Periodontal disease prevention device

Abstract

This invention provides a periodontal disease prevention device that aims to prevent periodontal disease by increasing blood flow to the gums through brushing with a toothbrush, regulating the flow of tissue fluid produced in the gums and guiding it to the subepithelial connective tissue, and causing the tissue fluid to seep into the gingival sulcus through the interstitial spaces of the attached epithelial cells, thereby creating a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus and preventing periodontal disease through this pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus. [Solution] The method involves using a motor for a feather-shaped brush to continuously rotate the feather-shaped brush from the attached gingiva through the gingival sulcus opening, while keeping the product of the number of rows of brush bristles (which form the feather portion of the feather-shaped brush 1) and the motor's rotation speed per minute within a range of 240 revolutions / minute or less, and simultaneously vibrating the rotating feather-shaped brush using a vibration motor 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for preventing periodontal disease by allowing gingival tissue fluid to exude into the gingival sulcus.

Background Art

[0002] The health of the periodontal tissue is maintained by various receptors and immune actions in the attached epithelium, which forms the boundary between the living body and the outside of the body in the oral cavity, as well as by the organic resistance of the attached epithelium that suppresses the invasion and penetration of bacteria and bacterial toxins in the gingival sulcus into the living body. After tissue fluid containing immune cells, immune substances, oxygen, etc. physiologically exudes from the subjunctional epithelium under the attached epithelium through the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelial cells into the gingival sulcus and becomes gingival crevicular fluid, over time, bacteria, bacterial metabolites, bacterial corpses, leukocyte corpses, toxins, etc. accumulate in the gingival sulcus, increasing the concentration, reducing the bactericidal and antibacterial effects, reducing the oxygen concentration, and causing putrefaction of the gingival crevicular fluid. The gingival sulcus is cleaned and the gingival crevicular fluid is replaced by diluting the putrefied gingival crevicular fluid with newly exuded fresh tissue fluid and discharging it from the gingival sulcus, thereby constantly suppressing the activities of bacteria in the gingival sulcus and preventing the accumulation of pro-inflammatory substances. However, the organic defense in the attached epithelium is achieved by suppressing or preventing the invasion or penetration of bacteria and pro-inflammatory substances from the gingival sulcus through the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelial cells into the living body. The defense by the cleaning of the gingival sulcus and the replacement of the gingival crevicular fluid, i.e., the so-called self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus, is achieved by the tissue fluid that acts as a carrier for immune substances or as washing water exuding into the gingival sulcus through the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelial cells. Therefore, the occurrence of these two actions is contradictory, and there is a characteristic that the promotion of the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus does not occur in the normal state when the attached epithelium is healthy. However, if the attached epithelium is healthy and has a large organic resistance and does not allow the passage of substances, the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus does not occur, resulting in an increase in pathogenic bacteria and toxins in the gingival sulcus. Eventually, the health of the attached epithelium is impaired, and the patient suffers from periodontal disease. Therefore, it is considered that the living body has a structural and physiological mechanism of the periodontal tissue in which the attached epithelium is healthy and tissue fluid exudes functionally into the gingival sulcus in a large amount in a short period, and the chewing movement functions it. Therefore, it is believed that if one can eat substantial foods and chew them thoroughly at each meal, an effective self-cleaning action will occur several times a day, greatly protecting the health of periodontal tissues. The validity of this idea is demonstrated by the fact that people who have the habit of eating hard foods and chewing them thoroughly have very good periodontal tissue health.

