Patent Description:
Another potential problem exhibited by sacrificial electrodes is passivation, which occurs over time simply by operating the sacrificial electrode as the anode. During such operation, a zinc oxide layer may form on the sacrificial electrode rather quickly, and this layer acts as an insulating layer that prevents the sacrificial electrode from further releasing zinc ions.

In view of the limited lifespan of sacrificial electrodes in oral care devices and the problem with passivation, there is a need for improvements to such oral care devices, and the processes by which they operate, in order to extend the lifespan of the sacrificial electrodes, limit the problem of passivation, and thereby introduce cost efficiencies.

<CIT> refers to a toothbrush in which a head of the toothbrush includes a cavity. A first electrode and a second electrode are disposed in the cavity. Electrical or conductive leads connect each of the electrodes to a power source. In one example, the toothbrush further includes a controller that can control current and/or voltage from the power source to the electrodes. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a sacrificial electrode.

<CIT> refers to a toothbrush that comprises a brush portion electrode so formed as to be exposed at a part of the toothbrush, the part being introduced into the oral cavity when the oral cavity is cleaned, and a control circuit for applying a predetermined current to the brush portion electrode. The brush portion electrode is plated with a substance which can release metal ions by application of a current.

Exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure are directed to an oral care device that includes sacrificial electrodes for purposes of introducing beneficial ions into the oral cavity when the oral care device is used. Particularly, the oral care device includes a controller which controls the polarity of an electric potential between the sacrificial electrodes in order to extend the operational lives of the sacrificial electrodes. The polarity of the electric potential may be controlled during a single oral care session, across multiple oral care sessions, or a combination of both. Exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure are defined in the independent claims. A method of controlling sacrificial electrodes within an oral care device serves to introduce beneficial ions into the oral cavity. The method of control advantageously leads to extending the operational lives of the sacrificial electrodes, reducing problems associated with electrode passivation, and introduces cost efficiencies.

In one aspect, an oral care device includes: a body including a head; a plurality of teeth cleaning elements extending from the head; a first sacrificial electrode on the head; a second sacrificial electrode on the head and spaced apart from the first sacrificial electrode; a power source; and a controller configured to alternate between an ON state and an OFF state, wherein: in the ON state the controller operably couples the power source to the first and second sacrificial electrodes to create an electric potential between the first sacrificial electrode and the second sacrificial electrode, the electric potential having one of a positive polarity and a negative polarity, and for each successive transition from the OFF state to the ON state, the controller is configured to alternate between the positive polarity and the negative polarity.

In another aspect, an oral care method may include: commencing a first operational sequence of an oral care device including a head, the first operational sequence including: generating an electric potential between a first sacrificial electrode and a second sacrificial electrode, the electric potential in the first operational sequence beginning with one of a positive polarity and a negative polarity, the first and second sacrificial electrodes being on the head and positioned spaced apart from each other; stopping the first operational sequence; and commencing a second operational sequence of the oral care device, the second operational sequence including: generating the electric potential between the first sacrificial electrode and the second sacrificial electrode, the electric potential in the second operational sequence beginning with the other of the first polarity and the second polarity.

In still another aspect, an oral care device includes: a body including a head; a plurality of teeth cleaning elements extending from the head; a first sacrificial electrode on the head; a second sacrificial electrode on the head and spaced apart from the first sacrificial electrode; a power source; and a controller configured to operably couple the power source to the first and second sacrificial electrodes to create an electric potential between the first sacrificial electrode and the second sacrificial electrode, the electric potential having one of a first polarity and a second polarity. The controller may be configured to switch the electric potential between the first polarity and the second polarity following a time interval which is less than an average user brushing period.

In yet another aspect, an oral care method may include: generating an electric potential between a first sacrificial electrode and a second sacrificial electrode, the electric potential beginning with one of a first polarity and a second polarity, the first and second sacrificial electrodes being on a head of an oral care device and positioned spaced apart from each other; and alternating the electric potential between the first polarity and the second polarity following a time interval which is less than an average user brushing period.

