Disposable oral hygiene instruments and packages and methods for storing and dispensing same

Abstract

An oral-care system is disclosed. The system includes a handle portion and an attachable yoke structure for coupling tongue scraping ribbons or strips to the handle portion. The tongue scraping ribbons or strips are coated with or include a whitening agent, an anti-bacterial agent, an anti-microbial agent, a flavoring agent or a combination thereof. The system includes a container unit or dispenser unit for dispensing the tongue scraping ribbons or strips from a spool of tongue scraping ribbons or strips and for dispensing floss from a spool of floss. In further embodiments of the invention, the container unit or dispenser unit is configured to dispense chewable or soluble ribbons or strips that include a whitening agent, an anti-bacterial agent, an anti-microbial agent, a flavoring agent or any combination thereof, which are released in the user's mouth during use.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This patent application is a continuation-in-part of the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 300,176 filed Nov. 20, 2002 and entitled “DISPOSABLE ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUMENTS AND PACKAGES AND METHODS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING SAME” which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 282,643 filed Oct. 29, 2002 and entitled “DISPOSABLE ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUMENTS AND PACKAGES AND METHODS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING SAME” which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 339,086, filed Oct. 30, 2001. The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 300,176 filed Nov. 20, 2002 and entitled “DISPOSABLE ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUMENTS AND PACKAGES AND METHODS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING SAME”, the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 282,643 filed Oct. 29, 2002 and entitled “DISPOSABLE ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUMENTS AND PACKAGES AND METHODS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING SAME” and the U.S. Provisional Patent Ap...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In another embodiment, the invention provides a device for cleaning tongue surfaces that includes a central portion having at least one edge adapted to clean tongue surfaces. The device includes a first grip portion at a first end of the central portion, and a second grip portion at a second

Problems solved by technology

Nonetheless, tongue cleaning is perhaps the least practiced of these oral hygiene components.

Excessive plaque can interfere with taste, and cause bad breath.

Mouthwash and mouth fresheners may help to reduce bad breath but they do not eliminate the root cause.

While a substantial percentage of the population may attempt to use a toothbrush to clean their tongue, the toothbrush is not designed for this purpose.

The flexible bristles on the toothbrush do not provide sufficient resistance to effectively scrape away plaque on the tongue.

In addition, the motion provided by the user may not be sufficiently symmetric about the tongue to cover most of its area.

Moreover, the use of a toothbrush to clean the tongue can lead to choking or gagging, especially in children and adolescents.

While instruments have been proposed that are especially adapted for tongue cleaning, they have typically been inconvenient to use, to clean, and to store.

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