CN100512713C - Toothbrush with single embedded bristles - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush comprises bristles individually embedded in the toothbrush head and spaced apart from each other by a distance from 0.5 times to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. The bristles include: first type bristles with diameters from about 0.25 mm to about 0.60 mm; second type bristles with diameters from about 0.08 mm to about 0.35 mm and free lengths from about 7 mm to about 16 mm; diameters from about 0.15 mm to Type III bristles of about 0.40 mm and a free length of from about 5 mm to about 14 mm; type IV bristles of a diameter of from about 0.15 mm to about 1.0 mm and a free length of from about 9 mm to about 15 mm; and in brush handles The dense tufts of bristles at the end of the distal toothbrush head.

Description

Toothbrushes with individually embedded bristles

This is a continuation-in-part of Application No. 09/461,891 filed December 15,1999.

technical field

The present invention relates to toothbrushes. The toothbrush is characterized in that the upstanding plastic bristles are individually embedded in the head of the toothbrush at a small distance from each other. In a single toothbrush head, there are several different bristle arrangements, each with a unique oral function purpose.

Background technique

Conventional toothbrushes are manufactured by attaching groups of bristles ("tufts") to the plastic head of the toothbrush. Clusters can be bonded in a number of ways. In a well-known method, each tuft is formed from a number of individual bristles folded into a U-shaped configuration. The folded tufts are then inserted into holes or cavities provided in the head of the toothbrush. Each folded tuft is held in place in its respective cavity by inserting a small piece of metal (called a "leaf" or "staple") into the cavity so that the bottom of the U-shaped tuft sits and is secured in the cavity. between the bottom and the staple. The part that holds each folded tuft in its corresponding cavity is sometimes called the "bristle root." See, eg, US 3,590,438, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Each tuft is comprised of anywhere from 2-60 individual bristles, typically having a diameter of about 0.15 to about 0.25 mm and a length of 7 to 13 mm, depending on the manufacturer's design and the type of toothbrush. For example, a "soft" bristle toothbrush has a different length and diameter than a "medium" bristle toothbrush.

In yet another method of manufacture, each tuft in turn comprises a plurality of individual bristles. A number of bristle tufts (each tuft comprising a number of individual bristles) are inserted into corresponding holes in the first molding element so that lengths of the tufts protrude from the sides of the molding element which will then form the toothbrush body. The inner surface of the molding cavity. At least a portion of the protruding length of each tuft is then fused into a mass having a cross-section larger than the bore of the inner side of the first molding element. The first molding element is then mated with the second molding element to define a molding cavity for the toothbrush body, and molding material is injected into the cavity to form the final toothbrush product. See, eg, US 4,635,313, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This method allows for the formation of complex and asymmetric cluster patterns that are denser than standard, stapled clusters.

Yet another method of fastening bristle tufts to a bristle carrier is disclosed in WO 93/12690, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

One problem associated with toothbrushes made using tufted bristles is that the bristles incorporated into the tufted structure are not free to bend and flex independently. Tufted bristles thus cannot clean as efficiently as bristles which independently follow the irregular contours freely along the structure of the teeth. Furthermore, the structure of the tufts restricts the free movement of the individual bristles, especially over the tips, grooves and other various shapes of the tooth structure. Additionally, the interproximal channels of bristles are limited by the bulky diameter of the densely packed bristle tufts.

Another problem associated with the use of toothbrushes made of tufted bristles is that after use, the toothbrush often does not dry out sufficiently before the next use. The reason is that combining the bristles into bundles creates capillaries between the bristles. Moisture from using a toothbrush remains in the capillaries between the bristles for a longer period of time. Moisture provides conditions that allow the growth of bacteria and microorganisms. If you use your toothbrush at least twice a day, as recommended by your dental professional, the intervals between uses are not long enough to allow it to dry. Particular attention should be paid to this problem in the area near the toothbrush head to which the bristles are attached. Dust particles or residual application medium (ie toothpaste) which remain in the capillaries and cannot be sufficiently removed further contribute to this effect. The rather dense interstices of the bristles in the root zone can lead to incomplete removal of toothpaste residues when rinsing the toothbrush after use.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a toothbrush that effectively cleans teeth, cleans itself easily, and dries in a relatively short period of time.

