JP2014083066A - Toothbrush, and manufacturing method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toothbrush having an antibacterial action against a periodontal disease in the toothbrushing.SOLUTION: In a hair-implanted portion 2 on the tip end side of a toothbrush body 1, there are arranged and implanted a plurality of fiber bundles 5 in rows. Each of the fiber bundles 5 is composed of fibers 6 bundled in every several tens. Each of the fibers 6 contains a number of platinum nano-particles. These platinum nano-particles have a high antibacterial performance against periodontal disease bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. When the toothbrushing action is performed by using a tooth brush 10, to which a toothpaste agent is applied all over the fiber bundles 5, the periodontal disease bacteria, which is exposed because the tooth plaque was broken, comes into contact with the numerous platinum nano-particles contained in the individual fibers 6, so that it is killed by the platinum nano-particles.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush having an antibacterial action against periodontal disease bacteria and the like.

  What is called plaque or plaque is a state in which periodontal disease bacteria composed of a wide variety of bacteria coexist in a self-made biofilm in a sticky state.

Therefore, as a general preventive method for periodontal disease, an enzyme contained in a toothpaste is obtained by attaching a toothpaste extruded from a tube to a toothbrush and carefully brushing the tooth with the toothbrush. By destroying the biofilm, various bacteria (periodontal bacteria) are made naked. In this state, periodontal disease bacteria are washed out with water.

Japanese Patent No. 4899980 JP 2012-34845 A

However, it is difficult to repel periodontal bacteria by simply containing water in the oral cavity and spitting it out with a toothpaste used for brushing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and its main object is to provide a toothbrush that can reliably kill periodontal disease bacteria in the oral cavity in a brushing operation of toothpaste.

  A toothbrush according to the subject of the present invention includes a toothbrush body having a flocked portion and a plurality of fiber bundles each planted in the flocked portion, and is bundled in each of the plurality of fiber bundles. Each fiber is provided with a plurality of platinum nanoparticles.

  According to the subject of the present invention, when brushing teeth, for example, using a toothbrush in which a toothpaste is applied to a fiber bundle, the teeth in which periodontopathic bacteria (bacteria) inhabit are inhabited. Periodontal disease bacteria whose plaques have been broken and appear in the oral cavity are surely killed by the platinum nanoparticles contained in each fiber due to their antibacterial performance. As a result, by using this toothbrush, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of gingivitis or periodontal disease and the generation of bad breath.

  Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail along with the effects and advantages thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the toothbrush which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of each fiber which comprises the fiber bundle in the toothbrush of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a manufacturing method of the toothbrush according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the process of diluting the stock solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution with water (purified water or tap water etc.). It is a figure which shows the test result of the antibacterial performance which the hair or fiber for toothbrushes with which the platinum nanoparticle was mix | blended with respect to S. aureus.

  (Embodiment 1)

  FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a toothbrush 10 according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a toothbrush body 1 of a toothbrush 10 is basically composed of a flocked portion (head portion) 2 which is one tip portion thereof, a neck portion (neck portion) 3 connected to the flocked portion 2, and the neck portion. 3 and a handle portion (handle portion) 4 that is connected to 3 and is held by a person's palm. The toothbrush main body 1 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin (which may have a rubber portion), and the color of the main body 1 is arbitrary, for example, a transparent color.

  A plurality of fiber bundles (hair bundles) 5 are arranged in rows and columns in the horizontal direction (vertical direction in the drawing: not shown) and in the vertical direction (direction parallel to the drawing) in the flocked portion 2 of the toothbrush body 1. As shown, the lower part of each fiber bundle 5 is planted. In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, it is not shown that a plurality of fibers are bundled. However, in terms of the configuration, each fiber bundle 5 is composed of several tens of fibers (toothbrushes). Corresponds to hair.) It is composed of 6 bundles.

As schematically shown in FIG. 2, the structure of each fiber (hair) 6 includes a plurality of or a large number of platinum nanoparticles 7 in each fiber bundle 5.

The platinum nanoparticles 7 are harmful to the body, teeth or gums (for example, norovirus) and various bacteria (for example, Escherichia coli such as Staphylococcus aureus or periodontal disease bacteria (oral resident bacteria)). It exhibits excellent antiviral, antibacterial and deodorizing effects that can be reliably killed. This point will be described in a third embodiment described later. The particle diameter of the platinum nanoparticle 7 is, for example, about 4 nm. In FIG. 2, the platinum nanoparticle 7 is drawn with its dimensions enlarged for convenience of illustration.

