JPH0670812A - Tooth brush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the tooth brush which prevents the damage of the gingiva occurring in use of the tooth brush inserted into the intra-tooth part or the outer side of the molar, etc., and is improved in durability by smoothing the motion of the tooth brush without allowing its stem part to be bent by slight resistance. CONSTITUTION:The stem part 20 consisting of a stranded superelastic alloy wire is projected and mounted to the front end of a bar-shaped supporting part 10 and brush parts 30 formed by clamping fibrous materials are radially disposed at this stem part 20. As a result, the stem part 20 is capable of its superelastic function at the temp. (temp. near the body temp.) in, for example, the oral cavity. Even if the brush part is curved by receiving the resistance between the tooth and the tooth or the like, the resistance is removed and the stem part promptly restores the original shape (smoothly movable back and forth between the teeth).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to toothbrushes such as toothbrushes and interdental brushes, which are preferably used for removing plaque and food waste between teeth or on or around the surfaces of teeth. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toothbrush using a member made of a superelastic alloy for the handle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Removing foreign matter such as plaque and food waste not only on the surface of teeth but also between teeth (between teeth) is effective in preventing periodontal disease and alveolar pyorrhea. It is well known that it is extremely effective in terms of aspects. As a means for removing such plaque, an interdental brush that has been recently inserted between a tooth (which is difficult to reach with an ordinary toothbrush) and a narrow tooth, and which effectively removes plaque and food waste, has been used. It has become possible to be. As this interdental brush, for example, one provided with a handle portion formed of wires twisted in a rope shape and a brush portion radially forming bristles such as nylon fibers sandwiched in the gap is known. There is.

When this interdental brush is used, the above-mentioned wire portion between the brush portions is inserted between the teeth and moved back and forth to move the brush portion between the teeth or the gum. To remove dental plaque and food waste.

[0004]

However, when using the conventional interdental brush, when the interdental brush is inserted between narrow teeth and moved back and forth, the handle portion bends with a slight resistance. There was a problem. In this case, once the handle bends, the resistance during insertion between the teeth increases significantly, making it difficult to move the brush smoothly between the teeth, and when the brush is moved by force. Had a problem of damaging the gum region. Such a phenomenon was more remarkable in the posterior teeth where it was difficult to feed the interdental brush.

In the conventional interdental brush, even if the bent handle portion is straightened by, for example, a hand,
There was a drawback that when it was inserted between the teeth, it immediately bent again. Furthermore, if such corrective / insertion operations are repeated, the handle easily breaks easily,
There is a drawback that the durability as an interdental brush is extremely low.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, makes it possible to smoothen the movement of the brush inserted in the interdental part, prevent damage to the gingiva, and improve the durability. It is intended to provide a toothbrush.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush which has at least a brush portion and a handle portion, and the handle portion is made of a member containing a superelastic alloy. To be done.

[0008]

The handle portion of the toothbrush of the present invention is made of a member containing a superelastic alloy, so that the handle portion exhibits a superelastic function at the temperature in the oral cavity (that is, near body temperature). To do. More specifically, even when a relatively large load (or external force) that gives a certain range of deformation strain exceeding the yield point is applied to the handle, if the load is removed, the handle is removed. The part can quickly recover its original shape like rubber.

Therefore, even if the handle portion of the toothbrush of the present invention receives resistance between the teeth and bends for use in removing foreign matter between the teeth or inside the back teeth,
When the resistance is removed (unloaded), the handle portion can be immediately returned to the original shape, that is, the shape capable of smoothly moving back and forth between the teeth. Therefore, not only is the gingiva part prevented from being unnecessarily damaged, but also the handle part is prevented from being bent (plastically deformed) by use, so that the life of the toothbrush can be kept long.

The present invention will be described in detail below. (Handle) All or a part of the handle forming the toothbrush of the present invention is made of a member containing a superelastic alloy. As long as the entire handle substantially develops the superelastic function as described above, the composition ratio of the superelastic alloy in the handle (that is, the portion made of the superelastic alloy in the handle and other materials) The weight ratio to the portion) is not particularly limited.