[0003] If there is no inflammation and the periodontal tissue is healthy, the capillaries exhibit a nearly constant leakage rate, so plasma components containing water leak into the interstitial spaces in proportion to the blood flow, producing interstitial fluid. Of the interstitial fluid produced in the attached epithelial connective tissue, some seeps out from the attached epithelial connective tissue through the interstitial spaces of the attached epithelial cells into the gingival sulcus, becoming gingival crevicular fluid, while the other portion is absorbed by the lymphatic capillaries in the attached epithelial connective tissue, and returns to the systemic circulation via the lymphatic vessels and lymphatic main vessels. The connective tissue beneath the attached epithelium has a dense network of capillaries closely attached to the basement membrane of the attached epithelium, nearly half of which are composed of fenestrated capillaries with high permeability to matter. Blood is supplied from two routes, the gums and the periodontal ligament. At rest, the route from the gums is the main pathway (see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, during masticatory movements, a systemic response occurs in response to the exercise load, increasing the proportion of cardiac output and blood flow distribution to the maxillofacial tissues. This increases blood flow to the periodontal tissues, including the gums and periodontal ligament routes, and promotes the production of tissue fluid beneath the attached epithelium. On the other hand, it is empirically well known that massage by hand or with a device promotes blood flow, but in the blood vessel walls subjected to mechanical stress, shear stress is generated within the blood vessel wall, causing endothelial cells to produce NO (nitric oxide), a vasodilator, which leads to dilation of the blood vessel diameter and an increase in blood flow. This mechanism has been clarified (see Non-Patent Documents 3, 4, 5, 6). Since the periodontal ligament is also subjected to intermittent pressure stimulation during masticatory movements, it is thought that shear stress is generated within the blood vessel walls of the periodontal ligament, increasing blood flow to the periodontal ligament. At the same time, the tissue fluid produced is pumped in part to the bone marrow and in part to the area beneath the attached epithelium by the pumping action that occurs in the periodontal ligament space during mastication. This is thought to significantly increase the amount of tissue fluid beneath the attached epithelium, suggesting that the periodontal ligament is equipped with a unique mechanism that efficiently produces and pumps tissue fluid simultaneously, and that mastication plays a role in activating this mechanism. Therefore, it is thought that chewing movements cause fresh tissue fluid to seep into the gingival sulcus, delivering immune cells, immune substances, and oxygen to the gingival sulcus, and cleansing the gingival sulcus with tissue fluid, occurring several times a day with some time intervals between meals, thereby protecting the gums from bacterial infection.

[0004] On the other hand, current dietary habits include many processed and cooked foods, which reduces the need for chewing and may result in insufficient chewing activity. Consequently, the amount of tissue fluid exuded into the gingival sulcus due to food intake is low, and the self-cleaning effect of the gingival sulcus is thought to be insufficient. Because teeth, being hard tissue, penetrate the soft tissue of the gingival epithelium and expose the crown portion to the oral cavity, the boundary between the tooth and the gingival epithelium is the only place in the body where the continuity of epithelial cells is interrupted. The cervical area is sealed by the attached epithelium, setting up a boundary between the inside and outside of the body and forming the front line of biological defense. However, the bonding force between the tooth and the attached epithelium is weak, and the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium are wider than those of other epithelium. As a result, the junction between the tooth and the attached epithelium, and the attached epithelium itself, easily become pathways for the invasion or penetration of bacteria and bacterial toxins into the body. When the health of the attached epithelium is compromised, a periodontal pocket (gingival sulcus) is formed, marking the beginning of periodontal disease. On the other hand, the periodontal tissues, including the attached epithelium, in the cervical region of the tooth, which has a boundary between hard and soft tissues, have structural and functional defense mechanisms to prevent this. These mechanisms protect the periodontal tissues from bacteria and harmful substances from the outside world and work to maintain healthy homeostasis of the periodontal tissues. However, for these mechanisms to be fully effective, in addition to the proper functioning of the immune system, the amount of masticatory movement (moisture load * exercise time), accompanied by exercise load (mastication force * number of chews / minute) and exercise time (minutes), is necessary to meet the biological requirements of the microcirculation system, which consists of arterioles, capillaries, venules, and lymphatic capillaries, as well as the periodontal tissues of the cervical region, including the periodontal ligaments. However, modern diets often involve less force and fewer chewing cycles, resulting in insufficient chewing exercise. This creates a living environment where the body's defense mechanisms are not fully utilized. Furthermore, with increasing life expectancy and an aging population, and given that periodontal disease is highly correlated with age, it can be argued that modern people are more likely to develop periodontal disease during their lifetime.

[0005] Structure and function of adherent epithelium The attached epithelium forms the boundary between the inside and outside of the body at the bottom of the gingival sulcus, suppressing the inflow of extracellular substances into the body, preventing unnecessary loss of intracellular substances, and allowing physiological exudation of tissue fluid into the gingival sulcus. It also works in conjunction with the immune function to prevent bacterial invasion, thereby protecting the body and maintaining homeostasis. Therefore, damage to the attached epithelium can trigger the onset of periodontal disease and provide a site for bacterial invasion into the body. Thus, the attached epithelium is an extremely important tissue in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, and in protecting the body.