In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description. Relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal," "vertical," "above," "below," "up," "down," "left," "right," "top" and "bottom" as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion.

Features of the present invention may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or combinations thereof. The programmable processes described herein are not limited to any particular embodiment, and may be implemented in an operating system, application program, foreground or background processes, driver, or any combination thereof.

Turning in detail to the drawings, <FIG> illustrates an oral care device as a toothbrush <NUM> in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The toothbrush <NUM> includes a handle <NUM>, a head <NUM> disposed at the distal end of the handle <NUM>, and a neck portion <NUM> disposed between the handle <NUM> and the head <NUM>. The handle <NUM> has a generally elongate shape, along a longitudinal axis. In alternative embodiments, one or more of the handle <NUM>, the head <NUM>, and/or the neck <NUM> may have different shapes, sizes, orientations, and/or the like. The invention is not to be limited by the size and/or shape of any portion of the toothbrush <NUM> unless otherwise indicated in the claims. Additional features may also be incorporated into the toothbrush or disposed on the toothbrush. In other embodiments, the oral care device may be a toothbrush which includes a head that detaches from the handle, such that the head is replaceable with another head. In still other embodiments, the oral care device may be any other type of oral care implement.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the head <NUM> of the toothbrush <NUM> also includes a plurality of teeth cleaning elements <NUM> extend from a support plate <NUM>. As used herein, the term "teeth cleaning elements" includes any type of structure that is commonly used for or is suitable for use in providing oral health benefits (e.g., tooth cleaning, tooth polishing, tooth whitening, massaging, stimulating, etc.) by making intimate contact with portions of the teeth and/or gums. Such teeth cleaning elements include but are not limited to tufts of bristles that can be formed to have a number of different shapes, sizes, and relative configurations, massage elements, and elastomeric cleaning members that can be formed to have a number of different shapes and sizes, or a combination of both tufts of bristles and elastomeric cleaning members. The teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be arranged on the support plate <NUM> in many configurations.

In <FIG>, the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> include bristles, which may be formed as bristle tufts. The tufts may be formed with bristles of the same or different bristle materials (such as nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, etc.). Moreover, while the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be arranged so that they are generally perpendicular to the top surface <NUM> of the support plate <NUM>, some or all of the tooth cleaning elements may be angled with respect to the top surface <NUM> and/or with respect to each other. When the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> includes bristle tufts, it is thereby possible to select the combination of bristle configurations, bristle materials, and/or bristle orientations to achieve specific intended results and operational characteristics, thus maximizing and enhancing cleaning, tooth polishing, tooth whitening, massaging, stimulation, and the like.

The teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be attached to the support plate <NUM> by any method, conventional or otherwise. In certain embodiments, the support plate <NUM> may include a plurality of holes formed there through, and the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be mounted to the support plate <NUM> within the holes. This type of technique for mounting the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> to the support plate <NUM> is generally known as anchor free tufting (AFT). In AFT a plate (often referred to as a head plate) or membrane is created and the teeth cleaning elements (such as bristles, elastomeric elements, and combinations thereof) are positioned into the head plate so as to extend through the holes of the head plate. The free ends of the teeth cleaning elements on one side of the head plate perform the cleaning function. The ends of the teeth cleaning elements on the other side of the head plate are melted together by heat to be anchored in place. As the teeth cleaning elements are melted together, a melt matte is formed, which is a layer of plastic formed from the collective ends of the teeth cleaning elements that connects the teeth cleaning elements to one another on one side of the head plate and prevents the teeth cleaning elements from being pulled through the tuft holes.

