CA2627712A1 - Antibacterial toothbrush spray - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid dentifrice composition contained in a container from which the liquid is ejected as a mist, or as fine spray wherein the spray is a sanitizing liquid dentifrice solution solution which is active against such bacterial cultures and which may also provide a preventive agent against dental plaque, dental decay and tartar formation.

Description

ANTIBACTERIAL TOOTHBRUSH SPRAY
Field of the Invention This invention concerns a portable dental hygiene device, and in particular a device for sanitizing toothbrush bristles.

Backjzround of the Inveption Canadian laid open patent application No. 2,204,502 describes a dental care station where the head part of a toothbrush and the head of a spray can are at the bottom of the station housing. The housing is a two-part case-like holding device. The spray can sits in a receptacle cavity of one part of the holding device, and the toothbrush is in the other part of the holding device, which is designed as a lateral valve. Guide rails position the toothbrush when the device is closed. The spray head of the valve of the spray can sits in a brush chamber. A
spray mist is released by means of a release button which is provided on the head of the housing and can act on the bottom of the spray can. By depressing the release button, the spray mist can be directed at the bristles of the toothbrush in the brush chamber in a controlled manner. Such a device is not particularly portable and is unsuitable for travel purposes because of its size.

Canadian laid open patent application No. 2,257,457 discloses a portable dental hygiene device which has a simple design and is secured against accidental release of the spray, especially when travelling, but still requires a carrying case for aligning a toothbrush with the spray.

United States patent No. 5,328,692 discloses a dentifrice composition having as the three main constituents an enzymatic complex, fluoroamines and Demthicone.
A variety of optional constituents may also be present in the dentrifice. The dentifrice composition is applied to the teeth as a spray, not to the toothbrush bristles, and is contained in a suitable container under pressure and provided with a spray nozzle so that it can be applied to the teeth and the interstices between the teeth in the form of a jet of fine droplets.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Various dentifrice compositions in the form of a paste, a gel, a powder or a solution are known which are applied with a brush to the teeth. Dentifrice tubes provided with a measuring device also have been proposed, and some of which are filled with a propellant gas to force the dentifrice from the tubes but even in this latter case a toothbrush must always be used. The use of a brush is always a constraint for many reasons, but the concern addressed in the present invention is the unsanitary lock of hygiene. Specifically, when at home or travelling, typically a toothbrush is used and then merely allowed to air dry.
The fact remains, however, that whether or not superficially dry along the exposed length of the toothbrush bristles, the bristles will harbour bacteria and the bacteria will grow in the warm wet environinent provided by the bristles when mounted onto the head of the toothbrush. The bacteria culture are thus present when the head of the toothbrush is repeatedly replaced into the mouth of a user.

This invention eliminates this unsanitary drawback, providing a liquid dentifrice composition contained in a container from which it is possible to eject the liquid as a mist, or as fine droplets (spray), or as a pressure jet. The critical feature of this invention is the use as a spray of a sanitizing liquid dentifrice solution, which is active against such bacterial cultures and which may also provide a preventive agent against dental plaque, dental decay and tartar formation, thanks to its components. It helps in the battle against recurring colds flu's and other orally transmitted germs.

The composition of the present invention achieves such effects by spraying a multitude of liquid particles upon the bristles by simple, proper orientation of a jet of droplets or fine particles, to deposit upon all the bristles of the toothbrush the components of the composition having a bactericidal action and/or a protective action against decay. The

2 sanitizing components of the composition are orally safe. For example, in one embod.iment the ingredients of the spra.y may include purified water, tea tree oil, stevia, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, polysorbate and alcohol.

Such projection can be achieved by a highly portable, small hand-held vaporizer comprising a system for pumping the liquid and expelling it outwardly through a spraying nozzle. It can also be obtained by using a propellant gas under pressure, such as, for example, nitrogen. Such a container would not use a lot of counter space and would be easily packed for travel.
In use, after each use of the toothbrush, it is rinsed with water and then.
sprayed until bristles are saturated with the liquid dentifrice. The user then shakes out excess solution and stores as per normal.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet of fine particle spray of liquid dentifrice is expelled under relatively high pressure, with a view to adding a mechanical effect to the effects resulting from the nature of the constituents, i.e., adding mechanical spray cleaning of the bristles and the interstices between them.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in. the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

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Claims (2)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An antibacterial toothbrush spray for spraying on the bristles of a toothbrush, the spray comprising ingredients including: purified water, tea tree oil, stevia, benzoic acid, alcohol.

2. The spray of claim 1 further comprising sodium benzoate, polysorbate.