CN1406119A

CN1406119A - Tongue cleaning device

Info

Publication number: CN1406119A
Application number: CN99817059.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·D·巴克利; J·G·钱; 冯宝如; 王平
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Ltd
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Ltd; Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1999-12-22
Filing date: 1999-12-22
Publication date: 2003-03-26
Also published as: PL355384A1; AU2207200A; EP1239783A1; MXPA02006372A; WO2001045573A1; CA2394842A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a tongue cleaning device comprising a body having a handle and at one end thereof a head provided with a plurality of convex extrusion on at least one side of the head. Also disclosed is a tongue cleaning device comprised of a body having a handle and at one end thereof a head provided with at least one raised ridge. Also disclosed is a device wherein the head is further provided with tooth-cleaning bristles on the side of the head that is opposite to the side that is provided with the convex extrusions or with the at least one raised ridge. Still further disclosed is a tongue cleaning device comprised of a body having a handle and at one end thereof a head provided with tooth-cleaning bristles extending from the head on one side of the head, the tooth cleaning bristles further extending through the head to a height of up to about 7 mm on the opposite side of the head to form extension bristles for tongue cleaning.

Description

Tongue cleaning device

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of tongue cleaning device.More particularly, relate to an a kind of handle and head of comprising, this head is at least at the back of the lobed ledge of a side, protuberance, the hairbrush of extension, or it is any above said comprehensive, they can wipe tongue surface, make so that gently scrape that the micropore between the mastoid process opens on the tongue, and the active ingredient of ordering about from any oral cavity nursing agent (using simultaneously with utensil) enters the crypts of mastoid process, in case seam is smelly and fresh implication is provided.

Technical background

Oral malodor is commonly referred to as halitosis, and the comprehensive of problem, oral cavity bacterium, diet or any above factor owing to digestive system causes usually.Oral cavity bacterium causes the formation of speckle, and becomes the root of dental caries, gingivitis and tooth calculus and halitosis.

These oral cavity bacteriums that mainly comprise Anaerobic Bacteria are accumulated in top and inner between the tongue papillae, and produce volatile sulfur compounds, i.e. halitosis when decomposing.Can remove this class speckle with traditional tongue scraping blade scraping tongue; But, such scraping is easy to injure the end of tongue surface mastoid process.Undue scraping even can cause bleeding and damage tissue.Therefore, clearly traditional tongue scrapers tool can cause the painful and uncomfortable of user.Owing to conventional appliances is to provide as the independent utensil that is included in a part in the oral care session, for example user may be brushed teeth with toothbrush and toothpaste earlier, then with independent tongue scrapers tool cleaning tongue, and like this may be inconvenient.

The oral care product of toothpaste and other such as collutory one class also comes in handy tackling on the halitosis.The mechanism contrast that provides with above-mentioned tongue scrapers tool, the effect of this series products are the antibacterials of eliminating halitosis with chemical method, for example such as the antibacterial agent of triclosan, stannous fluoride, chlohexidine, quaternary ammonium salt and Camphora parachlorophenol one class.Though but these chemical productss can improve the quality of implication immediately after brushing teeth, they can not provide long-lasting benefit.They can cause undesirable side effect in some situation, for example stain, change sense of taste or the like.

Therefore, need a kind of to user easy-to-use, easily and effective utensil, be used for eliminating or stop and in the oral cavity, exist and cause growth and/or the metabolism of halitosis antibacterial, and remove the speckle on the tongue.There is not a kind of existing technology that the present invention can be provided all whole advantages and benefit.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a kind of tongue cleaning device, comprise main body with a handle and the head that is arranged on the one end, this head has the ledge of a plurality of projectioies at least in a side.Simultaneously also disclose a kind of tongue cleaning device, have a handle, and its other end is provided with a convex ridge with at least one protuberance at its main body one end.Also disclose simultaneously a kind of utensil, the hairbrush of further brushing teeth wherein in a side setting at head, and the ledge of projection or the convex ridge of at least one protuberance are set in a relative side.Further disclose a kind of tongue cleaning device, its main body comprises a handle and the hairbrush with cleaning teeth at one end is set, hairbrush extends in a side of head, the hairbrush of cleaning teeth passes head and forms the height of about 7mm at the head opposite side, forms the hairbrush extension as the cleaning tongue.