The shape of the member made of a superelastic alloy is not particularly limited as long as the brush portion described later can be fixed, and may be plate-shaped, rod-shaped, wire-shaped or the like. In the embodiment using the brush of the present invention as an interdental brush,
In consideration of the size between the teeth or the ease of fixing the brush portion to the handle portion, the superelastic alloy is preferably in the shape of a wire (used to include a mode in which a plurality of wires are stacked). The wire (one wire) made of a superelastic alloy has a diameter of about 0.01 to 1.0 mm, and more preferably 0.05 to 0.
It is preferably about 5 mm.

In such an embodiment, the toothbrush 1 of the present invention comprises, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a handle portion 2 made of twisted wires and a fibrous material 3 sandwiched by the wires. Is preferable from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost. On the other hand, in a mode in which the brush of the present invention is used as a toothbrush (for example, used for cleaning uneven portions such as the inner side of the back teeth), the superelastic alloy may have a plate shape. The plate-shaped superelastic alloy has a thickness of about 0.1 to 10 mm, preferably about 0.5 to 3 mm.

In such a mode, the toothbrush 1 of the present invention has, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plate-shaped superelastic alloy portion 2a and a flexible portion 2b made of resin or the like. It is preferable from the viewpoint of easy formation of the brush portion 3 that the handle portion 2 including the brush portion 3 and the flexible portion 2b have the brush portion 3 formed by means such as flocking. As described above, the toothbrush 1 of the present invention in which the plate-shaped superelastic alloy is used for the handle portion utilizes the elasticity of the handle portion so that the normal tooth (the handle portion is flexible) such as the inside or the outside of the back tooth. It can be suitably used for cleaning the part where the toothbrush is hard to reach.

(Superelastic alloy) In the present invention, the term "superelastic alloy" means that when a load that gives a deformation strain exceeding the yield point is applied in a temperature range higher than the martensitic transformation temperature, the load is applied. An alloy having the property of recovering the original shape by removal of.

Some metals or alloys are cooled from a high temperature austenite phase (A phase) at a specific temperature (Ms).
When passing the point, the martensite transformation start point, the martensite transformation (hereinafter referred to as “M transformation”) is performed and the A phase is changed to the martensite phase (M phase). When the M phase is heated to a temperature at which the M phase completes the reverse transformation to the A phase (Af point, which is slightly higher than the Ms point during cooling),
Return to phase A again. In the present invention, this Af point is called martensitic transformation temperature (M transformation temperature) (for this M transformation temperature, for example, "titanium-zirconium" Vo is used.
l. 30, No. 4, 185p (1982)). In the present invention, it is preferable to use a superelastic alloy having an M transformation temperature of 37 ° C. or lower, more preferably 15 ° C. or lower.

In the present invention, a superelastic alloy exhibiting the above-mentioned superelastic function can be used without any particular limitation, but an alloy in which no harmful metal is substantially eluted due to corrosion by saliva in the oral cavity does not occur. Is preferably used, and more specifically, alloys such as Ti-Ni and Ni-Al are preferably used. In the Ti-Ni alloy, the composition ratio of Ni is preferably about 48 to 51 at% (atomic)%, and more preferably 49 to 51 at% (particularly 49 to 50 at%).

(Brush Section) The brush section which constitutes the toothbrush of the present invention together with the above-mentioned handle section is preferably made of a material such as nylon fiber which is used for a flocked section for a normal toothbrush. Is not particularly limited. It is preferable that one bristle constituting this brush portion is thinner than that for a normal toothbrush, and more specifically, it has a diameter of 1
It is preferably about 50 μm.

In the toothbrush 1 of the present invention, as long as the brush portion 3 is fixed to the extent that it does not hinder the removal of plaque between the teeth or the tooth surface, the brush portion 3 of the brush portion 3 is fixed to the handle portion 2. The immobilization method of is not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost reduction due to simplification of the manufacturing process, it is preferable to fix the brush portion 3 to the handle portion 2 by utilizing the shape memory characteristic of the superelastic alloy forming the handle portion.

