GB2531761A - Teeth cleaning system - Google Patents

Abstract

A dental hygiene tool for cleaning teeth with a handle and removeable, replaceable cleaning heads comprising a flossing tool and a cleaning pad. The handle is approximately 20cm in length and has an asymmetric triangular hole or socket at the end opposite to the hand grip end. The interchangeable heads have a corresponding triangular stud which fits into the socket on the handle to attach the head to the handle. The asymmetric stud and socket is configured to ensure the interchangeable heads can only be fitted in the correct orientation. The flossing head is designed as a two pronged fork or arch with a stretch of dental floss between the prongs. The cleaning pad head is used to rub the surface of a users teeth to clean them. The cleaning pads are intended to be used only once before being replaced with an unused pad.

Description

Teeth Cleaning System

Description

This invention relates to a teeth cleaning system consisting of interchangeable pads and flossing forks.

Simple cleaning and rinsing of a toothbrush after use is not effective at removing germs and bacteria from it. As a result bacteria can build up on the toothbrush bristles of time.

Toothbrushes are also not very effective at removing plaque between teeth, especially when the bristles become frayed after prolonged, or even normal use. Minor damage to gums caused by hard bristles also allows this bacteria to directly enter the bloodstream and cause a number of dental and other problems.

In order to combat these and other problems associated with toothbrushes, I have invented the Toothpad and Floss system, shown in Figure 1.

It consists of a plastic handle with replaceable plastic scrubbing pads which simply push to fit, and pull to remove to and from the handle, and are used to clean the teeth.

Clearly these pads will wear quickly and can therefore be replaced quickly and simply. The pads are only intended to be used once.

The mechanism to fit them to the handle consists of an asymmetric triangular hole in the top of the handle (socket) and an opposed shape (stud) on the scrubbing pad, as shown in Figure 2. These push and pull apart in a similar manner to a press-stud, to fit them for cleaning use, and to remove them for replacement. They are pulled, or pushed out from behind to remove them. The asymmetric triangular hole means that the pads and flossing forks can only be fitted in correct orientation Pads Each pad will be intended to be used once for cleaning the teeth and then discarded. This will prevent the build-up of bacteria over time, and allow a clean new pad to be used each time the teeth are cleaned. Toothpaste is used by applying a small amount of toothpaste to the pad as a cleaning agent.

Pads will be sold together with a handle and separately in packs of 50/100/200 or more for family packs. The small size of the pads will allow them to be manufactured and hence sold at a relatively low price meaning that the cost of using the Toothpad system would be less than the cost of regularly replacing toothbrushes.

The pads are approximately 20 x 10 mm in size.

Handles The handles will come in a variety of colours and styles to allow each person's handle to be easily distinguished from someone else's in a family bathroom environment. The handles are approximately 20cm in length. Figure 2 shows the handle with socket for pad and flossing fork attachment.

Flossing forks Flossing will also be available, packaged together with and separately from the Pads. They consist of a simple two prong fork with oral floss strung between the two prongs, and stud protrusion at the base of the fork to allow it to be push fitted into the handle (socket). When fitted together this makes access to between teeth much easier and more effective than existing systems. Figure 1 shows the Flossing Fork.

Advantages 1. The pads are much more hygienic than a toothbrush, as a new pad can be used every time the teeth are cleaned. Using a new pad every time the teeth are cleaned helps prevent gum disease, infections and bad breath.

2. Better control means that padsare more effective are removing plaque from teeth, do less damage to the gums and therefor cause less bleeding, pain, irritation, and reduce the chance of a secondary infections.

3. The edges of the pads are designed in such a way that they are very effective at cleaning the crevices in the enamel crowns of the molar teeth.

4. Using a new pad every time the teeth are cleaned is more effective at cleaning teeth and removing plague than using a worn toothbrush.

5. Using toothpads is more cost effective than regularly changing toothbrushes as the pads are very low cost, and the handle is a one off cost.

6. Flossing forks allow much better access to the gaps between teeth and are therefore more effective than existing flossing methods.

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1. A tooth cleaning system consisting a handle and replaceable pads and flossing forks.
2. 2. Interchangeable cleaning pads that are disposable after use and are therefore much more hygienic than a toothbrush.
3. 3. The cleaning pads should require less toothpaste than a toothbrush.
4. 4. Using new a cleaning pad for each teeth cleaning session is much effective than using a worn toothbrush.
5. 5. The cleaning pads are more cost effective than regularly replacing a toothbrush.
6. 6. Interchangeable flossing forks that are disposable after use and allow much better access to between the teeth than currently available flossing methods, and therefore more effective teeth cleaning.
7. 7. The socket in the handle allows for the pad or flossing fork to be prized out from behind.
8. 8. The asymmetrical triangular socket and stud prevents incorrect fitting of the pads or flossing forks.