JPH0515410A - Tooth brush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve convenience for use with elasticity while preventing the gum from involution and wedge-shaped breakdown caused by tooth brushing by setting a proper flexible amount when a specified load is applied to a bristle planting part from the bristle side toward the back surface. CONSTITUTION:A tooth brush 1 is formed of a bristle planting part 2, neck part 3 and grip part 4. The bristle planting part 2 is constituted to be displaced by 5-11mm when 1kg of a load is applied to the bristle planting part 2 from the bristle 2a side toward the back surface. The tooth brushes having 4.6mm, 7.1mm and 10.7mm of flexible amounts (displacement) of the bristle planting part 2 in the application of 1kg of the load are prepared to carry out use tests of the neck part 3 by a testee. Elasticity for the flexible amount of the neck part 3 in 6-8mm of the flexible amount provides a satisfactory result, and at least 5mm of flexible amount of the neck part 3 is estimated to give a satisfactory liking to a user. Further, a blend of poly carbonate and polyethyleneterephthalate having high mechanical strength and corrosion-proof against a perfume in a tooth brushing agent is used as an example of the material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush capable of cleaning every corner of the oral cavity and having appropriate elasticity and brushing pressure absorbing ability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, elastic toothbrushes include those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-501448 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-257903. The former toothbrush is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the bristle bed in one plane when a load is applied to the brush head, and the elastic joint is a handle when the brush head is loaded with 300g in any plane. It is formed so as to be displaced laterally by 0.6 to 2.5 cm. In the latter toothbrush, when a load of 50 g to 1500 g is applied to the bristles from the bristle side to the back side, the bristles are curved or bent with respect to the handle so that the handle and the bristles are on a straight line or parallel lines. It is configured to be located at.

[0003]

However, the former toothbrush has a displacement of 20 to 83 mm when converted into a load of 1 kg, and such a deflection amount is too large to make the cleaning unstable, resulting in extremely poor usability. There is a problem. Also, the latter toothbrush is said to be able to brush teeth with an appropriate brushing pressure as an effect, but in reality there are individual differences in brushing pressure, and even for the same person, the pressure varies depending on the part to be brushed, so practical It has no effect and is meaningless. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having appropriate elasticity and brushing pressure absorbing ability.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the toothbrush according to the present invention, when the load of 1 kg is applied to the bristle portion from the bristle side to the back direction, the bristle portion is 5
It is configured to be displaced by ~ 11 mm. Further, the length from the tip of the flocked portion to the neck is preferably set to 60 mm or more.

[0005]

In the present invention having the above construction, when the load of 1 kg is applied to the bristle portion from the bristle side to the back side, the bristle portion is displaced by 5 to 11mm, so that appropriate elasticity and brushing pressure are applied. Has absorption capacity. Also, since the length from the tip of the flocked part to the neck is set to 60 mm or more, it is possible to brush every corner of the oral cavity.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the toothbrush body 1 includes a bristle portion 2, a neck portion 3
And the grip portion 4, and when a load of 1 kg is applied to the bristle portion 2 from the bristle 2a side in the back direction, the bristle portion 2 is
It is configured to be displaced by 11 mm.

When a load of 1 kg is applied, a toothbrush having a deflection amount (displacement amount) of the bristle portion 2 of 4.6 mm (toothbrush), 7.1 mm (toothbrush) and 10.7 mm (toothbrush) is prepared. 2 to 4 show the results of performing a use test of the neck 3 on 20 test subjects and performing a 7-level absolute evaluation. 2 and 3, black circles indicate the rolling method cleaning, and white circles indicate the scrub method cleaning. According to FIGS. 2 to 4, regarding the elasticity of the neck portion 2 with respect to the amount of deflection, the amount of deflection is 6 to 8 mm.
Was obtained, and regarding the preference for the amount of deflection of the neck 2, when the amount of deflection increased by the rolling method, the preference slightly decreased, but by the scrub method, an amount of deflection of 5 mm or more gave a good evaluation. Was obtained.

Further, by a method of attaching a strain gauge to the neck portion 3, a toothbrush (toothbrush W) having a deflection amount of 3.4 mm of the neck portion 3 at the level of a commercially available general toothbrush and the deflection amount is further increased to 7.1 to 11 mm. 4 toothbrushes,
The brushing pressure was measured by using a total of 5 types of toothbrushes, targeting 4 subjects who seem to have a relatively high brushing pressure. These subjects, in normal use,
The toothbrush was selected because of its early settling. As a result, the brushing pressure of these test subjects on the toothbrush W is said to be the optimum brushing pressure for buccal cleaning.
The average was 520 g with respect to 0 to 400 g, and the occlusal surface was 700 g. Further, by using the latter four kinds of toothbrushes, it was confirmed that the toothbrush W absorbed blushing pressure of 9.5 to 19% and the occlusal surface of 6 to 22%.

By the way, in this embodiment, the length from the tip of the flocked portion 2 to the neck portion 3 including the tapered portion 5 is set to 60 mm or more. That is, referring to the average size of the Japanese permanent dental arch, the upper jaw is larger than the lower jaw,
The distance between the distal surface of the molar and the midline (between the first incisors) is
It is about 60 mm. Therefore, in order to brush up to the second molar without inserting part of the gripping part 4 into the oral cavity,
Length A from the tip to the neck 3 including the taper 5 is 60 mm
The above is preferable from the viewpoint of usability. And
Considering the back and forth movement for cleaning, the thickness of the lips, and the third molar (so-called wisdom tooth), the length A is 70 to 75 mm.
It has been found that the above is preferable. These brushing pressure absorption ability and high usability do not change whether the handle is straight or the neck is curved or bent. The handle material is not particularly limited as long as it is used for a toothbrush.

As an example of the material, a material containing a polymer blend of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate as a main component can be cited. That is, although polycarbonate has excellent mechanical strength, it has problems such as long drying time, high molding temperature, and high injection pressure among molding conditions, and it is treated as a material for consumer toothbrushes. There is a difficult side. Further, since polycarbonate is apt to crack due to the fragrance in the dentifrice, the advantage in strength cannot be fully utilized. Therefore, a polymer blend of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, which is a material that has a high mechanical strength to some extent and is not easily attacked by a fragrance in a dentifrice, is used. In practice, a polymer blend obtained by simply mixing is not sufficient in complementary performance, but the addition of a heat stabilizer can prevent deterioration of physical properties due to heat during molding.

[0011]

As described above, according to the toothbrush of the present invention, by setting an appropriate amount of deflection, the elasticity is moderate, the usability is improved, and the brushing pressure is absorbed. It is possible to prevent gingival recession and wedge-shaped defect due to tooth brushing. Further, the brush is prevented from being worn out, and the toothbrush lasts long even for people with high brushing pressure, which is economical. Also, since the length from the tip of the flocked part to the neck is set to 60 mm or more, it is possible to brush every corner of the oral cavity. Furthermore, when the material is a polymer blend of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate as the main components, the mechanical strength is increased, and it is difficult to be attacked by the fragrance in the dentifrice.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the absolute evaluation of the amount of flexure and elasticity of the neck.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing absolute evaluation of the amount of flexure of the neck and the preference.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing absolute evaluation of neck flexure and palatability (comprehensive evaluation).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 toothbrush body 2 Flocking part 3 neck 4 grip 5 Tapered part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush characterized in that when a load of 1 kg is applied from the bristle side to the back of the bristle implant, the bristle implant is displaced by 5 to 11 mm. 2. The length from the tip of the flocked portion to the neck is 60.
The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the toothbrush is set to have a size of not less than mm.