[0006] The attached epithelium (junctional epithelium) is located beneath the gingival sulcus floor and is a non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium with a basal cell layer that attaches to the connective tissue beneath the attached epithelium and a basal cell layer that attaches to the enamel. Its uppermost part constitutes the gingival sulcus floor, and it seals the neck of the tooth by encircling the cervical enamel in a band from the gingival sulcus floor to the CEJ (cervical line). Even in a normal state, the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium are wide, and leukocyte migration is always observed within these intercellular spaces. This serves as a migration route, and leukocytes are also found in the gingival sulcus. The intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium function as a pathway for the exudation of tissue fluid into the gingival sulcus and as a pathway for the delivery of immune substances, thus extending the body's defense mechanism by innate immunity to the gingival sulcus (Non-patent documents 7, 8, 9). However, on the other hand, tissue fluid itself can serve as food for bacteria, and the wide intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium make it easy for bacteria and harmful substances to enter or penetrate the body, which constitutes a weakness in the body's defense mechanism in the attached epithelium.

[0007] Between the connective tissue basal cell layer and the enamel basal cell layer, there are several layers of adherent epithelial cells. These cells collectively migrate toward the bottom of the gingival sulcus, maintaining intercellular connections and functional connectivity with the tooth. Upon reaching the bottom of the gingival sulcus, they degenerate without keratinization and gradually disappear. Furthermore, in the attached epithelium, the migration and disappearance of attached epithelial cells that have divided in the basal cell layer to the bottom of the gingival sulcus are repeated as described above, resulting in a faster turnover rate than other epithelium, and this rate becomes even faster during inflammation (see Non-Patent Document 10). Such rapid turnover of adherent epithelium is thought to function to protect the body from infection by constantly growing and shedding, similar to the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes, and earwax. The active metabolism of adherent epithelial cells is supported by the structure and function of tissues that produce a larger amount of tissue fluid compared to other tissues, as evidenced by the fact that a dense network of capillaries closely adhering to the basement membrane of the adherent epithelium, and the capillaries that make up this network are distributed in areas with high demand for substance exchange between blood and tissue fluid through the vessel walls, such as the gastrointestinal mucosa, endocrine glands, and glomeruli of the kidneys, and approximately half of them are fenestrated capillaries (see Non-Patent Documents 11, 12) which have small pores in the vessel walls, resulting in a high leakage rate of plasma components from the vessel wall and the function of producing a large amount of tissue fluid. Furthermore, the produced tissue fluid plays an important role in the expression of the self-cleaning action of the gingival crevice as the main source of gingival crevice exudate.

[0008] On the other hand, it has been reported that inflammation increases the amount of gingival crevicular exudate containing immune cells, immune substances, inflammatory substances, etc. (see Non-Patent Documents 13, 14). In inflamed tissue, venous permeability increases, leading to an atypical increase in plasma leakage and an increase in the volume of tissue fluid, which in turn increases the pressure of the tissue fluid. This, in turn, increases the pressure difference between the tissue fluid pressure in the inflamed tissue and the pressure in the gingival sulcus. Furthermore, inflammation causes the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium to widen, reducing the resistance of tissue fluid flow within the epithelium. This allows the high-pressure tissue fluid to easily seep through the intercellular spaces with reduced flow resistance into the unpressurized gingival sulcus, and the amount of tissue fluid seeping into the gingival sulcus increases depending on the pathological condition.