In example shown, after the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> are secured to the support plate <NUM>, the support plate <NUM> is secured to the head <NUM>. Ultrasonic welding is one technique that may be used to secure the support plate <NUM> to the head <NUM>, although other techniques may also be used. When the support plate <NUM> is coupled to the head <NUM>, the melt matte is located between a lower surface of the support plate <NUM> and a floor of a basin or cavity of the head <NUM> in which the support plate <NUM> is disposed. The melt matte, which is coupled directly to and in fact forms a part of the teeth cleaning elements <NUM>, prevents the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> from being pulled through the holes in the support plate <NUM>, thus ensuring that the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> remain attached to the support plate <NUM> during use of the oral care device <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be connected to the support plate <NUM> or a membrane later incorporated using a technique known in the art as AMR. Generally speaking, in this technique, a head plate is provided and the bristles are inserted into holes in the head plate so that free/cleaning ends of the bristles extend from the front surface of the head plate and bottom ends of the bristles are adjacent to the rear surface of the head plate. After the bristles are inserted into the holes in the head plate, the bottom ends of the bristles are melted together by applying heat thereto, thereby forming a melt matte at the rear surface of the head plate. The melt matte is a thin layer of plastic that is formed by melting the bottom ends of the bristles so that the bottom ends of the bristles transition into a liquid, at which point the liquid of the bottom ends of the bristles combine together into a single layer of liquid plastic that at least partially covers the rear surface of the head plate. After the heat is no longer applied, the melted bottom ends of the bristles solidify/harden to form the melt matte/thin layer of plastic. In some conventional applications, after formation of the melt matte, a tissue cleaner is injection molded onto the rear surface of the head plate, thereby trapping the melt matte between the tissue cleaner and the rear surface of the head plate. Other structures may be coupled to the rear surface of the head plate to trap the melt matte between the rear surface of the head plate and such structure without the structure necessarily being a tissue cleaner. For example, a structure covering the melt matte may be a plastic material that is used to form a smooth rear surface of the head, or the like. Alternatively, the structure can be molded onto the rear surface of the head plate or snap-fit (or other mechanical coupling) to the rear surface of the head plate as desired.

Of course, techniques other than AFT and AMR can be used for mounting teeth cleaning elements <NUM> to the support plate <NUM>, such as widely known and used stapling/anchoring techniques or the like. In such embodiments the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be coupled directly to the support plate <NUM>. Furthermore, in a modified version of the AFT process discussed above, the support plate <NUM> may be formed by positioning the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> within a mold, and then molding the support plate <NUM> around the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> via an injection molding process.

Moreover, in certain embodiments, various combinations of stapled, IMT, AMR, or AFT cleaning elements may be used. Alternatively, the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> could be mounted to tuft blocks or sections by extending through suitable openings in the tuft blocks so that the base of the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> is mounted within or below the tuft block. In still other embodiments, likely in which the tooth cleaning elements are not bristles, the teeth cleaning elements <NUM> may be molded integrally with the support plate <NUM>.

The head <NUM> also includes a plurality of apertures <NUM> which are disposed through a sidewall <NUM> of the head <NUM> and provide a channel or passageway through the sidewall <NUM>. Such a channel may allow for fluid communication between the inner cavity of the head <NUM> of the toothbrush <NUM> and the environment external to the head <NUM>. The cavity, which may be bounded by the support plate <NUM>, the sidewall <NUM> and a base <NUM>, is discussed in more detail below. In certain embodiments, the head <NUM> may be constructed without the cavity.

<FIG> shows an exploded, cross-section of the toothbrush <NUM>. In this view, the cavity <NUM> formed by the head <NUM> is shown. The cavity <NUM> is a basin or void defined by the sidewall <NUM> that extends upwardly from the base <NUM> of the head <NUM>. A first sacrificial electrode <NUM> and a second sacrificial electrode <NUM> are placed on the head <NUM> within the cavity <NUM> and spaced apart from each other. The support plate <NUM> is positioned relative to the head <NUM> to cover the cavity <NUM>, thereby enclosing the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> in the cavity <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the support plate <NUM> may be fixed at a distal end of the sidewall <NUM>, e.g., by an adhesive, welding, or other mechanical means. In embodiments in which the head <NUM> does not include the cavity <NUM>, the first and second sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be placed on any surface of the head <NUM>, with the first and second sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> still positioned spaced apart from each other. In certain other embodiments, one or both of the first and second sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be placed on the neck portion <NUM> of the toothbrush <NUM>. The invention is not to be limited by the placement of either of the first and second sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, whether on the head <NUM> or on the neck portion <NUM> of the toothbrush <NUM>, unless otherwise expressly stated in the claims.

The sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be any known shape or configuration. As shown, the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> are formed as electrical coils, and include a number of turns of a metallic wire wound about separate cores <NUM>. The cores <NUM> may be formed integrally with the base or may be formed separately and subsequently fixed to the base. In other embodiments, the cores <NUM> may not be present at all. In other embodiments, the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed as metal plates or other spaced-apart metal fixtures. Such other electrodes may also include zinc, zinc alloy, or some other sacrificial metal. Regardless of their shape or configuration, in certain embodiments the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of <NUM>% or more of the sacrificial metal making up the electrode.

The sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> each include a sacrificial metal, and when an electric potential (i.e., a voltage difference) is generated between the first and second electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, one of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> gives up ions, e.g., by oxidizing. In certain embodiments, the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> includes zinc, and the presence of an electric potential oxidizes the zinc to release Zn2+. Zinc ions are conventionally known to provide oral health benefits including, e.g., anti-bacterial benefits. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, zinc ions are given off in the cavity <NUM> of the head <NUM> of the toothbrush <NUM>, and once released from the one of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> to the cavity <NUM>, the beneficial zinc ions enter the oral cavity via the apertures <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may each include a different sacrificial metal. The sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of materials other than zinc and zinc alloys. In certain embodiments, one or both of the sacrificial electrode <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of different metals that can be oxidized to provide ions that give alternative oral benefits. For example, Tin ions, i.e., Sn2+ and Sn4+, have known oral health benefits, such that one or both of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> could include Tin. In certain other embodiments, the oxidation of iron and/or manganese can drive the formation of hydroxide radicals from hydrogen peroxide, e.g., via the fenton reaction, which may provide other benefits in the oral cavity, such that one or both of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> could include iron or manganese.

The apertures <NUM> also allow fluids, e.g., saliva and water, in the external environment to enter the cavity <NUM>. Once in the cavity <NUM>, the fluids may act as an electrolyte to promote the release of the ions from the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> upon generation of an electric potential therebetween.

Conductive leads <NUM> connect each of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> to the control circuit <NUM>, which is in turn operably coupled to a power source <NUM>, shown as a pair of batteries disposed in the handle <NUM>. A switch <NUM> controls providing power from the power source <NUM> to the control circuit <NUM>. The conductive leads <NUM> extend from the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> through the neck <NUM> and into the handle <NUM> via a passageway or channel <NUM> connected to the cavity <NUM> of the head <NUM>. The conductive leads <NUM> electrically couple to the control circuit <NUM>, which controls the voltage applied from the power source <NUM> to the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the power source <NUM> may be external to the toothbrush <NUM>. In still other embodiments, the power source <NUM> be rechargeable batteries. In still other embodiments, the power source <NUM> may be any other type of power storage or power-providing electricity source which also provides a ground or negative terminal.

The control circuit <NUM> generates an electric potential between the two sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> by maintaining each sacrificial electrode <NUM>, <NUM> at a different voltage. By doing so, one of the two sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> operates as an anode, and the other operates as a cathode. In the toothbrush <NUM> shown, this electric potential is created between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> by the control circuit <NUM> electrically coupling one of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> to the positive terminal of the power source <NUM> and electrically coupling the other of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> to the negative terminal of the power source <NUM>.

Although one pair of electrodes is illustrated in <FIG>, additional pairs of electrodes may also be present. For example, a first pair of sacrificial electrodes may be formed using zinc as the sacrificial metal, and a second pair of sacrificial electrodes may be formed using iron as the sacrificial metal. In such embodiments, the control circuit <NUM> may be used to create an electric potential between both pairs of electrodes, either simultaneously for both pair of sacrificial electrodes, or alternatively, which each pair having an electric potential between them while the other pair is decoupled from the power source <NUM>. In other embodiments, multiple pairs of sacrificial electrodes may be included, with all the sacrificial electrodes being formed of the same sacrificial metal, with the increased number enabling for an increased release rate of ions.

