GB2603960A

GB2603960A - Tooth cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2603960A
Application number: GB2102536.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Omilana Kunle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-02-23
Filing date: 2021-02-23
Publication date: 2022-08-24
Also published as: GB202102536D0

Abstract

A tooth cleaning device comprises a handle and a J‐shaped element (14) having a shape corresponding to half of a dental arch. The J‐shaped element comprises a rigid support (15) sandwiched between upper and lower troughs (20, 21) which are also J‐shaped in plan. Each of the upper and lower troughs have opposed side walls (22) connected by a base wall (24) and define an opening into which the teeth of an upper or a lower jaw may be inserted. A multiplicity of spikes (30) project from each side wall towards a centre line of the trough, the spikes that project from closer to the opening being longer than those closer to the base wall. The spikes are integral with the trough, all being made of a resilient rubber. The rubber may be a silicone rubber.

Description

Tooth Cleaning Device The invention relates to a tooth cleaning device to assist a user in cleaning their teeth and to ensure removal of food and bacterial plaque from between teeth In Nigeria it is known to clean teeth using a particular type of twig which is chewed. A variety of chewing toothbrushes, that is to say devices to achieve tooth cleaning by a chewing action, have been suggested. For example US 4 237 574 describes a device which may be used as a chewing toothbrush, comprising a U-shaped channel in whose walls brush bristles are mounted. An improved chewing toothbrush would be advantageous.

According to the present invention there is provided a tooth cleaning device comprising a handle and a J-shaped element having a shape corresponding to half of a dental arch, the 1-shaped element comprising a rigid support between upper and lower troughs, both troughs being 1-shaped in plan, wherein each of the upper and lower troughs has opposed side walls connected by a base wall and defines an opening into which the teeth of an upper or a lower jaw may be inserted, and wherein there are defined a multiplicity of spikes projecting from each side wall within the trough, the spikes projecting from locations closer to the opening being longer than the spikes projecting from closer to the base wall, the spikes being integral with the trough, and each of the upper and lower troughs being made of a resilient polymer such as silicone rubber.

The silicone rubber may be an antibacterial silicone rubber. The side walls may define longitudinal ridges from which the spikes project. The base wall may also define longitudinal ridges, but in this case without spikes or with only short blunt projections. Both ends of each trough are open.

The shape in plan is described as J-shaped; this means it is the shape of half a dental arch, which is half a U, and so the shape may be the mirror image of a J. The spikes on the side wall that is on the inside of the J-shaped curve may be shorter than those on the side wall on the outside of the J-shaped curve. The orientation of the spikes relative to the plane of the side wall may be in the range from 300 to 900, for example 45° or 60'; the spikes that project from locations at different distances from the base wall may vary in their orientation.

The device may also comprise a set of bristles equivalent to a conventional toothbrush, the set of bristles being mounted at one side of the rigid element remote from the handle.

In use, a user can use the device on one side of their mouth, chewing both jaws into the upper and lower troughs so the spikes clean the sides of the teeth, then remove the device and insert it again on the other side of their mouth to clean the sides of the teeth by again chewing both jaws into the troughs. The user can then use the set of bristles like a conventional toothbrush to clean the crowns of the teeth. It will be appreciated that if the device of the invention does not include such a set of bristles, it may be used in combination with a conventional toothbrush.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a tooth cleaning device of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a sectional view on the line 2-2 of figure 1.

Referring to figure 1, a tooth cleaning device 10 comprises a handle 12 and a cleaning element 14 which is 1-shaped in plan, so that its shape corresponds to that of half a dental arch. Referring also to figure 2, the cleaning element 14 includes a rigid support plate 15, which may be of a rigid plastic such as used for conventional toothbrush handles, this rigid support plate 15 being sandwiched between an upper trough 20 and a lower trough 21, each of which is of the same J-shape in plan so as to correspond to the shape of half a dental arch, that is to say the sets of teeth on one side of the mouth. The handle 12 may be integral with the rigid support plate 15, or alternatively it may be attached to the rigid support plate, for example having a threaded projection to engage a matching threaded hole in the plate 15.

