WO2009146481A1

WO2009146481A1 - Chewy toothbrush, tongue cleaner and applicator

Info

Publication number: WO2009146481A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000548
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurice White
Original assignee: Maurice White
Priority date: 2008-05-08
Filing date: 2009-05-04
Publication date: 2009-12-10
Also published as: AU2009253830A1; AU2009253830B2; EP2278937A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a chewable elastic, compressible, resilient elastomer or rubber block or strip of suitable shapes that force dental agents like toothpaste inside pits and fissures and between teeth under chewing pressure, which can also be part of a toothbrush with added features such as peaks or walls that act as a tongue and soft tissue cleaner. It is also an object of this invention to force fillings or fissure sealants into pits and fissures or selected parts of one or more opposing occlusal surfaces to maintain tooth shape and prevent food being trapped and changed to acid.

Description

CHEWY TOOTHBRUSH, TONGUE CLEANER AND APPLICATOR

Background of the invention

The toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste are the main tools of oral hygiene but even with the benefits of fluoridation tooth decay is still the most common and second most expensive of food related disease, yet it is easy to prevent by decreasing or preventing acid demineralisation and increasing fluoride remineralisation of demineralised tooth.

All cavities occur where food is left on teeth and plaque bacteria change carbohydrate in meals and snacks to acid demineralisation of tooth.

Some 95% of trapped food is packed between teeth yet over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces of back teeth where toothpaste and saliva have no access and the brush cannot reach.

Few cavities occur on tongue, cheek and lip tooth surfaces where most plaque bacteria accumulate and are easily removed by brushing, while saliva and fluoride have easy access to neutralise acid and remineralise tooth.

Although the disposable outer open cell foam of patent No. 2003273623 forces toothpaste between teeth and inside grooves under chewing pressure, foam is not suitable be part of a toothbrush because it is only a single use device nor can selectively force any dental agent or filling into any selected tooth surface and retain the surface shape. The object of this invention is a compressible elastic resilient elastomer or rubber block or strip of suitable shapes that measure and force dental agents like toothpaste inside pits and fissures and between teeth under chewing pressure, which can also be part of a toothbrush with added features where the peaks or walls, which divide depressions that measure the amount of toothpaste to use, act as a tongue and soft tissue cleaner.

It is also an object of this invention to force fillings or fissure sealants into pits and fissures or selected parts of one or more opposing occlusal surfaces to maintain tooth shape and prevent food being trapped and changed to acid.

Brief description of the invention

Current toothbrushes are commonly a two-part injection moulded body of hard and soft plastic.

To force toothpaste between teeth and inside grooves, the soft plastic on the head and or handle must be elastic and compressible preferably with depressions that fill with a measured amount of toothpaste that is expelled under chewing pressure.

However smooth shapes, blocks or strips with no depressions or that have been specially or individually moulded, are better to force pastes, fillings or sealants into pits and fissures or other selected parts of occlusal surfaces over or into which they have been placed to give a smooth surface that conforms to tooth shape. Diagrams best describe how chewy shapes, strips or blocks can be extruded, injection or pressure moulded to give the desired effective features and can also be moulded or attached to a brush.

Fig.1 Shows a brush with soft compressible injection moulded elastic compressible soft plastic with depression areas of any shape moulded on the head and or a strip locked inside a hollow handle (that could be an extrusion as in Fig 5.) poking out the end with a flexible removable cover that could be filled with toothpaste, which can coat the end of the strip and cover it after chewing.

The depressions measure the amount of toothpaste applied from the tube or the cover. The toothpaste confined between the walls of the depressions, is forced between teeth and inside grooves under chewing pressure before brushing. The walls between depressions also act as tongue or soft tissue cleaner.

Fig. 2 Shows a side view of the brush with the chewy depressions on the side of the head and the walls between depressions act as a tongue cleaner. Also a longitudinal cross section of the strip is seen inside the hollow handle.

Fig. 3 and 4, can be the same as 1. and 2. without the hollow handle and cover. However the depressions are in the form of parallel grooves that are injection moulded onto the brush in this case and the compressible walls that seal and expel toothpaste and saliva under chewing pressure also act as tongue cleaners. Fig 5. is an extruded strip of grooves where toothpaste is placed on one end to chew before brushing. Like the injected moulded strip of fig. 1 , it can be fitted inside a brush handle or a separate cover to chew at any time to help saliva dilute trapped sugar, neutralise acid and repair demineralised tooth.

Fig 6 is the top view of an injection moulded strip with pyramid shaped depressions that can be used separately or moulded onto a brush handle or fit in the hollow handle of a brush or in its own separate cover.

Fig 7 above Fig 8., is a section through Fig 6

Fig 8. is a clear smooth strip with no depressions that force fissure sealants applied to grooves, inside pits and fissures of one or more teeth under chewing pressure and makes the sealant conform to the tooth surface and provides access for the light to cure the composite.

Fig 9. Other chewing surface shapes like dishing to help seal the outside edge on two sides or 4 sides of occlusal surfaces.

Claims

1. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape that can force dental agents between teeth and inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces under chewing pressure.

2. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 , that is a suitable thermoplastic elastomer, rubber or other suitable material.

3. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 , which is a clear, smooth block or strip thick enough to provide access for the light to cure fissure sealants that have been applied to chewing surfaces under chewing pressure.

4. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 that is injection moulded.

5. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 and 4 that is injection moulded onto the head and or handle of a toothbrush.

6. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 that is extruded.

7. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 , 2, 4, 5 and 6 with depression shapes or grooves that fill with a measured amount of toothpaste, which is forced between teeth and inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces under chewing pressure before brushing.

8. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 , 2, 4, 5 and 6 that is a strip fixed inside a hollow handle of a brush so it can be extended or reversed and can have a cover.

9. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 that is a strip used independently of the brush and is more convenient to chew at any time particularly to help force toothpaste or some other saliva mix between teeth and inside grooves under chewing pressure.

10. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claims 1 , 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, where the soft compressible plastic or rubber is flavoured, has a antibacterial agent and or food grade colouring agent incorporated.

11.A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape as in claims 1 , 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, where a suitable removable protective cover or container with dental agents is fitted.

12. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic shape with depression shapes or grooves as in claims 8 and11 , where the removable cover contains suitable toothpaste or tablets that are forced into grooves and between teeth by the strip under chewing pressure.

13. A chewable elastic, compressible, resilient, soft, plastic or rubber strip or block as in claim 2, that transmits light and is dished or of any shape to seal on two sides or around occlusal surfaces of teeth and help force dental agents inside grooves under chewing pressure.