International Patent Application No.WO 96/27308 describes an article comprising a bristle carrier and a bristle covering. The bristle cover consists of individual plastic bristles that do not touch each other. References indicate that the bending stiffness of the bristles is critical to the effectiveness of the toothbrush. Not only by selecting different bristle dimensions (diameter, length) and bristle materials, but also by selecting slightly varying interspaces between the bristles, the stiffness of the entire bristle cover can be varied. Depending on the space between the outer adjacent surfaces of the bristles, the bristles are spaced about 0.5 to 4 times, in particular 1.5 to 2 times, the bristle diameter. The bristles may also have different stiffnesses, eg different diameters and/or interstices, wherein groups of bristles in one group have the same stiffness but not the same stiffness as another group of bristles. The bristles can have different lengths from the bristle carrier to the free ends of the bristles. The bristles can be structured, gathered or coated on their surface. Likewise, the free ends of the bristles can be shaped.

As used herein, the term "free end" refers to the end of the bristles remote from the point of attachment of the bristles to the toothbrush head.

In conventional toothbrushes, the stiffness is essentially determined by the length of the tufts and the packing density of the bristles in the tufts as well as the diameter of the individual bristles. The latter factor has a lesser influence since the bristles in the tuft support each other, with the result that the bending stiffness of the tuft is several times greater than that of the individual bristles. Due to the separation distance between the bristles in the article described in WO 96/27308, the bristle diameter plays a much larger role in determining stiffness than when the bristles are in tufts. WO 96/27308 does not describe the two most important factors determining bristle stiffness: proper bristle length or diameter.

International Patent Application No.WO 99/07252 describes a toothbrush with a plastic bristle head and upstanding plastic bristles individually embedded in the bristle head. The bristles are spaced a small distance apart from one another. This distance is limited only by the bristle packing density, which is 400 to 800 bristles per square centimeter of the toothbrush head. References reveal that a bristle density of 600 bristles per square centimeter is optimum. The reference also discloses that the diameter of the bristles is between about 0.095 mm and about 0.225 mm. References indicate that: the shorter the free length of the bristles, the smaller the diameter chosen to maintain rigidity; the overall height of the toothbrush in the region of the bristle head is between 6.5 mm and 11 mm; the thickness of the bristle head is between 1.5 mm and Between 3 mm; the free length of the bristles is between 5 mm and 9.5 mm. Since the bending stiffness of individual bristles is significantly less than that of a tuft comprising many bristles of the same height and diameter, this application discloses the use of shorter bristles having the same diameter as conventional tufted bristles. Toothbrushes with individual bristles can also vary the bending stiffness in precise steps by changing the interspaces of the bristles.

WO 99/07252 also states that a toothbrush with individual bristles provides a gap-free surface which is ideal for cleaning. This is an advantage of individual bristle technology. Since each bristle can move independently, more and smaller irregularities in the tooth structure can be cleaned at the same time. The entire surface of the toothbrush bristles are available to clean more effectively to provide a better overall clean than traditional tufted toothbrushes. Although the total number of bristles on a conventional toothbrush is approximately equal to the total number of bristles on a newer individual bristle toothbrush, it was found that the newer toothbrush has over 1000 cleaning surfaces (individual bristles) compared to only 40 to 50 cleaning surfaces (tufts) on a conventional toothbrush.

In soft tufted toothbrushes, the bristles typically have a diameter of from about 0.15 millimeters to about 0.25 millimeters, and a free length of from about 8 millimeters to about 12 millimeters. The dimensions disclosed in the above references are quite similar to those used in conventional tuft toothbrushes, but since the bristles in the reference are individually embedded, the bending stiffness is substantially less than that of conventional toothbrushes, the individual bristle tufts of which Includes many bristles. Thus, having individual bristles embedded in the head as described in the above references presents some problems for the consumer. One problem is that while some curvature in the bristles fits the contours of irregular tooth structures well, too much curvature is not beneficial and if the bristles are too soft, the teeth will not be cleaned adequately. The bristles in your toothbrush will not be strong enough to pick up plaque, food debris, etc. While one certainly does not need to make the bristles so hard as to damage soft or hard oral tissues, a certain degree of stiffness is still required to accomplish the cleaning action of the toothbrush.

