Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Title of the Invention
TOOTHBRUSH READ FOR IMPROVED PLAQUE REMOVAL
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of
United States
Patent Application No. 62/955,013, entitled "TOOTHBRUSH READ FOR IMPROVED
PLAQUE REMOVAL" and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on
December 30th, 2019.
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of toothbrushes.
Specifically,
the invention is directed to an improved toothbrush head designed to
efficiently remove
plaque from teeth.
Background of the Invention
[0003] Tooth brushing remains the most popular means of oral cleansing in the
world [1]
with the intention of removing dental plaque and thereby preventing caries and
periodontal disease [2].
[0004] Although there have been several modern toothbrush designs [3], studies
show
that high levels of residual dental plaque still persist after tooth brushing
[4]. For
example, Ebel et al. shows persistent plaque at 69 % in their study testing
following tooth
brushing in adults.
[0005] Dental plaque is typically associated with a pathological process in
dental caries
and periodontal diseases [5]. Plaque is a white or yellowish biofilm that is
formed by
bacteria on the teeth, whereas dental calculus is formed by the mineralization
of minerals
in saliva on soft plaque [6].
[0006] Dental surfaces associated with the caries hierarchy of attacks defined
the specific
sites for residual dental plaque locations. For example, and as illustrated in
FIG. 5, pits
and fissures are first to be affected as lesions tend to start deep in the
center of the fissure
where dental plaque is likely to be concentrated. Interproximal residual
plaque tends to
subsequently form in the contact areas creating further lesions, as
illustrated in FIG. 6.
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Finally, smooth free surfaces are impacted as residual plaque forms at the
gingival level
as shown in FIG. 7.
[0007] Dental niches where plaque gets stagnated drive the calculus
distribution [7] with
a symmetrical arrangement on teeth, more on natural crevicular crevasse facial
surfaces
on maxillary molars and lingual surfaces of mandibular of anterior teeth [8].
For example
and as illustrated in FIG. 8, these natural crevasses form a space between the
gingival
tissue and the tooth tissue approximately 2 to 3 mm in size where the dental
plaque may
become calculus. The lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth (as
shown in FIG.
9) are commonly the first ones to be covered by calculus due to the sublingual
gland and
mineral mixed to stagnated dental plaque.
[0008] More recently, a NAHES III study evaluated 9,689 Adults in the United
States
between 1988 and 1994 and observed that 91.8 % of the subjects had a
noticeable
calculus and 55.1 % had subgingival calculus [9].
[0009] Since 1986, there has been continued interest in the effectiveness of
various
toothbrush designs with the intention of reducing calculus in users.
Recognizing the
public's ineffectiveness at plaque removal measures, manufacturers have
attempted to
maximize toothbrush efficiency [3].
[0010] The classical manual toothbrush with a flat head, hog bristles and
wooden or
ivory handle has been available for over a century [10]. In 1986, Frandsen
[11]
recommended that a good toothbrush have following characteristics: a small
head to
facilitate access; wide long handle for easy grip; 0.2 mm X 10 mm soft nylon
or polyester
bristles (filaments not larger than 0.009 inches in diameter) with rounded
bristle ends to
minimize gingival damage; and a multi-tufted, straight-trimmed brush head for
optimal
cleansing effect. Characteristics were re-conducted more recently at a
European
Workshop [12] and preventive dentistry publications [13].
[0011] From a commercial standpoint, a lot of time and energy has been spent
by
toothbrush manufacturers developing manual toothbrushes. Referring now to FIG.
10,
prior art toothbrush heads that are currently available on the market are
show. As may be
appreciated, most modern toothbrushes tend to include extra bristles and/or
have irregular
bristles heights. These toothbrush heads may comprise irregular bristle
heights meant to
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help clean pits and fissures along the teeth. However, other key sites
necessitating
cleaning may not be reached.
