JPH03251207A - Optical toothbrush device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the optical toothbrush device for preventing dental carries by providing a laser light emitting element of a visible wavelength band, a housing for containing the light emitting element, and a light guiding means for guiding an output light of the light emitting element into the mouth from the tip part of the housing. CONSTITUTION:As for the optical toothbrush device, a laser light emitting element 8 of 450nm-690nm wavelength band, a driving circuit 7 for the laser light emitting element 8 and a power source part 6 are contained in a grip part of a housing 1, an optical fiber 9 for guiding a laser light from the laser element 8 is inserted into its tip part, and also, the tip part is opened optically. In the output end of the optical fiber 9, a cover 11 which light for preventing damage transmits through is placed. In the housing 1, a main switch 2 and two pieces of touch sensors 3, 5 are installed, and when the main switch 2 is turned on, the touch sensor 3 in the vicinity of the grip hand part of the housing 1 is touched with a hand, and also, the touch sensor 5 placed in the tip part of the housing 1 comes into contact with a mucous membrane in the mouth, etc., a laser light is radiated, and danger caused by the laser light is prevented. Bacteria for quickening dental caries can be destroyed without giving damage to a tooth, therefore, dental caries can be prevented effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a toothbrush device that allows the use of a visible wavelength laser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, toothpaste is applied to a toothbrush, and the bristles of the toothbrush remove tartar, which is mainly composed of bacteria, that has adhered to the teeth, thereby cleaning the surfaces of the teeth and preventing caries and periodontal diseases.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with conventional methods, the effectiveness varies depending on how the toothbrush is used, and in many cases the toothbrush is not sufficiently effective in preventing caries. become a trend. As a result, the number of patients with ivory hypersensitivity has been increasing recently.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush device that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and more effectively prevents dental caries.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is directed to the effects of the visible wavelength band divided by 1,000 on the tooth and gingival surfaces.In general, caries progresses when cariogenic bacteria take in carbohydrates in food and convert them into substrates. produces organic acids as
It was thought that this acid was caused by acting on the small holes on the surface of the tooth and the edges of the corrugations.

In this way, the inventors confirmed that it is bacteria that cause caries to progress through caries acceleration experiments in monkeys.

They also discovered that when bacteria are irradiated with a low energy laser (5 to 30 mW), the laser in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 690 nm can kill bacteria most efficiently.

This visible wavelength band laser element and the driving circuit for the element can be housed in the size of a conventional toothbrush, and the tooth and
By irradiating the gums with laser light, bacteria can be killed and caries can be effectively prevented regardless of individual differences.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure illustrates an embodiment of the optical brush device for caries prevention according to the present invention. A laser light emitting element 8 is installed in the grip rod part of the housing 1.
, a drive circuit 7 and a power supply unit 6 for a laser emitting element 8 are housed, and an optical fiber 9 serving as a light guiding means for guiding the laser light from the laser element is inserted into the tip thereof, and the leading edge is an optical fiber. It is opened to optical fiber 9
A light-transmitting cover 11 is disposed at the output end of the device to prevent damage.

Further, the housing 1 is equipped with a main switch 2 and two touch sensors 3 and 5. Main switch 2
After turning on the touch sensor 3 near the grip of the housing 1.
When it is touched by hand and the touch sensor 5 disposed at the tip of the housing 1 touches the oral mucous membrane or the like, laser light is emitted to prevent danger from laser light. Note that the lead wire 4 is used to transmit information from the touch sensor 5, and the ellipse lO represents the irradiation shape of the laser beam.

In FIG. 2, a detachable separate member 13 is installed at the tip of the casing 1, and for hygiene reasons, this separate member 13 is carried individually, and the casing 1 (main unit) is shared. Separate member 1
3 includes a touch sensor 5 and a light-transmissive cover 12
is installed.

FIG. 3 shows a different embodiment of the separate member. A separate member 13 includes a touch sensor 5 and a light-transmissive cover 1
A brush 14 for removing food particles and the like is implanted around the cover 12. Note that this brush may be an optical fiber.

FIG. 4 shows a case in which a laser emitting element is housed in a main body case 16 in order to irradiate teeth and gums with high-power laser light. A main switch 3, touch sensors 3 and 5, lead wires 4, optical fibers 9, covers 11 and 12, and a cord 15 are arranged in a housing 1, and connected to a main body 17 by a main cord 16.

FIG. 5 shows an apparatus that irradiates teeth and gums with a laser beam and at the same time sprays a high-pressure water stream onto the teeth and gums to remove meal particles and the like. The housing 1 includes a main switch 2, a touch sensor 3, a laser emitting element 8, an optical fiber 9,
A cover 11, a lead wire 4, and a water channel 19 for spraying water onto the teeth and gums are provided, the electric circuit is a cord 15, and the water channel 19 is connected to the main body case 17 through a pipe 18.

A separate member 13, on which a touch sensor 5 and a cover 12 are attached, is detachably attached to the tip of the housing 1.

The main body case 17 has a built-in laser drive power source and a pump (not shown). Note that the ellipse 10 represents the laser irradiation shape, and the ellipse 20 represents the water jet shape.

In the above embodiments, common elements are given the same numbers and some explanations are omitted. According to this embodiment, the toothbrush can be used for caries prevention in the same manner as a conventional toothbrush, which is simple and effective.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, bacteria that promote caries can be killed without damaging teeth, so that uniform and effective caries prevention can be achieved.

Furthermore, by adding bristles to the brush or adding water flow, it is possible to effectively clean the oral cavity and kill bacteria.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a light brush device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a member inserted into the oral cavity, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing different implementations of the member inserted into the oral cavity. Example configuration diagrams FIGS. 4 and 5 are configuration diagrams of light surface brush devices according to different embodiments of the present invention. 1. Housing, 2. Main switch, 3.5. Touch sensor 4. Lead wire, 6. Power supply, 7. Drive circuit, 8. Laser light emitting element, 9. Optical fiber 11.
12...Cover, 13...Separate member, 14...Brush,
15゜16...cord, 17...main case, 18...
Pipe, 19... waterway.

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) Equipped with a laser emitting element in the visible wavelength band (450 nm to 690 nm), a casing that houses the light emitting element, and a light guiding means for guiding the output light of the light emitting element into the oral cavity from the tip of the casing. An optical toothbrush device characterized by: (2) The optical toothbrush device according to claim 1, wherein the light guiding means is integrally or detachably fixed to a part of the housing. (3) Sensors for detecting contact with a living body are provided both in the vicinity of the light output part of the tip of the light guiding means and in the vicinity of the grip part of the housing, and when both sensors come into contact with the living body at the same time, the laser The optical toothbrush device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it emits light. (4) A cover member is removably provided at the tip of the light guiding means,
The optical toothbrush device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a part of the cover member is opened. (5) The optical toothbrush device according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor for detecting contact with a living body provided near the opening of the cover member. (6) The optical toothbrush device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that hairs are implanted at or near the opening of the cover member. (7) The optical toothbrush device according to claim 6, wherein the flocking material is an optical fiber. (8) The optical toothbrush device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that a nozzle is provided near the opening, and a water stream is emitted from the nozzle.