A second problem associated with the toothbrushes disclosed in the above references is that consumers perceive them as too soft and do not clean as well as slightly harder toothbrushes. While it is not ideal to make a toothbrush so stiff that it can damage oral tissues, a minimum degree of stiffness is required to provide a realistic clean and find the feeling of cleanliness achieved in the consumer's mind. Consumers may believe that an overly soft toothbrush cannot remove plaque, food debris, etc. from teeth. The individual bristles used in tufted toothbrushes have too low a bending stiffness when used alone. As a result, the consumer cannot be provided with the feeling of actually having a cleaning effect.

A third problem associated with the toothbrushes disclosed in the above references is that since the bending stiffness of individual bristles is much less than that of a tuft comprising many identical bristles, and since there is no support for the bristles around the perimeter to allow the bristles to return to an upright position after deflection, It is possible that individual bristles no longer appear in an upright, generally vertical position after use. Instead, the bristles bend ("slope") from the toothbrush head in all directions after significantly fewer uses than a tufted toothbrush. An angled toothbrush is seen by consumers as worn and used. Clinical studies in the literature have also shown that these angled toothbrushes do not clean as well as identical toothbrushes with new, upright bristles.

A fourth problem associated with the toothbrushes disclosed in the above references is the perception by consumers that toothbrushes do not last as long as tufted toothbrushes. It was found that toothbrushes containing spaced individual bristles did not have the same resilience as tufted toothbrushes and would need to be replaced shortly thereafter. The main reason for this is the perception that there are no other bristles to help each bristle stay upright. The tilting action also suggests to the consumer that the toothbrush needs to be replaced, and would not want to buy the product due to the perceived short life of the product.

Thus, notwithstanding the disclosures of the above references, there is a continuing need for a toothbrush that provides effective tooth cleaning, is easy to clean, and dries in a relatively short period of time. We have surprisingly found that a toothbrush employing bristles of larger diameter and similar in length to the tufts in a tufted toothbrush will solve or greatly reduce the above problems. Thicker bristles, similar in length to those used in traditional tufted toothbrushes, not only provide greater stiffness to the toothbrush and therefore a more palpable brushing sensation for the user, but also maintain reach between the teeth and under the gums Desired bristle length. Thicker bristles have inherently greater structural support to resist tipping and maintain their upright shape for a longer period of time than bristles of the same length with a smaller diameter.

Contents of the invention

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a toothbrush having: a handle; a toothbrush head at the distal end of the handle; wherein the first type of bristles are individually fixed, such as embedded in the toothbrush head; the bristles are mutually spaced apart from each other by a distance from about 0.5 times to about 10 times the diameter of the bristles.

The toothbrush handle (1) and toothbrush head (2) can be made in one piece by injection moulding. The toothbrush head (2) is at the far end of the toothbrush handle (1). The toothbrush handle (1) and toothbrush head (2) can be made of polymers such as but not limited to polyethylene, polypropylene and polycarbonate.

The first type of bristles (3) and any other bristles used in the present invention can be made of a material selected from elastomeric materials such as but not limited to rubber and from nylon, polyamide, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate A polymer selected from the group consisting of butylene diester, polypropylene, acetal resin, fluoropolymer, polyacrylate, and polysulfone. The first type of bristles and any other bristles employed in the present invention may be structured, gathered or coated on their surface area. The first type of bristles and any other bristles used in the present invention may include additives such as, but not limited to, abrasives, polishes; moth repellents, such as sodium fluoride; antibacterial agents, and combinations thereof.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the bristles (3) of the first type preferably all have the same free length. As used herein, the term "free length" refers to the length of the bristles from the inner surface (9) of the toothbrush head to the free ends of the bristles. The gap between the outer surface of the adjacent first type bristles (4) and the diameter of the first type bristles is variable to obtain the filling of the first type bristles from 50 to 1000 per square centimeter. Packing density. Each first-type bristle (3) is individually embedded in the head of the toothbrush (2). The bristles of the first type (3), as well as any other bristles used herein Fixed on the toothbrush head (2).

