Aqueous slurries useful for cleaning the tongue and throat and methods related thereto

Abstract

Aqueous slurries, capable of cleaning the tongue and throat of a patient when used by an individual for personal hygiene or used on another warm-blooded animal, combine finely-divided charcoal, water, and a biocide. Also disclosed are methods for cleaning areas of the tongue and throat in need thereof. The methods use the disclosed aqueous slurries, as well as apparatus, devices, and tools for contacting the areas to be cleaned with the aqueous slurry and for removing unwanted material from the areas cleaned, as well as from the oral cavity, generally. The disclosed methods can be safely practiced for personal oral hygiene, or on another. Further, kits are disclosed that are useful for such cleaning in providing a contained quantity of a disclosed aqueous slurry or contained quantities of the components thereof, as well as apparatus, devices and tools for effectively preparing and using the same for the above purposes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 293,913, filed Nov. 12, 2002, now allowed, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods useful for oral hygiene, and more particularly to compositions and methods that are useful for cleaning the tongue and throat of a warm-blooded animal, including a human. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Practicing good oral hygiene is often directed to, for example, preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease (i.e., gum disease); preventing or mitigating halitosis (i.e., fetid breath); avoiding unsightly teeth, gums and tongue; and avoiding the onset of various illnesses and other diseases that may take hold in the mouth and throat. Practicing good oral hygiene largely amounts to thoroughly and assiduo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is directed to aqueous slurries, methods, and kits for cleaning the tongue and throat of a patient to remove contaminants. The slurries are formed by combining finely-divided charcoal and a liquid portion, which may include water and a biocide. The slurries are effective in cleaning areas of the tongue and throat of a patient in need thereof. The methods involve contacting the tongue or throat surface with the slurry for a period of time, optionally removing residual slurry and contamination, and using a removal device or rinsing agent to remove residual slurry and components from the tongue, throat, and oral cavity of the patient. The technical effects of the invention include reducing contamination in the tongue and throat of patients, which can help prevent the spread of pathogens and other harmful substances."

Problems solved by technology

Areas that are particularly problematic in this regard include the areas between tooth enamel and gingival, or gum tissue (i.e., gingival crevices), interproximal tooth surfaces, the tongue, and the throat.

Despite normal diligence in removal of plaque, some amount of bacteria and plaque inevitably remains.

In turn, calculus (also referred to as tartar) inevitably forms, thus, compounding the problem.

The result is tooth decay, periodontal disease and halitosis.

It should also be noted that there are other deleterious consequences associated with the presence of viruses and bacteria in the mouth and throat.

This is largely the result of their thriving in the anaerobic environment provided by the tongue, then swarming to those areas, thus reducing the effectivity of extensive teeth and gum cleaning.

The above-described methods are of limited effectiveness, however.