GB2266243A

GB2266243A - Oral hygiene device

Info

Publication number: GB2266243A
Application number: GB9208797A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Dennis Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-04-23
Filing date: 1992-04-23
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Also published as: GB9208797D0

Abstract

An oral hygiene device for cleaning the teeth and/or massaging the gums comprises a flexible pad 1 of woven or non- woven fabric of a size to fit on or over a finger tip and means such as a layer of adhesive for mounting the pad on the finger tip to permit the pad to be inserted into the mouth when so mounted and used to clean the teeth and/or massage the gums. <IMAGE>

Description

ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE This invention relates to an oral hygiene device.

Many oral. hygiene devices are known e.g. toothbrushes toothpicks, dental floss, etc Each suffers from one or more disadvantages; toothbrushes are not particularly suited to carrying around in one's pocket or handbag, unless specifically designed for that purpose, whilst toothpicks and dental floss are not particularly suited to use in public places.

According to this invention a disposable oral hygiene device is provided which is cheap and easy to use for cleaning the teeth and/or massaging the gums and then thrown away. This device comprises a sma] 1 pad of flexible material of a size to fit on or over a finger tip and provided with means for mounting that pad on a finger tip, Lo permit the paid to be introduced into the mouth on one's finger and used to brush the teeth and/or massage the gums. Preferably, to this end, the pad is provided with a roughened or slightly abrasive surface and may be provided prei.mpregnated with a sui tc.ibl ( dentifrice f 1 avourant an(l/or oral disinfectant.

The device of the invention may take many different physical iorms and may be mounted on the finger tip in many different ways. It may, for example, be designed for simple mechanical or physical retention on the finger tip, e.g. by means of ties or elastic retaining bands, or it may be designed as a finger stall or thimble which fits over the finger tip.

Tn a preferred embodiment the pad is provided with a backing layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and by means of which the pad may be stuck temporarily to the finger, tEle layer of pressure sensitive adhesive being protected in known manner by a pee-off backing strip.

Preferably the device is presterilised and provided in a sealed sachet, which can be easilv carried aground in a pocket or purse or wallet, for use whenever or wherever the user desires.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a preferred form of oral hygiene device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view; Figure 3 shows the device attached to the finger and ready for use; and Figure 4 shows the device packaged prior to use.

Referring to the drawings the device coinprises a pad (1), of woven or non-woven fabric, e.g. of nylon or other suitable fibre and having a roughened or slightly abrasive surface (2). The rear face is coated with a layer pressure sensitive adhesive protected by a peel-off backing sheet (3).

Following removal of the peel-off backing sheet (3) the pad (1) may be stuck to the finger tip (4) as shown in Figure 3 and used to brush or clean the teeth and/or massage the gums, and then thrown away.

Suitably the pad will be presterilised and preimpregnateg, forexample, with a dentifrice, flavourant or oral disinfectant, etc.

As indicated, the pad is of a suitable size to be mounted on the finger tip, e.g. about 2 x 2 cms. Prior to use it is packaged in a sealed and sterilised envelope or sachet (5) as shown in Figure 4. In that form it is extremely convenient to carry around, or even a small supply of them, until required for use.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be apparent that numerous modifications and variations may be practised without departing from the concept of this invention which is essentially and quite simply a finger mounted tooth cleaning and/or gum massaging device.

Claims

1. An oral hygiene device for cleaning the teeth and/or massaging the gums comprising a flexible pad of woven or non-woven fabric of a size to fit on or over a finger tip and means for mounting the paid on the finger tip to permit the paid to be inserted into the mouth when so mounted and used to clean the teeth and/or massage the gums.

2. An oral hygiene device according to claim 1, wherein the pad has a roughened or abrasive surface.

3. An oral hygiene device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pad is preimpregnated with a dentifrice, fl.avourant and/or or-al disinfectant.

4. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the means for mounting the pad on the finger tip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the rear face of the pad protected by a peel-off backing strip.

j. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the device is packaged in a sealed and sterilised envelope or sachet.

6. A method of cleaning the teeth and/or massaging the gums which comprises temporarily mounting on the finger tip a pad of woven or nonwoven fabric and using the pad, when so mounted, to clean the teeth and/or massage the gums.

7. A method according to cl.aim 6, wherein the paid is temporarily mounted on the finger tip by means of a layer of adhesive preprovided on the rear face of the pad.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the pad has a roughened or abrasive surface.

9. A method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the pad is preimpregnated with a dentifrice, flavourant and/or oral disinfectant.