<FIG> illustrates the control circuit <NUM> of the toothbrush <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> includes a controller <NUM>, an oscillator <NUM>, and a switch <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> is operably coupled to the power source <NUM> and to the two sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, identified as E1 and E2. The controller <NUM> may be a programmable device which implements the operational features of the oral care device, as described herein, in software, hardware, firmware, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the controller <NUM> may be implemented as an electronic sub-circuit which is assembled to perform the operational features of the oral care device as described herein.

The switch <NUM> operably couples the controller <NUM> and the oscillator <NUM> the power source <NUM>. When the switch <NUM> is in the open position, power is not provided to the controller <NUM> or the oscillator <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> is in the OFF state. When the switch is in the closed position, power is provided to both the controller <NUM> and the oscillator <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> is in the ON state. When the oscillator <NUM> is powered, the oscillator <NUM> provides a clock signal to the controller <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the oscillator <NUM> is a linear oscillator that produces a sinusoidal output. The output of the oscillator <NUM> may take any periodic waveform having a constant period, such that the constant period may be used to measure time. As described below, the controller <NUM> may use the clock signal as a timer to perform polarity switching for the electric potential between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the oscillator <NUM> may be omitted from the control circuit <NUM>. In certain other embodiments, the oscillator <NUM> may be integrated as part of the controller <NUM>.

When the controller <NUM> is in the ON state, the controller <NUM> electrically couples one of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> to the positive terminal of the power source <NUM> and the other of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> to the negative terminal of the power source <NUM>. By coupling the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> to the power source <NUM> in this manner, an electric potential is generated between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>. The electric potential generated between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> may have a first polarity or a second polarity. When the electric potential between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> has the first polarity, one of the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> operates as the anode and the other operates as the cathode, and when the electric potential has the second polarity, the sacrificial electrodes <NUM> reverse their functions as anode and cathode. Although both electrodes <NUM> are formed as sacrificial electrodes, such that both are capable of releasing ions under certain conditions, only the one of the electrodes <NUM> operating as the anode releases ions-the other of the electrodes <NUM> operating as the cathode does not release ions. For purposes of convenience for this description, the first polarity is a positive polarity and the second polarity is a negative polarity, although in certain embodiments the first polarity may be a negative polarity and the second polarity may be a positive polarity. In this context, and again for purposes of this description, an electric potential with a positive polarity is generated by the control circuit <NUM> of <FIG> when the sacrificial electrode E1 is electrically coupled to the positive terminal of the power source <NUM> and the sacrificial electrode E2 is electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the power source <NUM>. Likewise, an electric potential with a negative polarity is generated by the control circuit of <FIG> when the sacrificial electrode E1 is electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the power source <NUM> and the sacrificial electrode E2 is electrically coupled to the positive terminal of the power source <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, for each successive transition from the OFF state to the ON state, the controller <NUM> is configured to alternate the electric potential between the positive polarity and the negative polarity. In other words, in a first transition of the controller <NUM> from the OFF state to the ON state, the controller <NUM> generates a positive polarity between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>, and in an immediate subsequent transition of the controller <NUM> from the OFF state to the ON state, the controller <NUM> generates a negative polarity between the sacrificial electrodes <NUM>.

In other embodiments, when the controller <NUM> is in the ON state, the controller <NUM> is configured to switch the electric potential between the positive polarity and the negative polarity at predetermined intervals. In such embodiments, the controller <NUM> measure the predetermined intervals using the clock signal, with each predetermined interval being the equivalent of a plurality of periods of the clock signal. In still other embodiments, the predetermined interval of a switch between the positive polarity and the negative polarity may be a time interval which is less than a user brushing period. In such embodiments, the time interval may be about one-half the user brushing period. In other such embodiments, the time interval may be about <NUM> seconds or less. In still other such embodiments, the time interval may be about <NUM> seconds or less. In still other embodiments, the time interval may be any value between about <NUM> second and the end of the user brushing period, and such a value for the time interval may be predetermined, such that it is set before the toothbrush is used by the user.