More specifically, for example, when the handle portion of the toothbrush of the present invention stores a twisted shape having a small gap at a temperature higher than the M transformation temperature, it can be easily heated at a temperature lower than the M transformation temperature. The handle can be deformed, and the twisting gap can be widened under the temperature condition. Therefore,
In this state, inserting a plurality of fibrous materials forming the brush into the gaps of the handle and returning to a temperature higher than the M transformation temperature again, the wires forming the handle become twisted with no gaps. Since it returns, it is possible to reliably hold the fibrous material in the twisting gap. In this case, as the twist due to the twisting returns, the fibrous material spreads radially to form the brush portion.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Examples of an "interdental brush" which is one mode of the toothbrush of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, the interdental brush in this embodiment includes a rod-shaped support portion 10 and this support portion 10.
The handle 20 is made of a wire and is attached to the tip of the handle 20. The brush 20 is radially arranged on the handle 20.

The support portion 10 is formed of a resin such as a hard polyethylene resin into a rod shape, and its tip end portion is formed into a substantially triangular pyramid shape for the convenience of interdental insertion. Handle 20
Is attached so as to be inserted into the tip of the support portion 10. The handle portion 20 is formed of a superelastic alloy such as the nickel-titanium alloy described above.
The wire portion 20 which is the handle portion of this embodiment is, for example, 0.
Two thin wire-like superelastic alloys of about 1 mm, or 1
The book is bent and twisted together with no gaps to form a single thin rod that fits between the teeth.

As described above, the handle portion 20 preferably stores the twisted state at room temperature or higher. Nickel used in this example
Titanium alloys generally have excellent corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and as described above, satisfy the required properties of the interdental brush used in the oral cavity. That is, excellent corrosion resistance prevents the elution of harmful metal ions due to corrosion (due to saliva) of the interdental brush used in the oral cavity, and excellent wear resistance prevents the removal of metal scraps caused by friction with hard teeth. Prevent occurrence.

The superelastic deformation function of the alloy used for the wire portion 20 serving as the handle exhibits its effect in a temperature range slightly higher than the M transformation temperature. In the wire portion 20 in this embodiment, the M transformation temperature is set to be room temperature or lower. For this reason, at a temperature above room temperature or near body temperature, even if a deformation strain is applied to the wire portion 20, it has the property of returning to the original state like rubber only by unloading the deformation strain of several% above the yield point. ing. This superelastic deformation function immediately returns the bending of the wire portion 20 to the original straight state when it comes into contact with the teeth in the oral cavity to allow a smooth forward and backward movement, and at the same time, the bending is eliminated to the gingiva. Reduce damage. In particular, the bending of the wire portion 20 that occurs when the wire is inserted between the back teeth is restored to its original state at the time of unloading due to the superelastic deformation function, so that the effect is particularly exerted at this position.

Further, the superelastic alloy forming the wire portion 20 usually has the above-mentioned shape memory effect. In this embodiment, it is preferable to use a superelastic alloy that remembers a twisted state with no gaps at room temperature or higher. This shape memory effect is preferably used in the process of easily and firmly sandwiching a bundle of bristles of nylon fiber or the like in the gap between the wire portions 20 knitted in a rope shape as described later. The brush portion 30 is configured by a bunch of bristles or similar thin bristles used for a normal toothbrush such as nylon fiber, and the bristles of the bristles are sandwiched in a twisting gap of the wire part 20 to form the wire part 20. It is formed to spread radially around the.