[0012] It has been found that some designs are not optimally shaped for
proximal access
since anatomically, the proximal space between adjacent teeth is a triangle
shape and
central bristle arrangements are a circle (or "ball"). Physically, the ball of
a bristle is
typically too large to fit within the proximal space and will be blocked by
the adjacent
proximal labial surfaces. In other words, the central part of the bristle is
simply too large
thereby limiting the ability of certain bristles to properly clean free
surfaces. Referring
now to FIG. 11, the darker bristles of the illustrated prior art brush create
an overlap
effect which does not effectively clean surfaces.
[0013] Another prior art example of a prior art toothbrush head is illustrated
in FIG. 12.
In this example, the toothbrush head is shaped in the form of a figure 8 in
order to orient
the brushes. The reduction in the number of bristles from this type of
toothbrush head is
extreme and does not clean teeth in an optimal way.
[0014] There is therefore a need for a toothbrush head comprising modified
bristles
configured to reach stagnated dental plaque area such proximal and pits
/fissures surfaces
for caries prevention and to reach abounded calculus areas such lingual
surfaces of
anterior teeth for periodontal disease.
Summary of the Invention
[0015] The shortcomings of the prior art are generally mitigated by an
improved
toothbrush head that allows for better cleaning of interproximal surfaces and
natural
crevasses in order to prevent or minimize the development of caries and
prevent
periodontal disease.
[0016] The present invention is directed to a toothbrush head, being connected
to or
connectable to a toothbrush grip handle, the toothbrush head comprising a face
having a
longitudinal and lateral axes and a plurality composed of a first, a second
and a third type
of tufts of bristles extending perpendicular to the face and each having a
length, wherein
the first type of tufts of bristles is located close to perimeter of the face
along the lateral
axis, the second type of tufts of bristles is located close to center of the
face along the
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longitudinal axis, the third type of tufts of bristles is located to in areas
of the face not
comprising the first or second types of tufts of bristles and the first and
second types of
tufts of bristles have shorter lengths than the lengths of the third type of
the tufts of
bristles.
[0017] In another aspect of the invention, the third type of tufts of bristles
encircle the
second type of tufts of bristles, the length of the third type of tufts of
bristles are at least
1.0 cm, while the first type of tufts of bristles has a shorter length than
the second type of
tufts of bristles. The bristles of the first type of tufts of bristles may
have a width between
3.2 mm and 3.5 mm. The bristles of the second type of tufts of bristles may
have a width
between 3.2 mm and 3.5 mm.
[0018] In another aspect of the invention, the toothbrush head comprises four
tufts of
bristles of the first type and/or of the second type. The tufts of bristle of
the second type
may define a triangular cavity encircled by the third type of tufts of
bristles, the triangular
cavity being from 1.5 to 2.5 mm deep compared to the length of the longest
tuft of bristle
of the third type and being from 2.0 to 4.0 mm long along the longitudinal
axis. The
cavity may additionally be about 1.0 mm deep from the length of the longest
tuft of
bristle of the third type and being about 2.0 mm long along the longitudinal
axis. The
location of the first and second types of tuffs of bristles may be symmetrical
about the
longitudinal axis.
[0019] The present invention is further directed to a method for effectively
brushing
teeth, the method comprising applying toothpaste in a cavity of a toothbrush
head, the
cavity being located near a distal end of the toothbrush head and made by
extending tufts
of bristles encircled by longer extending tufts of bristles, the longer
extending tufts of
bristles being configured to prevent slipping upon contact with the tooth,
pressing the
tufts of bristles comprising the toothpaste over teeth, and brushing for at
least 30 seconds.
[0020] In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises
removing any
applied toothpaste protruding out of the cavity prior to pressing the tufts of
bristles over
the teeth and stopping the brushing when the fluoride concentration of the
toothpaste over
brushed teeth is between 250 to 500 ppm.
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[0021] Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
be obvious
upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or
will be
indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to
herein will occur
to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
.. Brief Description of the Drawings
[0022] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention
will
become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being
made to
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0023] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a toothbrush head in
accordance
.. with the present invention;
[0024] Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the toothbrush head shown in
Fig. 1;
[0025] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a
toothbrush head in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0026] Fig. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of the toothbrush head shown in
Fig. 3.