[0009] Furthermore, inflammation increases the permeability of venous blood vessels, leading to increased leakage of water-containing plasma components and an increase in the volume of inflammatory tissue fluid. This increases the flow of tissue fluid within the interstitial spaces of adherent epithelial cells, which washes away bacteria, lysed leukocytes, lysed bacteria, and bacterial toxins and inflammatory substances that have diffused and infiltrated from the gingival sulcus into the gingival sulcus. Overflow from the gingival sulcus, these substances are expelled from both the interstitial spaces and the gingival sulcus. In addition, the normalization of the fluid environment, such as oxygen concentration and osmotic pressure, around the adherent epithelial cells, and the increase in immune substances reaching the interstitial spaces of adherent epithelial cells are thought to normalize the cellular function of the adherent epithelium and enhance immunological resistance. Furthermore, the turnover of the attached epithelium is accelerated, and the collective migration and disappearance of the attachable epithelial cells themselves toward the bottom of the gingival sulcus proceeds rapidly while harmful substances are contained within the attached epithelium. This promotes the transport and discharge of these substances into the gingival sulcus, and it is also expected to suppress bacteria attempting to invade the body from the oral cavity through the gingival sulcus and the interstitial space between attached epithelial cells, as well as the penetration or diffusion of external substances into the body.

[0010] The increase in the amount of gingival crevicular exudate described above is a non-physiologically promoted self-cleaning action of the gingival crevicular region due to inflammation. This occurs inversely to the expansion of intercellular spaces in the attached epithelium due to inflammation and the resulting decrease in organic resistance. It can be considered a functional defense mechanism that automatically operates to maintain homeostasis in the periodontal tissue, and is thought to act as a feedback mechanism to control inflammation by promoting the recovery of organic resistance in the early stages of inflammation.

[0011] On the other hand, in order to protect healthy periodontal tissue, it is important to ensure that the physiological self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus is sufficiently generated through chewing movements. An increase in interstitial fluid itself increases the pressure of the interstitial fluid within the tissue, and the movement of interstitial fluid between tissues occurs due to the pressure difference between the interstitial fluids. The pressure in the gingival sulcus is approximately zero, and it is thought that the exudation of interstitial fluid into the gingival sulcus occurs based on the pressure difference between the interstitial fluid pressure of the free gingiva and the pressure in the gingival sulcus (see Non-Patent Literature 15). Since the increase in interstitial fluid beneath the attached epithelium is thought to have the effect of promoting the exudation of interstitial fluid into the gingival sulcus, it is thought that if there is an appropriate exercise load accompanied by a systemic circulatory response and sufficient exercise time (number of chews) during mastication, the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus will occur physiologically, and the health of the periodontal tissues will be protected. Furthermore, during mastication, intermittent tension is generated in the periodontal tissue ligaments, intermittently increasing tissue pressure and promoting the exudation of tissue fluid into the gingival sulcus. Additionally, strong occlusal pressure during swallowing intermittently increases tissue pressure, forcefully pushing tissue fluid into the gingival sulcus. Simultaneously, negative pressure is created in the oral cavity, promoting the aspiration of gingival sulcus fluid into the oral cavity and facilitating its replacement.

[0012] However, many books and magazines to date have stated that chewing has many effects, including promoting the development of jaw and oral tissues, promoting saliva secretion, aiding digestion, promoting cerebral blood flow, as well as stabilizing the autonomic nervous system, stabilizing blood sugar levels, improving immunity, improving metabolism, suppressing appetite, and improving depressive symptoms, and that it also has a preventive effect against periodontal disease. However, many of these effects are indirect, and even in the case of preventing periodontal disease, it is stated that the cleansing effect on the oral mucosa due to promoted saliva secretion and the suppression of oral bacteria due to the antibacterial effect of salivary components are secondary effects associated with saliva secretion, and it has not been stated that chewing movement directly protects the health of periodontal tissues by generating a self-cleaning effect in the gingival sulcus, and there has been a lack of perspective that views chewing as a chewing movement.

[0013] Similarly, as the trend towards soft foods has progressed, the number of children who cannot chew hard foods or who are picky eaters and refuse to eat hard foods has increased. This has led to the need to improve chewing ability, and chewing training gum has been provided. However, while the instructions for this gum stated that chewing promotes saliva secretion and provides the benefits of saliva, and that it improves chewing ability, they did not mention that chewing motion has a function of producing a self-cleaning action in the gingival sulcus.

[0014] Furthermore, it was a well-known fact that people who habitually chew hard foods thoroughly tend to have very good periodontal tissue health. However, the causal relationship between chewing habits in the above-mentioned diet and the health of periodontal tissue had not been scientifically explained.

