention pH indicating substances are incorporated into the composite material. These substances will cause the dental hygiene device, such as toothpick, to chance its colour according to oral pH. The user of the device can easily check the prevailing oral pH value, which will function as a good indicator of the conditions in the oral cavity as it is well known that the pH will decline during excessive bacterial growth.

Different therapeutic and prophylactic substances can be incorporated in the dental hygiene device in form of layers with different activities. As the different active substances can be in different layers their release rates during the use of the dental device can be controlled. The possibility to individually combine different active substances and to control their release makes it also possible to manufacture specially designed dental hygiene devices for different patient groups with different needs.

The dental hygiene devices according to the present invention can be used in regular dental home care as preventive measure or as treatment for subacute dental problems. As their appearance is similar to traditional dental hygiene devices they are still easy to use and the user can continue with his/her normal dental hygiene care routines.

The toothpicks within the scope of invention vary in appearance. For example, their end profile can be flat, triangular, round, some other shape or they can have bristles. The bristles, giving the toothpick a round brush-like appearance, are preferably formed as protrusions of the fibres of the composite material. The fibres of the composite material protrude from certain parts of the toothpick's body forming the bristles. Usually fibres in the composites used for toothpicks are situated at least partially unidirectionally with the longitudinal axis of the toothpick.

According to the invention the individual bristles in toothbrushes have a structure where finer bristles, which are formed as protrusions of the fibres of the composite material, protrude from the individual bristle body. Similar individual bristle structure is also used in interdental brushes according to the invention. The bristles contain preferably dentifrice-imitating substances that are incorporated in the composite material and that are slowly released during brushing action.

The dental flosses and dental tapes within the scope of the invention can also vary in appearance. For example, they can be net-like, or their surface can be fluffy or contain fine bristles.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the dental hygiene device is a toothpick, which is made of thermoplastic composite material. Appropriate choice of components for the composite material will make the toothpick elastic and flexible at the temperatures of the oral cavity. This will enable the user to reach even the furthermost and the tightest interproximal teeth surfaces in the oral cavity, when the toothpick will be able to bend in to the gaps between the most distant teeth. The appropriate elasticity in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the toothpick will enable the toothpick to have a mechanical contact with even the concave areas of the tooth surfaces in between two proximal teeth. The cross-sectional area of the toothpick will vary according to the space between the teeth, and the abrasive action and friction between the teeth and the toothpick is maximised. A toothpick made of thermoplastic composite material will also retain its shape after a use, which makes it possible to reuse it.

Figure 1 shows a toothpick 1 according to one embodiment the invention in a gap 2 between two teeth 3', 3". In this case recession of the gingiva 4 is pronounced, and the gingival pockets 5, 5', 5", 5'" are relatively deep. The therapeutic substances, which can be incorporated in the composite material structure can help to balance the conditions and limit the bacterial growth in this kind of oral environment. At the same time the different minerals present in the composite material can dissolve from the dental hygiene device and be deposited on the teeth surfaces. Even if the actual contact time between the dental hygiene device and the tooth surface may be brief, the deposited minerals and/or therapeutic substances stay on the interproximal tooth surfaces for prolonged times.

Figure 2 shows a top view of a toothpick 1 ' according to one embodiment of the invention in a gap 2 between two teeth 3', 3". The composite material used in the toothpick is thermoplastic, making the toothpick elastic and flexible also in the transverse direction. The toothpick is able to adapt in the transverse direction to the space between the teeth and the abrasive action between the teeth and the toothpick is enhanced.

Figure 3 shows schematically one preferred embodiment of the invention where the fibres 6 in the composite material form protrusions extending outward from the surface of the toothpick 1" forming fine bristles 7 over a portion of the toothpick surface. The fibres 6 can also contain micro- and macropores 8 with mineralising and therapeutic substances.

Figure 4 shows a toothbrush head 9 where the individual bristles are embodiments of the invention. The fibres in the composite material form protrusions extending outward from the surface of the individual bristles 10 forming fine bristles 7' over the surface of the individual toothbrush bristles. The fine bristles T can contain dentifrice-imitating substances as a part of the composite material that are released slowly during the use of toothbrush. The fibres in the composite material can also form protrusions 7" extending out only at the remote end of the individual bristles 10'. Many other possibilities to design dental hygiene devices according to invention with protrusions formed of the fibres of the composite material exist apart from

» those shown in figures 3 and 4 that are obvious for the person skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that the essence of the present invention can be incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only a few of which are disclosed herein. It will be apparent for the specialist in the field that other embodiments exist and do not depart from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the described embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as restrictive.

Claims

1. Dental hygiene device made of synthetic composite material comprising

- a fibre or a plurality of fibres, and

- a matrix around the said fibre or fibres and between the said fibres, characterised in that the said fibre or plurality of fibres and/or the matrix are made of ceramic material.

2. Dental hygiene device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said fibre or plurality fibres is/are made of ceramic material and the matrix around and between the fibres is made of a polymer.

3. Dental hygiene device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said fibre or plurality of fibres is/are made of polymer fibres or natural fibres and the matrix around and between the fibres is made of ceramic material.

4. Dental hygiene device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said fibre or plurality of fibres and the matrix around and between the fibres are both made of ceramic material.

5. Dental hygiene device according any of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the ceramic material is bioactive glass, inert glass, silica gel or organic modified silica gel.

6. Dental hygiene device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the composite material comprises a polymer, which is selected from thermoset polymers, or thermoplastic polymers.

7. Dental hygiene device according to claim 1, characterised in that the composite material comprises a polymer, which is selected from the group comprising ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, urefhane diacrylate, dendrimer, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polylactide, epsilon-caprolactone mixture, polymethylmetacrylate or polyacrylate polymer or a mixture of these.

8. The dental hygiene device according to claim 1, characterised in that the composite material comprises a polymer, which is biodegradable.

9. Dental hygiene device according any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fibre or plurality of fibres and/or matrix in the composite material contain therapeutically and or prophylactically active substances or orally administered drugs or substances.

10. Dental hygiene device according any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ceramic or polymeric material in the composite contains one or several mineralising substances, such as silica, calcium, fluorine or phosphorus

11. Dental hygiene device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the composite material comprises particulate filler material in addition of matrix and fibre/fibres.

12. Dental hygiene device according to claim 11, characterised in that the particulate filler material is selected from the group compriseng silica gel particles, bioactive glass particles or organic polymer particles, or a mixture of these particles.

13. The dental hygiene device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the composite material is thermoplastic.

14. The dental hygiene device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dental hygiene device is elastic in the transverse direction of the device.

15. The dental hygiene device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the structure of the composite is porous and/or net-like.

16. The dental hygiene device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dental hygiene device is selected from the group of toothpicks, interdental brushes, individual bristles in toothbrushes, dental flosses, dental tapes, and dental adhesives.

17. The dental hygiene device according to claim 14, characterised in that a part of the fibres in the composite material come out of the dental hygiene device body forming brush-like protrusions.