The diameter of the first type of bristles is from about 0.25 mm to about 0.60 mm, and the space between closely adjacent bristles is about 0.5 times to about 10 times the diameter of the first type of bristles (3), preferably from about 0.5 times to about 4 times, the combination of the above-mentioned first type of bristles (3) or any other bristles applied in the present invention can be used to provide different sensations to different parts of the mouth. For example, the first type of bristles (3) are arranged such that at least a portion of the toothbrush head (2) includes first type bristles (3) having a diameter of from about 0.35 mm to about 0.60 mm, while at least a portion of the toothbrush head (2) Comprising first type bristles (3) having a diameter of from about 0.25 mm to about 0.35 mm.

The toothbrush may also comprise at least one dense bristle tuft (8). The skilled artisan recognizes that the dense bristle tufts (8) can be secured to the toothbrush head (2) by methods known in the art, such as but not limited to fusion or staple techniques. The bristles in the tufts have a diameter of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.40 mm and a free length of from about 7 mm to about 15 mm. The dense bristle tufts (8) can be arranged at any position on the toothbrush head (2). Preferably the dense bristle tufts (8) are located at the distal end of the toothbrush handle (1). When the dense tufts (8) are located at the distal end of the toothbrush handle, the dense tufts are preferably longer than the bristles making up the toothbrush.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, a toothbrush includes: a handle; a toothbrush head at the distal end of the handle; at least one second type of bristle having a diameter of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.35 mm, and A free length of from about 7 mm to about 16 mm; and at least one bristle of the third type having a diameter of from about 0.15 mm to about 0.40 mm and a free length of from about 5 mm to about 14 mm; wherein, The adjustment difference between the bristles of the second type and the bristles of the third type is from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm. The toothbrush is believed to provide enhanced cleaning performance.

The second type of bristles (5) must have a diameter large enough to provide bristles with sufficient intrinsic stiffness to remove plaque, food debris from the teeth while remaining flexible enough to follow the contours of the oral surface during use wait. In order to achieve this purpose, the second type of bristles (5) has a diameter from about 0.08 mm to about 0.35 mm, preferably from about 0.13 mm to about 0.35 mm, and from about 7 mm to about 16 mm, preferably from about 9 mm. mm to approx. 14 mm free length. The second type of bristles (5) can be used to clean between the teeth and under the gums.

The third type of bristles (6) may serve the purpose of cleaning the tooth surface. The third type of bristles (6) has a diameter from about 0.15 mm to about 0.40 mm, preferably from about 0.20 mm to about 0.40 mm, and from about 5 mm to about 14 mm, preferably from about 7 mm to about 12 mm free length. An adjustment difference between the free lengths of the bristles of the second type (5) and the bristles of the third type (6) is recommended to be from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm to ensure optimum cleaning between the teeth and under the gums. As used herein, the term "adjustment differential" refers to the difference in free length between different types of bristles.

The free length of the bristles in a given portion of the toothbrush is variable in order to provide an improved cleaning experience with visual and tactile stimulation. For example, a zigzag cut or a zigzag cut can increase the feeling of cleaning between the consumer's teeth. Other patterns such as, but not limited to, wavy, curved, etc. may be used instead of sawtooth or zigzag cuts.

In one embodiment of the invention, alternating portions of second (5) and third (6) type bristles are included in the toothbrush to enhance interproximal cleaning. In this embodiment, bristles of the second type (5) alternate with bristles of the third type (6), said bristles of the second type having a diameter of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.35 mm, preferably from about 0.13 mm to about 0.35 mm. Diameter, and from about 7 millimeters to about 16 millimeters, preferably from about 9 millimeters to about 14 millimeters free length, described third type bristles have from about 0.15 millimeters to about 0.40 millimeters, preferably from about 0.20 millimeters to about A diameter of 0.40 mm, and a free length of from about 5 mm to about 14 mm, preferably from about 7 mm to about 12 mm. The first portion includes bristles of the second type and the second portion includes bristles of the third type. The sections are 1 to 7 rows deep. If each section is spaced apart by 2.15 times the diameter of each adjacent bristle, and the transitions are spaced apart by 2.15 times the average diameter of adjacent bristles, the density of the bristle section III is 380-600 bristles per square centimeter, while the bristle section III The density of the second type of bristles is 100-350 bristles per square centimeter. A low density of bristles is best as it allows the use of thicker diameter bristles which provide a greater cleaning sensation to the consumer.

