toothbrush

Abstract

We provide interdental brushes that can help remove as much plaque as possible through self-control, make the process easier, and also prove useful in disaster situations. [Solution] The Mitsuya series toothbrushes have three arrows when viewed from above and a mountain-shaped section when viewed from the side. The smaller toothbrush version is further reinforced by creating a shaft in the center. The Mitsubishi Yama series has both the base and bristles pointing towards the central apex, with the bristles becoming longer and stronger towards the center. While all series basically have short, thin bristles, it is good to have variations in size, bristle stiffness, and length.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toothbrush that fits the shape of teeth and gums.

Background Art

[0002] Current toothbrushes are flat and cannot enter between teeth, so it is almost impossible to clean periodontal pockets and the spaces between teeth. Also, the toothbrush with a mountain-shaped tip that I developed and sold during the development process has significantly solved this problem. In recent years, under the recommendation of the Dental Association, toothpaste containing fluoride with suppressed foaming has become the mainstream. The reason is that when there are bubbles, people tend to think that they can clean just with the bubbles.

[0003] Due to the nature of the hair spreading, interdental brushes can only clean up to above the flossing line. Also, the hair implantation of end-tuft brushes is mainly circular with a diameter of about 4 mm at present. With such a size, it is difficult to insert into the pocket, especially at the mesial and distal corners of the posterior teeth and in areas where it is difficult to access the interdental spaces.

[0004] In recent research, the power of bubbles has been introduced in NHK's special features and such. The reason why it is said that the presence of bubbles has nothing to do with whether teeth are being cleaned is probably because in the past, there was no culture of carefully brushing teeth, and the brushing methods of people who developed tooth decay were rough and only involved spreading bubbles. In my experimental results, when using a toothpaste with super-fine hairs and good foaming ability, the removal rate was better than when using a more expensive toothpaste with poor foaming ability. Also, the removal rate of end-tuft brushes can be increased by applying the principle of bubbles. However, unfortunately, due to that thickness, it can only enter shallow parts of the pocket.

[0005] Interdental brushes, dental floss, end-tuft brushes, all these tools are important. Including the toothbrush I developed this time, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The situation of each person is different, and it depends on the specific situation at that time. When in trouble, it would be very helpful if it could be added as one of the options to choose the most useful tool according to the situation. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Toothbrushes that were sold around 2017 [Non-Patent Document 2] NHK's instruction manual for facial cleansing [Non-Patent Document 3] Jaw models and CAD data [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] By increasing the percentage of plaque that can be removed through self-control using only a toothbrush, time is saved. The goal is to increase the number of areas where people can remove plaque themselves that would otherwise require a visit to the dentist, making it useful for those who cannot go to the dentist or for oral care during disasters. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] I've prepared five different types of toothbrushes for this occasion. The names are just for convenience. It doesn't really matter. Three arrows, Figures 1 to 5 Surprise! Figures 6 to 8 Mitsuya Elementary School, 1st Grade, Figures 9 to 12 Mitsubishi Mountain Figures 13 to 18 Mitsubishiyama Elementary School, Figures 19 to 21 I think it's good to have a variety of sizes. The bristles are thin because it uses the power of foam.

[0009] Mitsuya 1 The base (Figure 5) has three arrows (Figure 4), with a short, soft, circular hair (Figure 3) in the center around it, and longer hairs around that (Figure 2). The outer circumference is covered (Figure 1). The outer circumference is shortened by about 5 mm to make insertion easier. Mitsuya 2 Surprise Figures 6, 7, and 8. The areas that look like eyes and mouth are hairless. This is so that teeth can be easily inserted. Mitsuya small The base is quite small. It's roughly 3 to 4 millimeters wide, with bristles about 11 to 13 millimeters long. It's an auxiliary tool for cleaning pockets and interdental spaces. In addition to the principles described above (Three Arrows 1 and 2), I tried creating an axis. (Figure 12) The central part is a hexagon, and around it, three triangular hairs are placed in the direction of the arrow, with their edges parallel to the edges of the central hexagon, and these are surrounded by thinner hairs. (Figure 11) The axis of this part has a slightly higher apex than the others. This allows it to be reinforced by the pressure of the bristles coming from three directions when in use. In addition, the surrounding bristles also come from three directions at sharp angles, so this design allows them to fit into the grooves as well. Furthermore, by creating a shaft and directing the bristles towards the center, it becomes possible to directly clean pockets and interdental spaces. I also think the possibilities will expand even further by shortening the length of one of the three arrows in the base. (For example, by removing the front and creating a shape where the tops of the V-shape are joined together.) The bristles are oriented vertically relative to the tooth surface, unlike interdental brushes, making them less likely to be deflected by teeth and allowing them to reach deeper. The foamy action makes it easier to remove debris. The shape, with its thin tip and design that closely matches the shape of the interdental space, and with each side of the bristles separated into thin bundles, makes it easy to get into pockets. Mitsubishi Mountain The base is positioned so that it faces towards the center (the base itself is three-dimensional), and the hair is implanted towards the central apex. The hair is longer towards the center and shorter towards the outside, with the outer edges appearing to be covered by the tips of the hairs. Above about 5 mm from the root, the tips of the hairs will almost always make contact no matter where it touches. I would like the hair to be stronger towards the center. I did not specify the angle of the handle, but I have included two types in the drawing. Mitsubishiyama Elementary School For cleaning between the pockets and teeth. The base of the Mitsubishi mountain is made smaller, giving an overall vertically elongated feel. The direction of the bristles against the tooth surface is vertical compared to an interdental brush, so they are less likely to be repelled by the teeth and can easily reach the back. It is easy to scrape off with the force of the foamy texture. The shape is also thin at the tip and the bristle clusters are separated, making it easy to enter the pocket.