The method of manufacturing the interdental brush will be described below with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. First, as shown in FIG.
For example, two or one nickel-titanium alloy having a diameter of about 0.1 mm having an M transformation temperature of room temperature or lower is bent and then twisted together without any gap as shown in FIG. 4 (b). In this state, the temperature is heated to, for example, about 60 degrees (higher than the M transformation temperature). Thereby, it is formed into a rope-like twisted state and the state is stored. At this time, the twisting gap of the wire portion 20 is smaller than the diameter of the nylon fiber bundle.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the wire portion 20 is cooled to a temperature lower than the M transformation temperature, and the M portion is cooled.
At a temperature lower than the transformation temperature, the gaps of the wire portions 20 are widened, and the nylon fiber bundle is inserted into the gaps 25 as shown in FIG. After the insertion of the nylon fiber bundle, the wire portion 20 is heated to the M transformation temperature of room temperature or higher to obtain the temperature as shown in FIG.
The wire portion 20 returns to the twisted state with no gap before deformation. As a result, the fiber bundle 35 is tightly held in the gap, and the twist of the wire portion 20 is returned to spread the fiber bundle 35 radially around the wire portion 20. In this way, the brush portion 30 is arranged and fixed to the wire portion 20.

Here, in order to compare the interdental brush of this embodiment with a conventional interdental brush, as a comparative sample, it has the same diameter as the wire portion 20 of this embodiment formed as described above. An interdental brush made of stainless steel 42 was manufactured, and the difference from the above example was examined as follows.

First, using each interdental brush, about 30
The wire portions 20 and 42 were bent to an angle of degrees.
The interdental brush of this example immediately recovered its original shape upon unloading. The stainless steel interdental brush only recovered to an angle of about 45 degrees.
Further, when the interdental brushes were actually used, the interdental brushes of the examples had a significantly reduced resistance to forward and backward movements as compared with the stainless steel brushes. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, an interdental brush having a wire portion 42 made of stainless steel may be bent and the bent portion may contact the gum or one of the teeth to be caught, and if it is forcibly moved, the gum may be damaged. There is a nature. On the other hand, when the interdental brush of the present invention having the shape memory alloy wire portion 20 is bent and the load thereof is removed, as shown in FIG. 6, the interelastic brush immediately returns to its original straight state by the superelastic deformation function and moves back and forth. (Arrow direction) could be done smoothly.

In the interdental brush of this embodiment, when the brush portion is worn, the wire portion 20 is cooled to the M transformation temperature or lower to deform the twisting so that the gap 25 is formed. As shown in FIG. 4C, it can be easily expanded, and then, as shown in FIG. 4D, a new fiber bundle 35 is inserted in this state, and the hair is easily boiled by returning the temperature to the M transformation temperature or higher. Can be replaced. Further, since the wire portion 20 of the interdental brush of this embodiment has excellent wear resistance, it has a long life. Therefore, the interdental brush of this embodiment can be permanently used.

In the above embodiment, the wire portion 20 is made of titanium / nickel alloy. However, in the present invention, the condition as an interdental brush, that is, the wear resistance and the corrosion resistance are provided. Of course, the shape memory alloy of may be used. Further, the shape and the material of the brush portion 30 may be those other than those in the above-described embodiment as long as they are suitable as an interdental brush and can effectively remove plaque and food waste without damaging the teeth or gums.

[0031]

In the toothbrush of the present invention, since the handle portion contains the superelastic alloy, even if the handle portion bends due to resistance between the teeth, the resistance is unloaded. When
It is possible to restore the original shape that allows smooth back-and-forth movement between teeth. Therefore, since the handle is prevented from bending due to use, the life of the handle can be kept long.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a toothbrush of the present invention having a handle made of wire.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the toothbrush of the present invention having a plate-shaped handle.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an aspect (interdental brush) of the toothbrush of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view and a schematic side view, respectively, showing a manufacturing process of an interdental brush according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a usage state of a conventional interdental brush.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing one mode of use of the interdental brush of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Support part 20 Handle part 25 Insertion gap 30 Brush part 35 Bristles

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush which has at least a brush portion and a handle, and the handle is made of a member containing a superelastic alloy. 2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion is made of twisted superelastic alloy wires. 3. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein a fibrous material is sandwiched between the handle portion formed of twisted wires to form a brush portion. 4. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion includes a plate-shaped superelastic alloy. 5. The tooth according to claim 4, wherein the handle portion is made of a plate-shaped superelastic alloy and a plate-shaped flexible material, and the brush portion is formed on the flexible material. Brush.