TOOTHBRUSHES

Abstract: A toothbrush which comprises a deformable base (1) in which an array of bristles (2) are mounted. The base (1) is elongated and, when viewed transversely of the base, the free ends (3) of the bristles define a surface which is shaped to conform to a cross section of a tooth. The toothbrush is provided with a detachable handle (5). In use of the toothbrush, the toothbrush is chewed so as to deform the base (1), so that the ligaments of a tooth contacting the base are exercised and at the same time the bristles (2) clean the opposing tooth.

Description: Tooth-brushes . THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or relating to toothbrushes. Present lifestyles render the human mouth particularly vulnerable to disease, especially of the teeth and gums. It is believed that as many as 95% of people have gum disease to varying degrees. Although there are numerous techniques available for preventing gum disease, there has as yet been no significant reduction in the level of gum disease in the human population. Both tooth decay and gum disease are known to be caused by a form of "plaque" which is a bacterial specie/ecosystem influenced by many factors, the most important being diet. At present, the most effective method of preventing gum disease and tooth decay, short of changing one's whole lifestyle, is known to be the removal by mechanical means of bacterial plaque. The most common method of removing bacterial plaque is to use a toothbrush with varying types of bristle. Toothbrushes are, however, quite difficult to use correctly as they require a significant amount of dexterity. Furthermore, the toothbrush is known to have a very serious side effect, namely the abrasion of the necks of the teeth leading to the formation of wear facets, weakening and increased sensitivity, which requires further treatment, making the "prevention" aspect of brushing less appealing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush which overcomes or at least mitigates the above-mentioned problem. According to the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a plurality of bristles mounted to a deformable base. For α better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE I is an end elevational view of a toothbrush embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush shown in Figure I ; FIGURE 3 is a partial end elevational view of the toothbrush shown in Figure I ; FIGURE 4 shows the toothbrush of Figure I in contact with a tooth; and FIGURE 5 illustrates schematically the operation of the toothbrush. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a toothbrush embodying the invention and comprising an elongate resiliently deformable base I which is preferably formed of a resilient plastics material. An array of bristles 2 are mounted to the base I by means of a relatively hard non-deformable inner holder 4 which is curved transversely of the base and surrounded by the deformable base I . It should, of course, be understood that as used herein the term "bristle" includes plastics, in particular nylon, bristles. As shown most clearly by Figures 2 and 4, the bristles 2 are arranged in rows extending along the length of the elongate base I . The bristles 2 in each row are of the same height so that, as viewed longitudinally of the base, the free ends of the bristles in each row thereof define a straight line. However, when the toothbrush is viewed transversely of the base, that is across the rows of bristles, the free ends 3 of the bristles define a line which is shaped to conform to the surface of a tooth. In particular, the free ends of the bristles define a substantially concave surface with a central row 2a of the bristles extending slightly beyond the adjacent two rows of bristles so as to be able to engage within the central depression of a tooth. The outermost two rows 2b of bristles on either side of the base I as viewed in Figure 4 are formed of a softer material than the inner bristles so as to avoid damage to the gums being caused by the bristles. Each bristle 2 may be constituted by a cluster of e.g. 25 fine filaments. The toothbrush is provided with a detachable handle 5. Whilst clearly the dimensions of the toothbrush may vary according to requirements, in one example the toothbrush is provided with nine rows of bristles and the length of the bristles projecting from the base varies between 12 and 16 mm, while the tapering width of the nine rows varies between 16 and 20 mm. The length of each row of bristles is 25 mm. Figure 5 illustrates the use of the toothbrush. Thus, in use, the toothbrush is inserted into the mouth of the user so that the deformable base is brought into contact with a tooth 6 of one of the user's two rows of teeth and the bristles contact an opposing tooth 7. The user then chews upon the deformable base which causes the brushes to move in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 5 to clean the surface of the tooth 7. The chewing action exercises the tooth 6 and, in particular, causes the periodontal ligaments to be stimulated, increasing the firmness of the tooth in the socket. The above-described operation is repeated so that each tooth of the upper row of teeth is cleaned by the bristles and then the toothbrush is inverted so that the bristles clean the lower teeth while the upper teeth are exercised by chewing on the deformable base. Although the toothbrush can be used without a toothpaste, a vitamin- enriched gel base can be applied to the bristles to make the toothbrush pleasant to use. Alternatively a conventional toothpaste could be used with the toothbrush. It is also envisaged that passages could be provided through the handle 5 and base I to allow a gel or paste supplied to the passages to be dispensed onto the bristles when the base I is chewed by a user. As indicated above, the toothbrush is provided with a detachable handle which allows the brush to be carried and used anywhere. In particular, the user is not restricted to the use of the toothbrush over a basin in a bathroom and the toothbrush can be chewed on the bus, train, etc. The toothbrush requires an absolute minimal amount of manual dexterity as it relies on the muscles used for mastication for its function, rather than on the manual dexterity of the user as is the case with a conventional toothbrush. Moreover, the use of the toothbrush avoids or at least mitigates the side effects of conventional toothbrushing, that is the abrasion of the necks of the teeth caused by the movement of a conventional toothbrush across the tooth. Furthermore, the toothbrush enables the gums of the user to be stimulated in a manner similar to that which occurs when the user chews fibrous healthy foodstuff such as vegetables and fruit.

Claims: CLAIMS : - It A toothbrush comprising a plurality of bristles (2) mounted to a deformable base (1). 2. A toothbrush according to Claim 1. wherein the base (l) is resilient. 3. A toothbrush according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the base (1) is formed of a plastics material. 4. A toothbrush according to Claim 1. 2 or 3, wherein the base (1) is elongate and, as viewed transversely of the base, the free ends (3) of the bristles (2) define a profile conforming to the profile across the biting surface of a tooth. 5. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is elongate and, as viewed transversely of the base, the free ends of the outermost bristles (2b) extend beyond the free ends of the innermost bristles to define a substantially concave surface. 6. A toothbrush according to Claim 5, wherein when a transverse section of the base is used, a central bristle extends beyond the bristles on either side of the central bristles. T.. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is elongate and, as viewed longitudinally of the base, the free ends of the bristles define a straight line. 8. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein the bristles are mounted in a non-deformable holder (4) within the deformable base. 9.. A toothbrush according to Claim 8, wherein the non-deformable holder (4) is curved. 10. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim having a detachable handle. 11. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein the base (1) is elongate and the outermost bristles (2b). when viewed transversely of the base, are formed so as to be relatively soft compared with the innermost bristles to avoid damage being caused to the gums of the user by the toothbrush. 12. A method of using a toothbrush in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, which method comprises chewing the toothbrush so as to deform the base whereby the ligaments of the tooth contacting the base are exercised and the bristles clean the opposing tooth.

Inventors: PASTOLL ERROL, PASTOLL, ERROL
Applicants: PASTOLL ERROL, PASTOLL, ERROL
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A46B5
IPC codes: A46B9