[0010] Make the foam reach places that a flat toothbrush cannot reach and drive out dirt with the foam.

[0011] It's fluoride in toothpaste, but it will wash away anyway after brushing. I think it's better for the whiteness of teeth to rinse thoroughly. There are people who seem to have a thick layer of dental plaque on their teeth, who, based on the theory that cavities don't occur unless it's from dental plaque that has accumulated over several days, rinse only once with a small amount of water and are proud of it. It seems that the number of bacteria decreases when rinsed thoroughly. Fluoride is meaningless if it stays for more than 30 minutes. Then it would be more efficient and better for the environment to use toothpaste without fluoride and then rinse the mouth with fluoride later, even if some of that fluoride is swallowed.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] Overall view of Mitsuya 1 [Figure 2] View of Mitsuya 1 with the outer perimeter removed [Figure 3] View of Mitsuya 1 leaving only Mitsuya and the central part [Figure 4] Only the Mitsuya part of Mitsuya 1 [Figure 5] Only the base part of Mitsuya 1 [Figure 6] Overall view of Mitsuya 2 Surprise [Figure 7] View of Mitsuya 2 Surprise from above [Figure 8] View of Mitsuya 2 Surprise from the side [Figure 9] Overall view of Mitsuya Small [Figure 10]Mitsuya (small): Base and central axis [Figure 11] Enlarged view of the central area of ​​Mitsuya Elementary School [Figure 12] A top-down view of the central axis of the small arrow. [Figure 13] Mitsubishi Mountain (Overall View) [Figure 14] Mitsubishi Mountain (side view) [Figure 15] Mitsubishi Mountain (rear view) [Figure 16] View of Mount Mitsubishi from above [Figure 17] Mitsubishi Mountain pattern, modified angle, base only. [Figure 18] Mitsubishi Mountain pattern, angled version, rear view, base only. [Figure 19] Mitsubishiyama Elementary School - Overall View [Figure 20] View from above of Mount Mitsubishi [Figure 21] Mitsubishi Yamako (base only) [Industrial applicability]

[0013] Preventing cervical caries. Of course, it also helps prevent periodontal disease. The further caries progresses towards the tooth root, the more difficult it becomes to treat and the more likely it is to cause tooth loss. Once caries develops, it becomes impossible to remove it through self-control brushing, and because the cervical area of ​​the tooth is naturally constricted, it is difficult for dentists to detect and understand the problem, which can even lead to being told that you are brushing too hard. When plaque accumulates at the neck of the tooth, the area around the tooth root becomes acidic every time you eat something sweet, and because the self-cleaning mechanism is less effective, it remains acidic for a long time, leading to serious progression of dental caries.

[0014] With current technology, once a pocket forms, it's virtually impossible to clean the affected pocket and interdental spaces. Many people lack the time and money to visit the dentist weekly for scaling and other treatments. Furthermore, if cervical caries isn't recognized, it can become painful and lead to serious complications. It would be wonderful if we could contribute to solving this problem by expanding the scope of self-control, even slightly.

Claims

1. Toothbrushes with a design that looks like three arrows from above and a mountain shape from the side, etc. Also includes auxiliary tools, interdental brushes, etc.

2. Alternatively, the shaft can be made slightly higher than the other bristles, allowing the pressure from the surrounding bristles to support the center during use. See Figures 11 and 12 for examples.

3. Alternatively, it can be a shape where one side of the arrow is shortened, similar to the Mitsuya-sho style. The shaft is optional. The way the handle is attached is not included.

4. Alternatively, the hairs are planted towards the center, becoming longer towards the center.

Images