[0015] Furthermore, while the existence of the gingival sulcus self-cleaning mechanism has been known for some time, the mechanism by which this self-cleaning mechanism occurs has not been sufficiently elucidated. It was a well-known fact that brushing increases blood flow to the gums (see Non-Patent Documents 16 and 17), that the use of electric toothbrushes increases blood flow to the gums, and that tissue fluid is produced in proportion to the blood flow. However, conventional electric toothbrushes lacked the function of guiding the tissue fluid produced in the gums beneath the attached epithelium and causing it to seep from beneath the attached epithelium into the gingival sulcus. In addition, the effect of massage in increasing blood flow was thought to be the promotion of peripheral circulation or the promotion of cell metabolism.

[0016] In contrast, the present invention aims to prevent periodontal disease by utilizing the structure and function of periodontal tissue through artificial brushing to create a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus. However, artificial brushing does not involve the systemic circulatory response associated with masticatory movement, and there is no increase in blood flow to periodontal tissue due to increased cardiac output or increased blood flow distribution to the jaw and oral tissues. Furthermore, the function of the periodontal ligament associated with masticatory movement cannot be utilized. Therefore, in order to artificially substitute for part of the function of masticatory movement and create a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus, the brushing device needed to be equipped with the following functions. a) Increase blood flow to the gums as much as possible. b) Collect the tissue fluid produced in the gums and guide it toward the area beneath the attached epithelium at the gingival margin. c) Allow the tissue fluid induced beneath the attached epithelium to seep into the gingival sulcus through the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium. d) Repeatedly and continuously increasing blood flow, producing tissue fluid, guiding the tissue fluid beneath the attached epithelium, and delivering the guided tissue fluid through the interstitial spaces of the attached epithelial cells into the gingival sulcus.

[0017] On the other hand, electric toothbrushes that massage the gums by continuously rotating an arrow-shaped brush in one direction have already been proposed, and it was possible to exert an effect on the arterioles, venules, and lymphatic capillaries of the gums with intermittent pressure stimulation at a biologically physiological frequency range of 6 to 700 times per minute (see Patent Document 1). However, under the condition that the applied pressure of the brush is the same, the magnitude of the effect on the lymphatic system, venous system, and arterial system differs depending on the frequency of intermittent pressure stimulation. In the low-frequency range within the physiological frequency range, the effect on the venous and lymphatic systems is relatively greater than that on the arterial system, and the effect of inducing rectification of extracellular fluid is relatively greater. On the other hand, in the high-frequency range within the physiological frequency range, the effect on the arterial system is greater than that on the venous and lymphatic systems, and the effect of increasing blood flow is relatively greater. Therefore, the electric toothbrush could arbitrarily select and adjust whether to increase the rectifying effect on the extracellular fluid (tissue fluid) or increase the effect on the arteriole walls to increase blood flow by changing the frequency of intermittent pressure stimulation to the gums within a physiological range. However, the manifestation of these effects was inversely related to the frequency of intermittent pressure stimulation, and it was impossible to simultaneously produce the most effective blood flow increase effect and the most effective rectifying effect on the tissue fluid of the electric toothbrush.

[0018] On the other hand, a vibrating device that increases blood flow to the gums has been proposed (see Patent Document 2), and it was possible to increase blood flow by vibrating the gums, but it did not have the function of guiding tissue fluid beneath the attached epithelium and exudating it into the gingival sulcus. [Prior art documents]

