Oral cleaning tools

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a technique for removing interdental deposits in the user's oral cavity. [Solution] The oral cleaning device comprises an adhesive part that can be attached to the inside of the oral cavity and a main body part formed of a hard resin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral cleaning tool.

Background Art

[0002] Cleaning tools for cleaning between the teeth of a user have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a dental floss stick in which a film is adhered to one end in the long axis direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A user can use a dental floss stick to remove the deposits adhering between the teeth. For example, the tip of the dental floss stick is inserted between the teeth of the user, and the deposit is pushed up from below and removed. In this case, the user needs to operate the dental floss stick from outside the oral cavity, and there may be resistance to using it outdoors where there is a line of sight from the surroundings.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for removing deposits between teeth in a user's oral cavity.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An oral cleaning tool according to one aspect of the present invention includes an adhering part that can be adhered in the oral cavity, and a main body part formed of a hard resin.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, deposits between teeth can be removed in a user's oral cavity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side view of a user with an oral cleaning device according to an embodiment attached to their tongue. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an external perspective view of the oral cleaning tool according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the process of cleaning the spaces between the user's teeth, viewed from the left and right sides. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram (part 1) showing the cleaning of the user's interdental spaces when viewed from the front and back. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a diagram (part 2) showing the cleaning of the user's interdental spaces when viewed from the front-to-back direction. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an example of the shape of an oral cleaning tool. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an oral cleaning device that can be attached to the entire tip of the tongue. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of changing the orientation of the main body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The embodiments shown below are one aspect of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0010] <Embodiment> The oral cleaning device according to this embodiment can remove deposits adhering to the user's teeth by being attached to the user's tongue. In this embodiment, direction refers to the direction that coincides with the front, back, up, down, left, and right of the user when the oral cleaning device is attached to the user (hereinafter abbreviated as "attached state"). For example, when the left and right direction is referred to in this application, it refers to the direction that coincides with the left and right of the user when the oral cleaning device is attached to the user. The front-to-back direction of the oral cleaning device is also called the width direction of the oral cleaning device.

[0011] Figure 1 is a side view of a user 3 with the oral cleaning device 1 attached to their tongue 2, viewed from the left and right directions. As shown in Figure 1, the oral cleaning device 1 is sized to be attached near the tip of the tongue 2. Figure 2 is an external perspective view of the oral cleaning device 1. The oral cleaning device 1 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprises a main body 4 made of a hard resin and an attachment part 5 provided on one surface of the main body 4 that can be attached to a part inside the oral cavity. In this embodiment, the part to which the attachment part 5 is attached is the tongue 2 of the user 3, but it may also be attached to a part inside the user 3's oral cavity other than the tongue 2, for example, the teeth.

[0012] The adhesive portion 5 is provided by applying an adhesive member to the main body portion 4 that can be attached to the user's tongue 2. The adhesive member can be any known adhesive member that can be placed inside the user's mouth.

[0013] The main body 4 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape and can be made of a known resin that is hard enough not to deform even when it comes into contact with the user's teeth, etc., and that can be placed in the user's mouth. However, the main body 4 may also be made of a material other than resin that can be placed in the user's mouth, as long as it is hard enough not to deform even when it comes into contact with the user's teeth, etc.

[0014] Next, the method of using the oral cleaning device 1 will be explained using Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 shows the cleaning of the spaces between user 3's teeth as viewed from the left and right sides of user 3. Note that for explanatory purposes, the teeth 7 positioned in the foreground are omitted in Figure 3. Figures 4 and 5 show the cleaning of the spaces between user 3's teeth as viewed from the front and back sides of user 3. Figures 3(A) and 4 show the state in which the tongue 2 to which the oral cleaning device 1 is attached has been moved to the deposit 6 attached between user 3's teeth 7. Figures 3(B) and 5 show the state in which the deposit 6 has been removed using the oral cleaning device 1.

[0015] User 3 attaches the oral cleaning device 1 to the tip of the tongue 2 via the adhesive part 5. By moving the tongue 2, User 3 moves the oral cleaning device 1 to the underside of the deposit 6 attached between User 3's teeth 7, as shown in Figures 3(A) and 4.