Technical staff about the field after reading this paper will understand these and other feature of the present invention, situation and advantage.

Brief Description Of Drawings

Although inferring, description specifically notes and will protect claim of the present invention that the present invention will be better understood from the description of following preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawing in company with it:

Fig. 1 is the part enlarged side view of the preferred embodiment of tongue cleaning device of the present invention;

Fig. 1 a and 1b are the detailed view of the ledge of projection shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of another kind of preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the side view of utensil shown in Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is the part zoomed-in view of preferred embodiment of the present invention and the part zoomed-in view of tongue, the effect when demonstration is comprehensively used when utensil of the present invention and such as toothpaste one class oral cavity nursing agent;

Fig. 5 is the perspective view of the utensil of another kind of preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is that the part of utensil shown in Fig. 5 is amplified perspective view;

Fig. 7 is the part enlarged side view of the utensil of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Describe in detail

Fig. 1 shows a kind of part enlarged drawing of preferred embodiment of utensil of the present invention.Utensil 10 comprises a whole main body 12, is made up of a handle 14 (all not showing) and a head 16.One side of head 16 is provided with the ledge 30 of a plurality of projectioies.In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, ledge 30 preferably is round end or dome shape, its diameter and highly from the head the surface measure into about 0.1mm to 5mm; Be more preferably about 0.5mm to 3mm.The example of these round end ledges more clearly shows in Fig. 1 a and 1b.Be not limited by theory, believe that the mastoid process of these size ranges and tongue can be compatible best, so that improve cleaning and antibacterial prevention/extinction effects.

All each ledges 30 not necessarily need identical size; The size of each ledge can change on same utensil.Can on head surface, form the pattern of ledge 30 in any way, for example in a row, style at random or that make requirement.In addition, under the prerequisite of the size of considering head 16 areas, any amount of ledge can be set.

Preferably utensil 10 can be used as the toothbrush use.In such an embodiment, on the side relative of head 16, be provided with tooth-cleaning bristle 18, shown in Fig. 2 and 3 with ledge 30.

Referring to Fig. 2 and 3, common as institute on the toothbrush that uses at present, a cervical region 20 is arranged between handle 14 and head 16.The cross section of cervical region 20 is usually less than the cross section of handle or head.Can comprise on the handle with any and comprise the non-slip grip area that santoprene makes at the known suitable material in present technique field.Tooth-cleaning bristle 18 can be configured to Any shape, comprises configuration (not shown) with three dimensions shape and various in various degree hardness and rigidity, known to the one skilled in the art.

Best, tongue cleaning device 10 becomes one with the head that comprises hairbrush, as Fig. 2 and 3 and Fig. 5-7 shown in.Such embodiment provides convenience for user, because user can be earlier as normal use toothbrush, the side cleaning teeth with comprising hairbrush turns over the side that utensil will have ledge then, and brushing is to obtain cleaning effect on tongue.

Best, after brushing teeth, clean tongue again, this moment, used toothpaste or other oral cavity nursing agent when brushing teeth still was retained in the mouth, promptly before gargling.Do not accept opinion and limit, using appliance is believed to obtain effective fresh breath effects by this way.User is brushed teeth with hairbrush and toothpaste or other teeth nursing agentia.Then, before gargling the toothpaste or other medicament that remains in the oral cavity, user is with tongue cleaning device (promptly using a side on the tooth-cleaning bristle opposite of head) wiper tongue surface.This move enters in the groove of mastoid process the active ingredient that is included in the toothpaste, and this will eliminate or stop antibacterial, mainly be growth or the metabolism of anaerobic bacteria that the antibacterial that is present in this will be caused the implication stench.