When brushing with the toothbrush 10 of FIG. 1, the following actions and effects are obtained. That is, when brushing is performed on the entire fiber bundle 5 of the toothbrush 10 by applying, for example, a paste-like toothpaste (not shown), the friction between the bristles of each fiber 6 and the teeth and gums. Plaques or plaques present in the gap between teeth or gums are damaged or destroyed. Periodontal disease bacteria that have appeared in the oral cavity due to plaque destruction or the like are surely killed by the platinum nanoparticles 7 by contact with the individual platinum nanoparticles 7 contained in each fiber 6. As a result, the toothbrush 10 can reliably prevent the occurrence of gingivitis or periodontal disease and the occurrence of bad breath.

(Embodiment 2)
The present embodiment discloses an example of a method for manufacturing the toothbrush 10 (FIG. 1) described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for manufacturing such a toothbrush 10. Hereinafter, this manufacturing method will be described based on the order of steps S1 to S5.

  (1) First, in Step S1, “a solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” or “a solution of platinum nanoparticle to be diluted” obtained by diluting the stock solution with a predetermined multiple of volume (multiple of a volume of 1 liter) of water. Prepare.

  Here, the “stock solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” refers to a powder of platinum particles (hereinafter referred to as “platinum nanoparticle”) having a particle size of nanosize (for example, 4 nm) and 1 liter of water (purified water or It is an aqueous solution that is dissolved in pure water or the like. This “stock solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” is similar to the performance of “platinum nanoparticle” itself, and “antiviral performance” that can stably maintain extremely high killing ability against various viruses and bacteria over a long period of time. , “Antibacterial performance” and “deodorization performance”. These antibacterial performance and deodorization performance of the above-mentioned stock solution have already been proven by strict measurement results in a reliable test and measurement organization, and are already known facts. Such a “platinum solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” is sold on the trading market, and the product can be obtained.

  The “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” means that the above-mentioned antibacterial performance of the “platinum aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticle” is stably maintained at a high level for a long period of time, and the cost is reduced. Therefore, it is an unknown solution developed by the present inventors. That is, the “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” is a water (purified water, pure water, ground water or tap water) having a predetermined magnification with respect to 1 liter of water in the “platinum aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles”. Etc.) is an aqueous solution obtained by diluting the “stock solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution”. This “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” also has “antiviral performance”, “antibacterial performance”, and “deodorization performance” that stably exhibit high killing ability over a long period of time. These performance points will be demonstrated in Embodiment 3 to be described later.

Therefore, it is possible to apply “stock solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” or “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” as a basic material for killing bacteria called periodontal disease bacteria.

In the following, either “stock solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” or “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” will be simply referred to as “platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution”.

  (2) In step S2, a powder of “ceramic powder” (for example, a particle size of 4 μm) containing a plurality or a large number of platinum nanoparticles is generated using an aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles.

  That is, the ceramic powder is formed by a known method using a known apparatus called “spray dryer”. Specifically, in a constant temperature room with an atmospheric temperature of about 200 ° C., the platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution is diffused in, for example, a ceramic powder having a particle size of 4 microns to form a slurry (slurry). ) And dry. Through such treatment, a ceramic powder containing a plurality of platinum nanoparticles is generated.

  (3) In the next step S3, the ceramic powder produced in step S2 is mixed with PP (polypropylene) resin (predetermined resin), which is a general-purpose plastic resin, to perform diffusion treatment of the ceramic powder. Thereafter, a masterbatch, which is a pelletized synthetic resin that has been solidified, is generated through a cooling process at room temperature of the dross.

  First, since the translucent PP resin (solid) has a melting point of 165 ° C., the pellet-shaped PP resin disposed in the molding machine is melted and melted by high-temperature heat treatment above the melting point. A predetermined amount of powder of ceramic powder is mixed in the PP resin, and the ceramic powder is subjected to diffusion treatment.

Then, the PP resin formed into a dripping shape by mixing and diffusing ceramic powder is subjected to a cooling treatment with water through a molding machine at room temperature. A rod-shaped first synthetic resin is formed by the cooling and solidification treatment at room temperature.

  Next, the rod-shaped solidified first synthetic resin is cut into individual solids with a cutter, thereby forming a plurality of pellet-shaped first synthetic resins. This pellet of the first synthetic resin forms a “masterbatch” for making individual bristles of a toothbrush.

At this stage, the platinum nanoparticles contained in the ceramic powder cannot be uniformly dispersed throughout the first synthetic resin. Therefore, at this stage, the pellet of the first synthetic resin cannot exhibit sufficient antibacterial properties, disinfecting properties, and deodorizing properties. The reason for this is that platinum nanoparticles cannot be sufficiently dispersed because foreign substances are mixed to perform diffusion treatment.