In addition to alternating rows, other patterns can be used for bristles of different lengths and diameters, including but not limited to: alternating waves, rounded longer bristles along a row around shorter bristles, shorter bristles Hexagonal long bristles and the like around the bristles.

In a further embodiment of the invention at least one bristle (7) of the fourth type is included in at least a part around the circumference of the toothbrush head (2). As used herein, "perimeter" refers to the outer edge of the top surface of the toothbrush head. Elastomeric materials such as but not limited to rubber are particularly suitable as construction materials for the fourth type of bristles. The diameter of the fourth type of bristles (7) is from about 0.15 mm to about 1.0 mm, preferably from about 0.30 mm to about 0.50 mm, and the free length is from about 9 mm to about 15 mm, preferably from about 10 mm to about 13 mm . In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of fourth type bristles (7) are arranged around the periphery of the toothbrush head. The free lengths of the fourth type of bristles (7) can also alternate along the circumference of the toothbrush head to produce various shapes. Possible shapes include, but are not limited to, curved, zigzag, or wavy. As with repeating patterns, combinations of these height patterns are also possible, such as a series of smaller arcs along the perimeter or serrations with an arcing centerline.

The present invention also provides a toothbrush with various bristle diameters and bristle spaces (4) in the toothbrush head (2) in order to provide different sensations to different parts of the mouth. The density of the bristles on the toothbrush head (2) can vary from 50 to 1000 bristles per square centimeter, depending on the ratio of the different bristles used for each diameter and the spaces (4) used between the bristles. The bristle density can also be varied along different areas of the toothbrush head (2) such that one area has a different bristle density than another, providing desired tactile and visual cues to the consumer.

The toothbrush also includes at least one dense bristle tuft (8). The bristles in the tufts have a diameter of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.40 mm, and a free length of from about 7 mm to about 15 mm. The dense bristle tufts (8) can be arranged at any position on the toothbrush head (2). In one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises: at least one dense bristle tuft having a first type of bristle; a second type of bristle; a third type of bristle; a fourth type of bristle; or a combination thereof. Dense clusters can be of any shape. In top plan view, dense clusters may be in patterns such as circles, squares, ovals, triangles, elongated rectangles, polygons, half-moons, horseshoes, rods, stars, arcs, and combinations thereof. The dense bristle tufts (8) are preferably located at the tip of the free end of the toothbrush head to assist in cleaning the teeth behind.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a toothbrush, wherein the toothbrush head (2) includes: second type bristles (5) throughout the toothbrush head (2), the bristles having a thickness of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.35 mm mm, preferably from about 0.13 mm to about 0.35 mm in diameter, and from about 7 mm to about 16 mm, preferably from about 9 mm to about 14 mm free length; third class of bristles (6), which have A diameter of from about 0.15 mm to about 0.40 mm, preferably from about 0.20 mm to about 0.40 mm, and a free length of from about 5 mm to about 14 mm, preferably from about 7 mm to about 12 mm; and along the toothbrush head (2) The fourth type of bristles (7) at the periphery, the bristles have a diameter of from about 0.15 mm to about 1.0 mm, preferably from about 0.30 mm to about 0.50 mm, and from about 9 mm to about 15 mm, preferably Free length from approx. 10 mm to approx. 13 mm. The toothbrush head includes a rim and a distal end. At the far end of the toothbrush head (2) is a dense bristle tuft (8) for cleaning the backs of teeth and gums. The bristles in the dense tufts (8) have a diameter of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.40 mm, and a free length of from about 7 mm to about 15 mm. Using the different bristle patterns in this toothbrush, consumers not only get a better cleaning of their entire mouth (tooth surfaces, gums, interdental areas, etc.), but also feel better through sensory cues (visual and tactile) delivered by means of the toothbrush structure. Good clean feeling.