In the simplification zoomed-in view of Fig. 4, schematically express this effect, wherein a ledge 30 of the Xian Shiing direction that is denoted as " A " with arrow tongue 50 surfaces of nuzzling up.Tongue generally is made of the many mastoid processes 52 that have the groove 54 between mastoid process 52.Anaerobic bacteria 56 trends towards accumulating in the groove 54, and causes the implication stench.Oral cavity nursing agent 60 is highlighted part 30 and pushes groove 54.This effect is believed when use comprises oral cavity nursing agent such as the antibacterium composition of triclosan, chlohexidine, Polyphenols (polyphedic species), tin salt and zinc salt effective especially.

Though the comprehensive simultaneously oral cavity nursing agent that adopts when being preferably in using appliance 10 as mentioned above, should be noted that here to need.Even without oral cavity nursing agent, when utensil 10 nuzzled up tongue 50 surfaces, the effect of ledge 30 made the opening of the micropore in the groove between the mastoid process 52 54 on the tongue, and this can provide cleaning/pure and fresh effect.

At this, should be appreciated that tongue cleaning ledge 30 not necessarily will with the head that contains hairbrush of cleaning teeth for example toothbrush combine because as shown in Figure 1, it can not combine with toothbrush and be provided at this mentioned benefit.In addition, should be noted that tongue cleaning device 10 can use with toothpaste or other oral cavity nursing agent, and not necessarily want to brush teeth with toothpaste or other oral cavity nursing agent earlier.

In the known technology in present technique field,, can be used for making utensil 10 of the present invention as injection-molded.Any design, the shape of handle 14 and tooth-cleaning bristle 18 or to be configured in this all be suitable.In addition, although should be appreciated that the usefulness that is particularly suitable for human oral hygiene according to utensil of the present invention, they help the usefulness as the beasts oral hygiene too, for example use for domestic pets or veterinary.

For the utensil that also contains tooth-cleaning bristle 18, head 16 is provided with the promising aperture (not shown) of holding hairbrush 18 or pieces 18, and aperture can obtain with machining or hot-working method, and is well-known as those of skill in the art.The method of any fixedly hairbrush all can adopt at this.

In Fig. 5 and 6, show another kind of exemplary preferred embodiment.In this embodiment, divide 30 to combine the convex ridge 35 that is provided with one or more slight projecting shape separately or with convex projection.In this embodiment, provide a kind of tongue sensation different with the utensil that only has the convex projection branch to user.In addition, the convex ridge 35 of protuberance provides slight wiper, gives the sensation of user cleaning.Should be noted that the convex ridge 35 that protuberance may only be provided separately equally, the ledge 30 of projection no longer is provided in other words.In addition.Though Fig. 5 and 6 has shown two convex ridges 35, also can provide more or less convex ridge as required.

In the another preferred embodiment of the present invention, on tongue cleaning device, tooth-cleaning bristle 18 is provided the hairbrush 40 of a series of extensions, as substituting or adapter of ledge 30 and convex ridge 35.This embodiment is presented among Fig. 7.The hairbrush 40 that extends stretches out about 0.1-5mm from the head, and requires to be up to about 7mm.Usually, extension bristle 40 is shorter than the tooth-cleaning bristle 18 that a relative from the head side is stretched out.

In addition, embodiment illustrated in fig. 7 more favourable at manufacture view.When the pieces of tooth-cleaning bristle 18 or tooth-cleaning bristle 18 is inserted into head, usually to carry out bundle hair or the operation of circle hair, the pieces of these hairbrush or hairbrush 18 is drawn to pass head, rather than all is retained in the inside of head one end, and latter event is common in the toothbrush manufacturing.Ledge forms the extension bristle 40 as tongue cleaning.This dots in Fig. 7, and tooth-cleaning bristle 18 extends through head and forms extension bristle 40.Extension bristle 40 can truncation arrive desired height then.Perhaps, they can be shaped to domed shape as shown in the figure.

Example

For the advantage of preferred embodiment of the present invention is described, in following example, brush teeth separately for the effect of the oral malodor comprehensive tongue cleaning of brushing teeth relatively, after brushing teeth 3 hours and 7 hours, compare with halitosis meter (Halimeter) test according to follow procedure.

In first branch of test, the test participant only uses a kind of formulation of tooth-paste (CREST preventing decayed tooth) to brush teeth.In second branch of test, the test participant uses this formulation of tooth-paste (CREST preventing decayed tooth) equally, also cleans tongue.