[0016] After moving the oral cleaning tool 1 to the lower side of the deposit 6, the user 3 lifts the tongue 2 upward with the oral cleaning tool 1 in contact with the deposit 6. Since the oral cleaning tool 1 has a hardness such that it does not deform even when it contacts the teeth 7, it can lift the deposit 6 upward without deforming. As a result, the deposit 6 slips out from between the teeth 7 and is placed on the upper part of the oral cleaning tool 1 as shown in FIGS. 3(B) and 6.

[0017] Thus, the oral cleaning tool 1 according to this embodiment can remove the deposit 6 adhering between the teeth 7 only by the movement of the tongue 2 of the user 3. Therefore, the deposit 6 adhering between the teeth 7 can be removed without resistance even outdoors or the like where the line of sight from the surroundings is a concern.

[0018] Note that the adhering part 5 of the oral cleaning tool 1 may melt after a lapse of a predetermined time. For example, it may melt due to an increase in temperature by the transmission of the body temperature of the user 3, or it may melt by the adhesion of saliva or moisture exceeding a predetermined amount. If the adhering part 5 melts after a lapse of a predetermined time, it is preferable because the trouble of washing the oral cavity by gargling or the like after removing the deposit 6 can be saved. Further, it is preferable because the oral cleaning tool 1 is peeled off from the tongue 2 when the adhering part 5 melts. Further, the adhering part 5 and the main body part 4 of the oral cleaning tool 1 may melt after a lapse of a predetermined time. If the main body part 4 and the adhering part 5 melt after a lapse of a predetermined time, the trouble of washing the oral cavity by gargling or the like after removing the deposit 6 can be saved.

[0019] The oral cleaning tool 1 is not limited to the above shape. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the oral cleaning tool 1. Note that the oral cleaning tool 1 shown in FIG. 6 shows a state of the oral cleaning tool 1 having a bottom surface as the adhering part 5 and arranged in a plane as viewed from the left-right direction. Further, the oral cleaning tool 1 can be appropriately redesigned other than the example shown in FIG. 6.

[0020] The oral cleaning tool 1 is not limited to the above shape. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the oral cleaning tool 1. Note that the oral cleaning tool 1 shown in FIG. 6 shows a state of the oral cleaning tool 1 having a bottom surface as the adhering part 5 and arranged in a plane as viewed from the left-right direction. Further, the oral cleaning tool 1 can be appropriately redesigned other than the example shown in FIG. 6.

[0021] The oral cleaning device 1 may have a cube shape with all sides being square, as shown in Figure 6(A).

[0022] As shown in Figure 6(B), the upper surface area of ​​the main body 4 of the oral cleaning device 1 may be smaller than the surface area of ​​the adhesive part 5. By making the upper part of the main body 4 narrower, the upper end can easily get into the space between the user's teeth 7, making it easier to remove the attached material 6 from between the teeth 7.

[0023] The oral cleaning tool 1 may have a curved shape on the upper part of the main body 4, as shown in Figure 6(C). Since there are no sharp corners on the outer surface of the upper end of the main body 4, it is possible to remove deposits 6 without damaging the user's teeth 7 or gums.

[0024] The oral cleaning tool 1 may have protrusions 8 that protrude from the outer surface of the main body 4, as shown in Figures 6(D) and 6(E). The protrusions 8 may be formed on a curved outer surface, as shown in Figure 6(D), or on a straight outer surface, as shown in Figure 6(E). The presence of protrusions 8 on the oral cleaning tool 1 makes it easier for the protrusions 8 to enter between the user's teeth 7, making it easier to remove the attached material 6 from between the teeth 7. There may be one protrusion 8 or multiple protrusions 8. If multiple protrusions 8 are provided, the attached material 6 can be removed by inserting any of the protrusions 8 between the teeth 7, making it easier to position the oral cleaning tool 1 compared to the case where there is only one protrusion 8.

[0025] The oral cleaning tool 1 may have a brush section 9 on its outer surface, as shown in Figure 6(F). By providing the brush section 9 on the oral cleaning tool 1, the brush can get between the user's teeth 7, making it easier to remove the attached material 6 from between the teeth 7.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(G), the oral cleaning tool 1 may have a high-friction portion 11 on its outer surface that has a higher frictional force than other parts. The high-friction portion 11 may be formed, for example, by embossing. Because it has a higher frictional force than other parts, the deposits 6 are more likely to get caught on the high-friction portion 11. As a result, the deposits 6 can be caught on the high-friction portion 11 and removed from between the teeth 7.