Description of drawings

The accompanying drawings will be described below. The description will illustrate various aspects of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a toothbrush with a handle (1) and a toothbrush head (2) at the distal end of the handle. A plurality of first-type bristles (3) of the same length and diameter are embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles (3) of the first type are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the bristle diameter.

Figure 1A is a top plan view of the toothbrush shown in Figure 1 .

Figure 2 shows a toothbrush with second type bristles (5) and third type bristles (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 times to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. The second type of bristles (5) are arranged in a hexagon around the third type of bristles (6).

Figure 3 shows a toothbrush with alternating rows of bristles of the second type (5) and bristles of the third type (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles.

3A is a top plan view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 3 .

Figure 4 shows a toothbrush with alternating rows of bristles of the second type (5) and bristles of the third type (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. Along the periphery of the toothbrush head (2) are fourth type bristles (7) embedded in the toothbrush head (2).

4A is a top plan view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 4 .

Figure 5 shows a toothbrush with second type bristles (5) and third type bristles (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. The second type of bristles (5) are arranged in a hexagon around the third type of bristles (6). At the end of the toothbrush head (2) at the distal end of the handle (1) is a dense tuft of bristles (8).

Fig. 5A is a top view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 5 .

Figure 6 shows a toothbrush with second type bristles (5) and third type bristles (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. The second type of bristles (5) are arranged in a hexagon around the third type of bristles (6). At the end of the toothbrush head (2) at the distal end of the handle (1) is a dense tuft of bristles (8). Along the periphery of the toothbrush head (2) are fourth type bristles (7) embedded in the toothbrush head (2).

Fig. 6A is a top view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 6 .

Figure 7 shows a toothbrush with alternating rows of bristles of the second type (5) and bristles of the third type (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. At the end of the toothbrush head (2) at the distal end of the handle (1) is a dense tuft of bristles (8). Along the periphery of the toothbrush head (2) are fourth type bristles (7) embedded in the toothbrush head (2).

Fig. 7A is a top view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 7 .

Figure 8 shows a toothbrush with randomly distributed second type bristles (5) and third type bristles (6) embedded in the toothbrush head (2). The bristles are spaced apart from each other by a distance (4) of from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. At the end of the toothbrush head (2) at the distal end of the handle (1) is a dense tuft of bristles (8). Along the periphery of the toothbrush head (2) are fourth type bristles (7) embedded in the toothbrush head (2).

Fig. 8A is a top view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 8 .

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a toothbrush with a plurality of individually embedded first type bristles (3) and a plurality of dense bristle tufts (8) embedded in the toothbrush head (2).

9A is a top plan view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 9 .

Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of different embodiments of a toothbrush having a plurality of individually embedded first type bristles (3) and a plurality of dense bristle tufts (8) embedded in the toothbrush head (2).

10A and 11A are top plan views of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.

Several examples of the invention will be set forth below in order to further illustrate the nature and embodiments of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to its details.

Detailed ways

Example 1

A toothbrush was made according to the design shown in Figure 8. The bristles of the toothbrush of Figure 8 have the following diameters: bristles of the second type (5): 0.18 mm; bristles of the third type (6): 0.23 mm; bristles of the fourth type (7): 0.2 mm; and dense bristle tufts (8) : 0.25mm. The height of the bristles is as follows: Type II bristles: 9-10 mm; Type III bristles: 10.5 mm; Type IV bristles: 10-11.25 mm; and dense tufts: 12.5 mm. The gap between the outer adjacent surfaces of the second type of bristles (5) is about 0.021 mm; the corresponding gap between the outer surfaces of the third type of bristles (6) is about 0.0197 mm; the outer surface of the fourth type of bristles (7) The gap between adjacent surfaces is about 0.018 mm; and the gap between the outer surfaces of the individual bristles making up the dense bristle tufts (8) is about 0.020 mm.