In two branches of test, halitosis meter reading is all at baseline (zero point), mensuration when 3 and 7.From baseline to 3, do not allow feed or have a drink.

The halitosis meter can detect the existence of volatile sulfur compounds in breathing.Volatile sulfur compounds comprises hydrogen sulfide, methanthiol, and two basic sulfur, ethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide, all these all cause implication bad.Therefore, halitosis meter reading is high more, exists breath malodor many more.

Below each data point (halitosis meter reading value) representative meansigma methods (to each test recipe N=17) when respectively testing the participant and using same test recipe at the same time.

The average VSC reading of adjusting of table 1, post processing (in round parentheses between 90% trusted domain)

Handle	Halitosis meter reading with respect to the time
	Halitosis meter reading with respect to the time		3 hours	7 hours
	CREST preventing decayed tooth */only do and brush teeth	64.7(52.1-80.2)	3 hours	7 hours	58.0(50.6-66.5)
CREST preventing decayed tooth */brush teeth and clean tongue	CREST preventing decayed tooth */only do and brush teeth	64.7(52.1-80.2)	47.6(38.4-58.9)	43.9(38.6-50.0)	58.0(50.6-66.5)

* the CREST preventing decayed tooth is a kind of commercial tooth paste product of supplying, by Proctor ﹠amp; Gamble (China) company limited production, the People's Republic of China (PRC), Guangzhou, Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, No. 1, Bin He road.

Above-mentioned example explanation VSC value is reduced according to tongue cleaning of the present invention.At 3 hours, the benefit that tongue cleaning provides was than more clearly can be observed on 7 little time points.But, can continue to provide benefit on the 7 little time points.

Like this, embodiment disclosed here provided the advantage that reduces breath malodor at least in about 3 hours, and had pure and fresh sensation and do not damage or injure the tongue of user.The very high and easy manufacturing of the cost benefit of this preferred embodiment.

At this, " comprising " means that step or parts that other does not influence final result also can increase into.This word comprise " by ... form " and " substantially by ... composition ".

Should understand example described here and embodiment and only quote for explanation, and not depart under the scope prerequisite of the present invention, the one skilled in the art can propose various remodeling or variation according to this literary composition.

Claims

1. tongue cleaning device comprises main body with handle and at the one end head is arranged, and the ledge of a plurality of projectioies is set in head one side at least.

2. according to the utensil of claim 1, it is characterized in that the diameter of ledge and highly be to about 5mm from about 0.1mm.

3. according to the utensil of claim 2, it is characterized in that the diameter of ledge and highly be to about 3mm from about 0.5mm.

4. according to the utensil of claim 1, it is characterized in that head also is provided with tooth-cleaning bristle in the one side, this side is relative with the side that ledge is set.

5. tongue cleaning device comprises main body with handle and at the one end head is arranged, and at head at least one convex ridge is set.

6. according to the utensil of claim 5, it is characterized in that a side of head also is provided with tooth-cleaning bristle, this side is relative with the side that a convex ridge is set at least.

7. according to the utensil of claim 6, it is characterized in that, also be included in a plurality of convex projection branches that head is provided with the same side of a convex ridge at least.

8. tongue cleaning device, comprise main body and a head is arranged at the one end with handle, at head tooth-cleaning bristle is set, a side is extended from the head, tooth-cleaning bristle more passes head and extends to the height that the head opposite side reaches about 7mm, to form the hairbrush for tongue cleaning.

9. method that cleans the mankind or animal tongue, comprise that with the comprising a side that convex projection divides, comprise a side of at least one convex ridge or comprise the step of a side brushing of extension bristle of the head of utensil this utensil is a kind of about the tongue surface cleaning appliance in any aforesaid right requirement.

10. according to the method for claim 9, it is characterized in that, also be included in the comprising a side that convex projection divides, comprise a side of at least one convex ridge or comprise the step of brushing teeth with oral care composition before the step of a side brushing of extension bristle of the head of tongue surface cleaning appliance, wherein oral care composition is pushed into the micropore of tongue papillae.