In certain embodiments, the user brushing period may be a predetermined time period that is set before the toothbrush is used by the user. For example, in certain embodiments, the user brushing period may be set to a time period of two minutes, which is the brushing time that is generally recommended by oral health care professionals when practicing good oral hygiene. In certain other embodiments, the user brushing period may be set to a time period of less than the generally recommended bushing time of two minutes. In such embodiments, the user brushing period may be set to any time period in the range of <NUM> second to two minutes, as predetermined before the toothbrush is used by the user. By way of example, the user brushing period may be set to a time period in the range of <NUM> second to two minutes based on the experience and knowledge of a designer, engineer, or the like at the time of manufacture. By way of another example, the user brushing period may be set to a time period based on a collection of sample data. In such embodiments, the user brushing period may be set to the average brushing period as determined by the collected sample data.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operational process <NUM> that may be implemented with the control circuit <NUM>. In the first step <NUM>, the control circuit commences a first operational sequence, and in the second step <NUM>, the controller transitions from the OFF state to the ON state so that an electrical potential is generated between the sacrificial electrodes. The electrical potential in this first operational sequence may have a positive polarity or a negative polarity. In certain embodiments during the first operational sequence, the controller may alternate the electric potential between the positive polarity and the negative polarity. In such embodiments, alternating between the positive polarity and the negative polarity may occur at predetermined intervals as described above. In the third step <NUM>, the first operational sequence ends with the controller transitioning to the OFF state. In the fourth step, <NUM>, the control circuit commences a second operational sequence, and in the fifth step <NUM>, the controller transitions to the ON state again so that an electrical potential is once again generated between the sacrificial electrodes. This second operational sequence ends when the controller transitions once again to the OFF state. The electrical potential in this second operational sequence may have a positive polarity or a negative polarity, dependent upon the initial polarity in the first operational sequence. If the first operational sequence initially generates the electric potential with a positive polarity, then the second operational sequence initially generates the electric potential with a negative polarity. Similarly, if the first operational sequence initially generates the electric potential with a negative polarity, then the second operational sequence initially generates the electric potential with a positive polarity.

In certain embodiments during the second operational sequence, the controller may alternate the electric potential between the positive polarity and the negative polarity. In such embodiments, alternating between the positive polarity and the negative polarity may occur at predetermined intervals as described above. In still other embodiments, during the first operational sequence, the controller initially generates the electric potential having one of the positive polarity and the negative polarity, and during the second operational sequence, the controller initially generates the electric potential having the other of the positive polarity and the negative polarity.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operational process <NUM> that may be implemented with the control circuit <NUM>. In the first step <NUM>, the control circuit commences operation, and in the second step <NUM>, the controller transitions from the OFF state to the ON state so that an electrical potential is generated between the sacrificial electrodes. In this second step <NUM>, the electrical potential has either a positive polarity or a negative polarity. In the third step <NUM>, the electrical potential is alternated between the positive polarity and the negative polarity following a time interval which is less than an average user brushing period. As described above, the time interval may be half of the average user brushing period, it may be <NUM> seconds or less, or it may be <NUM> seconds or less. In the last step <NUM>, the control circuit ends operation when the controller transitions from the ON state to the OFF state.

Claim 1:
An oral care device (<NUM>) comprising:
a body comprising a head (<NUM>);
a plurality of teeth cleaning elements (<NUM>) extending from the head (<NUM>);
a first sacrificial electrode (<NUM>, <NUM>) on the head (<NUM>);
a second sacrificial electrode (<NUM>, <NUM>) on the head (<NUM>) and spaced apart from the first sacrificial electrode (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a power source (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to alternate between an ON state and an OFF state, wherein:
in the ON state the controller (<NUM>) operably couples the power source (<NUM>) to the first and second sacrificial electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to create an electric potential between the first sacrificial electrode (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second sacrificial electrode (<NUM>, <NUM>), the electric potential having one of a first polarity and a second polarity, and
for each successive transition from the OFF state to the ON state, the controller (<NUM>) is configured to alternate between the first polarity and the second polarity.