[0027] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the oral cleaning device 1 may be shaped to conform to the shape of the attachment site. In this embodiment, the attachment site is near the tip of the tongue 2. If the bottom surface is shaped to conform to the shape of the attachment site, the user 3 can attach the oral cleaning device 1 to the correct position. The correct position is the position where the attached substance 6 can be removed by attaching the oral cleaning device 1.

[0028] In Figure 1, the oral cleaning tool 1 is sized to adhere to only a portion of the tip of the tongue 2, but its size can be changed as appropriate. For example, it may be sized to adhere to the entire tip of the tongue 2. The oral cleaning tool 1 removes the attached substance 6 by coming into contact with a portion of it. Therefore, if the oral cleaning tool 1 is large, the effort of aligning it between the teeth 7 to which the deposits 6 are attached can be eliminated.

[0029] Furthermore, it is desirable that the adhesive portion 5 has sufficient adhesive strength to prevent it from coming off the tongue 2 during the removal of the attached substance 6. For example, methods such as increasing the area of ​​the adhesive portion 5 can be employed. Figure 7 shows an oral cleaning tool 1 that can be attached to the entire tip of the tongue 2. Figure 7(A) is a plan view of the oral cleaning tool 1 seen from above. Figure 7(B) is a side view of the oral cleaning tool 1 seen from the side. The oral cleaning tool 1 in Figure 7 has an adhesive portion 5 that is large enough to be attached to the entire tip of the tongue 2 and has a shape that conforms to the tip of the tongue 2. Because the adhesive portion 5 can be attached to the entire tip of the tongue 2, the adhesive strength is higher compared to when it is attached to only a part of the tip of the tongue 2, and the oral cleaning tool 1 can be prevented from coming off.

[0030] Furthermore, the upper surface and sides of the adhesive portion 5 may be provided with, for example, brushes or uneven surfaces. This allows teeth 7, etc., that come into contact with the upper surface and sides of the adhesive portion 5 during the process of removing the attached material 6 to be polished.

[0031] Furthermore, the orientation of the main body 4 of the oral cleaning device 1 may be changed as appropriate while it is being worn. Figure 8 shows examples of changing the orientation of the main body 4. In Figure 8(A), the tip of the main body 4 is facing the throat side of the user 3. In Figure 8(B), the tip of the main body 4 is facing the teeth 7 side of the user 3. With the oral cleaning device 1 shown in Figure 8(A), it is possible to hook or push out any deposits 6 attached between the teeth 7 from underneath the deposits 6. With the oral cleaning device 1 shown in Figure 8(B), it is possible to scoop up the deposits 6 from underneath. The user's preference will vary depending on their habits and ease of use, and the device that is suitable for each individual can be worn.

[0032] The oral cleaning device 1 may be attached to the side of the tongue 2, or to the center of the tongue 2, and the attachment position and location can be changed as appropriate. Users 3 may have different preferences depending on their habits and ease of use, and they can choose the one that suits them best.

[0033] <Other Embodiments> The features included in each embodiment and its modified form disclosed above can be combined in any way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Oral cleaning tools 2. Tongue 3...User 4. Main body 5.Adhesive part 6. Attached substances 7 teeth 8...Protrusion 9. Brush part 10...High friction part

Claims

1. An adhesive portion that can be attached to the inside of the oral cavity, It comprises a main body made of a hard resin, Oral cleaning tools.

2. The aforementioned adhesive portion is coated with an adhesive material that can be attached to the user's tongue. The oral cleaning device according to claim 1.

3. The adhesive member melts after a predetermined time has elapsed. The oral cleaning device according to claim 2.

4. The main body has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The oral cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The outer surface of the main body portion has a protruding portion that extends from the outer surface. The oral cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The outer surface of the main body has a brush section provided with multiple brushes. The oral cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The outer surface of the main body has a high-friction area that has a higher frictional force than other parts. The oral cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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