[0019]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Document 4

Non-Patent Document 5

Non-Patent Document 6

Outdoor Tools 14

Outdoor Tools 15

Outdoor Content 16

Outdoor Track 17

[0020] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6052377 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7428311 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0021] While chewing force not only affects the microcirculation system of periodontal tissue but also influences the metabolism of various cells, including osteocytes, and various receptors, it is unlikely that the health of periodontal tissue can be truly protected solely by the artificial, pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus, which does not generate chewing force. However, the effect of suppressing bacterial infection in the gingival sulcus, preventing the onset of periodontal disease, and maintaining the health of periodontal tissue is considered to be significant. The present invention aims to develop a periodontal disease prevention device that significantly increases blood flow to the gums through brushing with a toothbrush, guides the tissue fluid produced in the gums to the subepithelial connective tissue while rectifying its flow, and allows it to seep into the gingival sulcus through the interstitial spaces of the attached epithelial cells, thereby creating a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0022] While the electric toothbrush described in Patent Document 1 is capable of simultaneously increasing blood flow to the gums and rectifying the flow of tissue fluid, these effects occur inversely depending on the frequency of intermittent pressure stimulation. Therefore, it was not possible to simultaneously achieve the maximum effect of both actions with the electric toothbrush. On the other hand, the device described in Patent Document 2 has the function of increasing blood flow to the gums, but it lacks a brush and does not have the function of rectifying and guiding the flow of tissue fluid to collect it under the attached epithelium and exudate it into the gingival sulcus. In this invention, a motor for a feather-shaped brush is used to continuously rotate the feather-shaped brush from the attached gingiva through the gingival sulcus opening, while vibrating the rotating feather-shaped brush with a vibration motor. The product of the number of brush bristle rows, which are the feather portions of the feather-shaped brush, planted along the long axis of the shaft, and the motor's rotation speed per minute is within a range of 240 revolutions / minute (a general value for the maximum heart rate, which is considered the maximum frequency of physiologically occurring periodic pressure fluctuations in the human body) or less. Since the frequency of intermittent pressure stimulation by the arrowhead-shaped brush is lower than the maximum heart rate (approximately 240 beats / minute), which is the maximum frequency of physiologically occurring periodic pressure fluctuations in the human body, it is clear that the vascular wall compressed by the blades of the rotating arrowhead-shaped brush can return to its original position before being compressed by the next blade. This has the advantage that the application of a rotating arrowhead-shaped brush does not cause circulatory impairment by substantially compressing the blood vessels. Furthermore, while the shape of the working surface of the brush, which is formed by connecting the tips of the brush bristles, may be flat, it is also possible for the working surface of the brush to be concave in the vertical direction (the length of the brush) with a recessed center, and convex in the horizontal direction (the width of the brush) with a rounded center. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] This invention aims to increase blood flow to the gums by simultaneously applying intermittent pressure stimulation using an arrow-shaped brush, which intermittently presses on the blood vessels in the stimulated area, causing significant deformation of the vessel walls and generating relatively large shear stress on the vessel walls; and vibration stimulation using a vibration motor, which does not cause significant deformation of the vessel walls but has a high vibration frequency, applying microscopic mechanical stress to the vessel walls, including arterioles, throughout the gums where the vibration stimulation is transmitted. Because the properties of the mechanical stress that produces the blood flow increase effect are different, it is possible to expect a summation or synergistic effect of the blood flow increase effects of each stimulus.

[0024] In this invention, the arrowhead-shaped brush has a relatively slow rotation speed, and the movement speed of the brush bristles, which are the feathers of the arrowhead, on the gums is physiologically slow. Furthermore, the bristles are elastic, which allows for a rectifying and propagating effect on extracellular fluid. This enables the guidance of tissue fluid generated in the attached gingiva to the area beneath the attached epithelium, and the exudation of tissue fluid beneath the attached epithelium through the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelium into the gingival sulcus.

[0025] In this invention, the relatively slow rotational movement of a vibrating arrow-shaped brush from the attached gingiva towards the gingival sulcus opening efficiently promotes the production of tissue fluid and its delivery to the gingival sulcus. By causing tissue fluid to seep into the gingival sulcus and creating a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus, it is possible to expect an effect in preventing periodontal disease.

[0026] In this embodiment, the feather-shaped brush has three rows of bristles, each acting as a brush. The brush's working surface is a concave surface with a depression in the center along its long axis. Therefore, when the brush is applied horizontally to the gums, the contact pressure at both ends of the brush becomes greater than the contact pressure at the center of the brush, allowing tissue fluid at both ends of the brush during rotational vibration to be collected at the center of the brush. Since tissue fluid is collected in the center of the brush, a larger amount of tissue fluid is delivered to the gingival sulcus in the center. This results in greater pressure of the tissue fluid as it seeps into the gingival sulcus, which in turn increases the force that drains the existing gingival sulcus fluid. This can be expected to promote the replacement of gingival sulcus fluid.