[0027] Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a molar and premolar.
[0028] Fig. 6 is a side view of teeth.
[0029] Fig. 7 is a side perspective view of molars and premolars.
[0030] Fig. 8 is a side perspective view of molars and premolars.
[0031] Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of incisors, premolars and molars.
[0032] Fig. 10 is a side view of prior art toothbrush heads.
[0033] Fig. 11 is a side view of a prior art toothbrush head brushing teeth.
[0034] Fig. 12 is a front view of a prior art toothbrush head.
[0035] Fig. 13 is a side perspective view of molars and premolars.
[0036] Fig. 14 is a side view of a prior art toothbrush head brushing teeth.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0037] A novel toothbrush head for improved plaque removal will be described
hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific
illustrative
embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are
by way of
example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited
thereby.
[0038] The invention presented manifests itself as a particular distribution
of bristles on
the head of a manual toothbrush head 10. This invention may be adapted to all
types of
toothbrush heads.
[0039] This invention consists of modified bristles 20 within a toothbrush
head 10 which
can be applied to all types of toothbrushes. More specifically, the novel
design of the
toothbrush head 10 of the present invention involves the distribution of
modified bristles
having a length which is reduced relative to surrounding bristles 30 in the
head.
[0040] The unique design of the toothbrush head, which will be described
further below,
may advantageously allow the simultaneous prevention of caries and periodontal
disease.
15 More specifically, the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4
utilizes units of
bristles or parts of bristles having a shorter length such as to be more
effective in the
prevention of caries and periodontal disease.
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the novel toothbrush head 10 in
accordance
with the present invention. The toothbrush head 10 includes shortened bristles
20 near
20 sides 12 and near a center portion 14 of the toothbrush head 10. The
shortened length of
the bristles 20 may be further appreciated from FIG. 2, which is a side view
of the
toothbrush head 10, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the novel toothbrush
head 10 in
accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the
length of the
shortened bristles 20 is reduced relative to the bristles shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. The
shortened length of the modified bristles 20 may be further appreciated from
FIG. 4,
which is a side view of the toothbrush head 10 shown in FIG. 3.
[0043] As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the lengths of the
bristles may be
adapted to suit the particular needs of individual patients.
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[0044] In certain embodiments, the length of the modified bristled 20 may be
configured
in accordance with the natural inter-dental embrasures in humans. The length
of the
natural dimensions of the triangular regions representing the natural inter-
dental
embrasures in humans was determined in an experiment further detailed herein.
[0045] In order to measure the natural inter-dental embrasures, a precise
triangle must be
measured without overlapping onto the surfaces of the adjacent teeth.
Accordingly, a
white molten wax may be applied to the inter-dental embrasures of candidates
and further
removing excess wax using a scalpel. The wax may subsequently be removed and
measured. In an experiment, twelve (12) measurements at six (6) different
sites were
taken (each time lingual vs buccal). The measurements indicated that the
average width
of the base of the embrasures appears to be 3.42 mm, the average height 4.47
mm and the
average depth 3.60 mm.
[0046] Accordingly, the modified bristles 20 may comprise a width of
approximately 3.5
mm, thereby allowing the other bristles to cover the gingival portion of the
tooth, as
shown in FIG. 13.
[0047] The modified bristles 20 and full-length bristles 30 are distributed to
resemble a
pattern similar to a peanut shell or a figure 8. To achieve this, the classic
distribution of
bristles was modified by shortening the length of two units of bristles near
the sides 12 of
the toothbrush 10 or, more specifically, in the rows that are lateral of the
center row.
Looking at the toothbrush head 10 from above, the distribution may be
bilaterally
symmetrical.