Each trough 20 and 21 is open-topped and open at each end, being defined by silicone rubber side walls 22 and a silicone rubber base wall 24. There are longitudinal ridges 26 along the inside face of each side wall 22 and longitudinal ridges 27 along the inside face of the base wall 24, and multiple spikes 30 project from each such longitudinal ridge 26, closely spaced along the length of each ridge 26. The spikes 30 on the ridges 26 closer to the open top are longer than those on the ridges 26 closer to the base wall 24; the spikes 30 on the ridges 26 on the inside of the curve of the J-shape may be shorter than those on the outside of the curve. For example the spikes 30 on the three ridges 26 on both the side walls 22 may be of lengths 10 mm, 6 mm and 3 mm respectively; or alternatively the spikes 30 on the inside of the curve (i.e on the right-hand side of figure 2) may be of lengths 7 mm, 5 mm and 3 mm while those on the outside of the curve (i.e. the left-hand side of figure 2) may be of lengths 10 mm, 8 mm, and 4 mm. Each spike 30 is inclined at about 45° to the plane of the side wall 22, and so at least the longer spikes 30 project out of the open top of the trough 20, 21.

A set of bristles 45 (not shown in Figure 2) is arranged as the equivalent of a conventional toothbrush near the end of the inner side of the rigid support plate 15, on the inside of the curve of the J. In use, a user can use the device 10 on one side of their mouth, biting so that both jaws fit into the upper and lower troughs 20 and 21, and chewing in this position, moving the jaws up and down and so compressing and releasing the silicone ridges 27 and the base wall 24. The spikes 30 therefore clean the sides of the teeth, and dislodge or scrape out food particles or plaque from the gaps between teeth. The handle 12 enables the user to move the troughs 20 and 21 to and fro along the line of teeth, if desired. The device 10 would then be taken out, and put in again the other way up on the other side of their mouth, to clean the sides of the teeth on that other side of the mouth by again chewing both jaws into the troughs 20 and 21. Toothpaste may be introduced into the troughs 20 and 21 prior to use of the device 10 in this way. The user can then use the set of bristles 45 in the same way as a conventional toothbrush is used, in particular to clean the crowns of the teeth.

It will be appreciated that the handle 12 makes the device easy to use, as without a handle it would be more difficult to get the device aligned with the teeth. As compared to a device that is U-shaped, the J-shape makes it easier to accommodate jaws of different sizes, as variations in the total width of the dental arch don't have to exactly matched; furthermore the J-shape makes possible the provision of the set of bristles 45, which provides an assurance of complete teeth cleaning.

It will be appreciated that the device 10 may be modified in various ways while remaining within the scope of the claims. For example there may be short stubby projections along each ridge 27, to provide more resilient material to chew against. The orientation of the spikes 30 relative to the side wall 22 may differ from that described above, typically being in the range from 30° to 90°, for example SO° or 60'; the orientation of the spikes 30 on one ridge 26 may differ from the orientation of the spikes 30 on another ridge 26. A device 10 intended for use by children would be of smaller dimensions than one for adults, because the size of the dental arch is smaller and in this case the spikes 30 may also be shorter.

Claims

Claims 1. A tooth cleaning device comprising a handle and a J-shaped element having a shape corresponding to half of a dental arch, the J-shaped element comprising a rigid support between upper and lower troughs, both troughs being 1-shaped in plan, wherein each of the upper and lower troughs has opposed side walls connected by a base wall and defines an opening into which the teeth of an upper or a lower jaw may be inserted, and wherein there are defined a multiplicity of spikes projecting from each side wall within the trough, the spikes projecting from locations closer to the opening being longer than those projecting from closer to the base wall, the spikes being integral with the trough, and each of the upper and lower troughs being made of a resilient polymer, preferably silicone rubber.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the silicone rubber is an antibacterial silicone rubber.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the side walls define longitudinal ridges from which the spikes project.
4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base wall defines longitudinal ridges.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein short blunt projection project from the longitudinal ridges of the base wall.
6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spikes on the side wall that is on the inside of the J-shaped curve are shorter than those on the side wall on the outside of the J-shaped curve.
7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the orientation of the spikes relative to the plane of the side wall is in the range from 30° to 900
8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the orientation of the spikes is at 45° to the plane of the side wall.
9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spikes are at orientations relative to the plane of the side wall that vary in accordance with the distance of the base of the spike from the base wall.
10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also comprising a set of bristles equivalent to a conventional toothbrush, the set of bristles being mounted at one side of the rigid element remote from the handle.