  (4) In the next step S4, the resin that forms the fibers of the toothbrush bristles and the masterbatch that is the first synthetic resin in the form of pellets are melted, and the second synthetic resin that is fused together, A single filamentary thin wire is pulled by a predetermined length to be solidified. Thereafter, the solidified thread-like fine wire is finely cut to produce a plurality of hairs or fibers for toothbrushes.

That is, the material of the fiber that becomes the bristles of the toothbrush is generally a nylon or polypropylene resin. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the solid resin that forms a hair material such as nylon and the pellet of the first synthetic resin that forms the “masterbatch” are heated at a high temperature of about 200 ° C. to obtain both resins. By melting, mixing and diffusing, a second synthetic resin which is the basis of the fiber or hair of the toothbrush is generated.

At this stage, since the same species are mixed and diffused, the platinum nanoparticles contained in the first synthetic resin pellets are uniformly dispersed throughout the second synthetic resin. As a result, the second synthetic resin that is the source of the fibers (hairs) 6 of the toothbrush 10 can exhibit sufficient antibacterial properties, disinfecting properties, and deodorizing properties.

  Thereafter, a single thin line-shaped resin thread having a uniform dimension is intermittently pulled out from the liquid second synthetic resin, and each resin thread is solidified by a drying process. After solidification, a process of cutting each resin thread so as to be divided into a predetermined plurality, for example, 100, is performed. By this cutting process, individual fibers (one toothbrush bristles) 6 of the fiber bundle 5 to be planted in the hair transplant part 2 of the toothbrush body 1 of FIG. 1 are formed.

  (5) In the last step S5, each flocked hole provided in the flocked portion 2 of the resinous (for example, polypropylene) toothbrush body 1 produced by injection molding or the like according to the normal method of manufacturing the toothbrush 10 (Not shown), the fiber bundle 5 is planted. As a method for planting or fixing the fiber bundle 5 at that time, for example, a method using an iron wire or a method of hardening the fiber bundle 5 using a plastic solution is applied.

  (Embodiment 3): Antibacterial properties of toothbrush hair manufactured using diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution

As described above, “platinum nanoparticles”, which are platinum particles having a nano particle size, are precious metal particles that exhibit antibacterial, antiviral and deodorant performances with extremely high killing ability against bacteria and viruses. It is. There is a demand for the realization of a low-cost platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution in which platinum nanoparticles that can exhibit the antibacterial and antiviral properties of this platinum nanoparticle are completely dissolved in water and stable over time. It is where it is done.

  As described above, platinum nanoparticles dissolved in 1 liter of water (for example, purified water or pure water) can exhibit the above extremely high antibacterial / antiviral / deodorizing performance over a long period of time. A “platinum solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” containing “a” is a product available from the trading market. The fact that this “platinum solution of platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” has almost perfect “antibacterial performance”, “antiviral performance”, and “deodorization performance” is based on strict measurement results in a reliable test and measurement organization. This is a well-known fact that has already been proven.

“Platinum aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles” that can be purchased from the above market exhibits antibacterial properties against bacteria such as Escherichia coli, and against various viruses such as Norovirus, avian influenza virus, Thirds virus or AIDS virus. Its antiviral properties have been demonstrated by test results from a reliable test and measurement organization. In addition, as described above, it has been proved by tests that the “stock solution of an aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles” can also exhibit extremely high deodorizing properties against ammonia and the like.

Therefore, the inventor of the present application, from the viewpoint of reducing the cost of the platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution while maintaining the high concentration of platinum nanoparticles compared to the stock solution, the "diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution" Started development. That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, by adding further water (purified water, pure water or tap water) HL to the stock solution OPL of the platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution, the stock solution OPL is diluted and dissolved in the aqueous solution. By further reducing the concentration value of platinum, the “diluted aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles” prepared by dissolving platinum nanoparticles with x (x> 1) liters of water (water having a predetermined magnification) PSL "was created. Then, by using the “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution PSL” at a predetermined magnification, for example, by the manufacturing method described in the second embodiment, the hair or fiber 6 for toothbrush including a large number of platinum nanoparticles, Produced for antibacterial test to confirm antibacterial performance against periodontal disease bacteria.

Periodontal disease is a term that collectively refers to various bacteria that are normally present in the oral cavity, but the main bacterium of periodontal disease is "S. aureus". Then, the antibacterial test for confirming the antibacterial action with respect to "Staphylococcus aureus" of the hair 6 for toothbrush containing said platinum nanoparticle was done. The testing organization of the antibacterial performance is “Consumer Economy Research Institute”. The test method depends on “JIS L 1902: 2008 quantitative test (bacterial fluid absorption method)”. At that time, a test bacterial solution to which 0.05% of a surfactant (Tween 80) was added was used.