[0048] In certain embodiments, the toothbrush head 10 may comprise modified
bristles
20 near the center 14 of the toothbrush head 10 along the lateral axis. The
location of
modified bristles 20 near the center 14 may allow for better plaque removal
while
brushing by removing pressure on the dental papillae, thereby allowing the
modified
bristles 20 and bristles 30 to better adapt to the surfaces targeted and
permitting easier
access to the crevasses to be cleaned. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the
modified bristles 20
may be located near an anterior third of the toothbrush head 10.
[0049] In particular, the modified bristles 20 near the center portion 14 of
the toothbrush
head 10 are configured to form a cavity shaped or modeled to form a negative
cavity of
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the natural shape of the anterior incisors in humans which form a rounded
heel, as shown
in FIG. 9. The reduction of bristles at this end of the toothbrush head
therefore makes it
possible to better englobe said rounded heel while also better reaching the
cavitation
resulting from these anterior incisors. This area, which is at risk for
initial tartar
formation, may therefore be better cleaned as a result of this bristle
arrangement.
[0050] More specifically, it may be appreciated that the modified bristles 20
near the
central position 14 and near the distal tip of the toothbrush head 10, being
shorter in
length than the surrounding bristles 30, may allow these surrounding bristles
30 to further
extend as the modified bristles 20 come into contact with a tooth surface.
Accordingly,
the surrounding extended bristles 30 may be better suited to clean the pits
and fissures of
the teeth.
[0051] Said configuration may additionally prevent the formation of tartar in
crevasses.
In particular, the cavity being shaped according to the negative of the
anatomical heel of
the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth may allow the surrounding bristles
30 to
penetrate or reach into the crevasses bordering the heel in order to prevent
the stagnant
plaque from forming tartar. The benefits of the present invention may
therefore be
appreciated as the removal of this stagnant plaque by the surrounding bristles
30 is
primordial to the prevention of periodontal diseases.
[0052] In contrast, prior art toothbrush heads comprise bristles which may
immediately
slip upon first contact with the surface of a tooth, resulting in the bristles
bending
outwardly and thereby failing to reach and clean the pits and crevasses
targeted by the
present invention.
[0053] The positioning of the modified bristles 20 on the toothbrush head 10
may be
determined in accordance with the cavitation and the dimensions of natural
teeth (see, for
example, Fig. 9), as the shapes are identical between the top and the bottom
in the same
person and vary little between humans. Accordingly, a width of approximately
3.2 mm
should be suitable for the majority of dental incisor heels.
[0054] In other embodiments, the modified bristles 20 near the center 14 of
the
toothbrush head 10 may form a cavity configured to receive a desirable
quantity of
toothpaste prior to brushing. The presence of this cavity near the center 14
of the
toothbrush head may additionally allow for an even distribution of the
toothpaste across
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the modified bristles 20 and full-length bristles 30 thereby ensuring a more
effective
brushing of the teeth.
[0055] The present invention was successfully tested and scientifically
confirmed to
perform better that currently available commercial toothbrush heads.
[0056] In an observational design test using 30 candidates, several
commercially
available toothbrushes and the toothbrush head 10 of the present invention
were tested.
Said observational test indicates the percentage of residual plaque removed
following
brushing, as measured using the O'Leary method. The results indicate that the
toothbrush
head 10 performed better in removing residual plaque. An improvement of
approximately
4% in cleaning performance against the mean of the others provides evidence of
better
cleaning performance.
[0057] The following are the tabulated results of the aforementioned test
indicating the
percentage of residual plaque removed following use.
Toothbrush Head Type O'Leary Plaque Score
(%)
BAD 17.0
GUM 491 20.0
GUM 517 21.9
GUM 525 18.9
Henry Schein 19.8
Present invention (toothbrush head 10) 23.0
Oral B 21.2
Mean (average) 20.4 (+ 1.7)
[0058] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention
have been
described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive
concepts may be
otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are
intended to
be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior
art.
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3. Brothwell D.J., J.D.K., Hawkins R.J., An update of mechanical oral
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