Two toothbrushes were made according to the design shown in Figure 11. The first toothbrush (Example 11A) had bristles of the following diameters: first type bristles (3): 0.20 mm; dense bristle tufts throughout the toothbrush head (8): 0.20 mm; and distal dense bristle tufts (8): 0.20 mm. The heights of the bristles are as follows: first type bristles (3): 11 mm; dense tufts throughout the toothbrush head: 9 mm; and distal dense tufts (8): 12.5 mm. The second toothbrush (Example 11B) had the following bristle diameters: first type bristles (3): 0.20 mm; dense bristle tufts throughout the toothbrush head (8): 0.18 mm; and distal dense bristle tufts (8): 0.20 mm. The heights of the bristles are as follows: first type bristles (3): 11 mm; dense tufts (8) throughout the toothbrush head: 9 mm; and distal dense tufts (8): 12.5 mm. In each example 11A, 11B, the first type of bristles (3) are embedded in the toothbrush head 2 individually.

The three toothbrushes described above were tested for interdental contact according to the procedure described in "Accessing interproximal tooth surfaces by different bristle designs and toothbrush stiffnesses" (Nygaard-Ostby et al., Scand. J. Dent Res. 1979, 87, 424-430). The cleaning efficacy of the test, this article will quote the above disclosure as a reference. Table 1 reports the test results. .

Table 1

example Interdental channel (mm) Figure 8 12 11A 11.8 11B 12.6 Oral B Crossover 10.8 Oral B indicator 7.7

The above data proves that the toothbrush of the present invention cleans better between the teeth than the toothbrushes sold on the market.

Example 2

The efficacy of the toothbrush of Figure 8 and the oral B ^* indicator toothbrush was tested by a clinical trial. A randomized crossover clinical study blinded to the examiners was performed on 70 healthy adults. The Rustogi's Modified Navy Plaque Index ("RMNPI") was used to assess plaque before and after one minute of brushing. Subjects were randomly assigned to use one of two test toothbrushes, an oral B ^* indicator toothbrush or a toothbrush manufactured according to the design shown in FIG. 8 . After the initial survey brushing, subjects returned two weeks later to repeat the procedure using the other of the two test toothbrushes. Plaque assessment was done at two surveys using RMNPI. RNMPI scores are given for the entire mouth: interproximal position, marginal position, posterior of terminal molars, anterior position, posterior position. The plaque changes of the two toothbrushes from before to after brushing were compared. The results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

*Figure 8 toothbrush

The reported score is the group average of the participants. The term "Δ" refers to the percentage reduction in plaque from pre-brushing to post-brushing for each group. Using statistical techniques, it can be concluded that the toothbrush of the present invention removes significantly more plaque from the entire mouth, gingival margins, interproximal surfaces and backs of terminal molars than commercially available toothbrushes by 20%, 28%, 17% and 31%, respectively. %.

The toothbrush of the present invention provides effective tooth cleaning, is easy to clean, and dries in a relatively short period of time.

Claims (10)

1. A toothbrush comprising: a brush handle; a toothbrush head at the distal end of the handle; a plurality of bristles of the first type, each of said bristles having a diameter of 0.20 mm and individually embedded in said toothbrush head; dense bristle tufts throughout the toothbrush head, each bristle of said dense bristle tufts having a diameter of 0.18-0.20 mm; and A distal dense tuft of bristles having a diameter of 0.20 mm. 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristles of the first type have a height of 11 mm. 3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the dense tufts of bristles throughout the toothbrush head have a height of 9 mm. 4. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the distal dense bristle tufts have a height of 12.5 millimeters. 5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the first type of bristles are alternately spaced from dense bristle tufts throughout the toothbrush head. 6. The toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the bristles of the first type are arranged alternately with the dense tufts of bristles throughout the toothbrush head to create an alternating wave pattern. 7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said toothbrush includes multiple bristle diameters in said toothbrush head. 8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said toothbrush includes a plurality of bristle spacings in said toothbrush head. 9. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristles of the first type are spaced apart from each other by a distance from 0.5 to 10 times the diameter of the bristles. 10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the dense bristle tufts have a shape selected from the group consisting of: round, square, oval, triangular, elongated rectangle, polygonal, half-moon, horseshoe, rod Shape, star, arc and combinations thereof.

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