The results of the antibacterial performance test against "S. aureus" are shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the growth value calculation method is “log”.
b-log a ", and the condition for establishing the test is that the proliferation value ≧ 1.0, and the method for calculating the activity value is bactericidal activity value = log
a-log c, bacteriostatic activity value = (log
b-log a)-(log
c-log d).

Here, the “growth value” is a logarithmic value of viable bacteria grown within 18 hours after inoculation on a standard cotton cloth not having platinum nanoparticles.

The “bactericidal activity value” is an index indicating how much the planted bacteria have been reduced after a certain time, and is expressed in logarithm. That is, when the “bactericidal activity value” is negative, the evaluation is “the given fungus increases”, and when the “bactericidal activity value” is zero, the evaluation is “the given fungus increases”. When the “bactericidal activity value” is 1, the evaluation is “the given fungus has been reduced by one tenth”, and when the “bactericidal activity value” is 3, the evaluation is “The given bacteria are reduced to a thousandth”.

In addition, the “bacteriostatic activity value” is a numerical value indicating how much the treated sample suppressed the growth of bacteria compared to the sample not subjected to the antibacterial treatment, in order to judge the antibacterial and deodorizing effect. It is a numerical value. In the JIS standard, the standard for evaluation of “with antibacterial and deodorizing effect” is when the “bacteriostatic activity value” is 2.0 or more.

Then, as understood from the test result of FIG. 5, the “bactericidal activity value” of the bristles 6 for toothbrushes containing platinum nanoparticles is 3.0 or more, and the “bacteriostatic activity value” is 4.8. From the above, it can be concluded that the toothbrush bristles 6 containing platinum nanoparticles as a test sample have a sufficiently high antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus. Accordingly, the toothbrush 10 using the toothbrush bristles 6 containing platinum nanoparticles exhibits high antibacterial performance against periodontal disease bacteria. In other words, it is possible to reliably achieve prevention of periodontal disease by performing brushing using the toothbrush 10 every day.

  Based on the above, the present inventor is able to maintain a high level of antibacterial properties, deodorant properties, and antiviral properties, while maintaining various performances of the stock solution. It was possible to develop and realize a toothbrush that exhibits a high antibacterial action against periodontal disease bacteria, which is manufactured by using a “diluted platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution” at a predetermined magnification capable of cost reduction.

(Appendix)
In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, a stock solution of a platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution in which platinum nanoparticles are dissolved in water or a platinum nanoparticle aqueous solution obtained by diluting it with water at a predetermined magnification is used as a toothbrush. An example applied to the formation of each fiber (hair) was described. However, instead of platinum, it is also possible to form each fiber (bristles) of a toothbrush using a stock solution of metal nanoparticles such as gold, silver or palladium, or an aqueous solution obtained by further dissolving it with water. It is.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and described in detail above, the above description exemplifies aspects to which the present invention can be applied, and the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, various modifications and / or variations on the described aspects can be considered without departing from the scope of the invention.

  The present invention is preferably applied as a toothbrush for preventing periodontal diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Toothbrush 1 Toothbrush main body 2 Flocking part 3 Neck part 4 Handle part 5 Fiber bundle 6 Fiber 7 Platinum nanoparticle

Claims (2)

A toothbrush body having a flocked portion;
A plurality of fiber bundles, each of which is planted in the flocked portion;
With
Each of the fibers bundled in each of the plurality of fiber bundles includes a plurality of platinum nanoparticles having a particle size of nano size. Diluted platinum obtained by diluting a stock solution of an aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles in which platinum nanoparticles having a nano-sized particle are dissolved in 1 liter of water, or diluting the stock solution of the aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles with a predetermined multiple volume of water. Using an aqueous nanoparticle solution to produce a ceramic powder containing platinum nanoparticles;
A step of producing a master batch in the form of pellets solidified through cooling treatment after mixing and diffusing treatment of the ceramic powder and a predetermined resin;
The resin material that becomes the material of the toothbrush bristles and the pellet-like masterbatch are melted, and a single thread-like fine wire is pulled by a predetermined length to perform a solidification process. Cutting to a predetermined number;
A method of manufacturing a toothbrush, comprising the step of planting each of a fiber bundle formed by bundling a plurality of cut filamentous fine wires into each hole of a flocked portion of the generated toothbrush body.

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