[0027] Because the brush's working surface is higher in the center along its short axis and has a rounded, convex tip, the contact with the gums caused by the rotation of the feather-shaped brush is softer, allowing for rheologically smooth pressure application and the rectification and guidance of tissue fluid. The arrow-shaped brush described above allows for the smooth delivery of fresh tissue fluid into the gingival sulcus and the gentle discharge of previously generated gingival sulcus fluid outside the gingival sulcus.

[0028] Preventing periodontal disease through plaque control required a great deal of time and effort to remove plaque, and even then, complete removal was nearly impossible. Therefore, using plaque control alone as a means of preventing periodontal disease was extremely inefficient. This invention has the effect of enhancing the body's defense capabilities, and when used in combination with plaque control, a synergistic effect is created between the enhancement of the body's defense capabilities and the reduction of pathogenic bacteria through their removal. This makes it possible to expect early improvement of periodontal disease and significant prevention of periodontal disease, thereby increasing the efficiency of periodontal disease prevention and reducing the effort required.

[0029] Periodontal disease is highly correlated with age, and with the global trend towards increased longevity and an aging population, as well as the shift towards softer diets, preventing periodontal disease is considered an urgent issue facing humanity. There are concerns that the increasing number of patients will lead to soaring medical costs in the future. On the other hand, prevention is a superior medical practice to treatment, and this invention can contribute both personally and socially by maintaining an individual's quality of life and curbing rising medical costs.

[0030] This invention enhances the body's own defense mechanisms by utilizing the structure and function of periodontal tissue, enabling it to prevent bacterial infection. It offers significant health benefits and artificially compensates for the self-cleaning effect of the gingival sulcus, which is being lost as humans mature and chewing activity decreases. This method of preventing periodontal disease is achieved through biologically appropriate physiological means, and is also expected to stimulate the metabolism and function of periodontal tissue.

[0031] By making the use of the present invention a daily habit, it is highly likely that a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus will be unconsciously applied in the early stages of periodontal disease development. This increases the likelihood that the increased functional defense force generated by the biological response in the early stages of inflammation and the pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus will act simultaneously, and their synergistic effect will enhance the effect of restoring periodontal tissue to normal, increasing the structural resistance of the attached epithelium and allowing for the early suppression of the onset of periodontal disease.

[0032] This invention physiologically examines the mechanism by which the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus occurs, recognizes the importance of the exudation of tissue fluid into the gingival sulcus in protecting gum health, and infers that the gingival sulcus fluid deteriorates over time after the tissue fluid has exuded into the gingival sulcus, reducing its bactericidal and antibacterial properties. It also notes that masticatory movements play a role in restoring this condition, but that the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus caused by masticatory movements that occurred during human eating is insufficient with the masticatory movements that occur with modern diets. Based on these considerations, the invention was able to identify the problems. However, until now, there has been little physiological knowledge regarding the direct relationship between masticatory movements and gum health through the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus, and the importance of this self-cleaning action has been underrecognized. This invention recognizes that preventing periodontal disease is one of the most pressing issues facing humankind, and that its cause is insufficient chewing activity. Based on this understanding, and by considering chewing as a chewing movement, and by physiologically inferring the mechanism by which chewing activity generates self-cleaning action in the gingival sulcus, this invention was conceived as a means of preventing periodontal disease by utilizing the structure and function of periodontal tissue to generate a pseudo-self-cleaning action in the gingival sulcus. Furthermore, in order to create a pseudo-self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus by brushing, it is necessary to simultaneously produce the greatest possible increase in blood flow and a rectifying effect on the tissue fluid. Recognizing that these effects are mutually exclusive depending on the frequency of intermittent pressure stimulation, and understanding this as a technical challenge, we conceived of combining brushing with relatively low-frequency intermittent pressure stimulation that has both an increase in blood flow and a rectifying effect on the tissue fluid with vibration stimulation that has a large increase in blood flow. Thus, the present invention is not merely a combination of the inventions in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, but differs from conventional methods of preventing periodontal disease in its conception, and its means, actions, and effects are qualitatively different.

[0033] As society ages, the number of people requiring care or with weakened oral function is increasing, and more people need to consume soft or liquid foods. Despite the extremely poor oral environment, there is a reality where adequate care cannot be provided, and a large proportion of deaths from pneumonia among the elderly are due to aspiration pneumonia caused by poor oral hygiene. This invention is characterized by its superior cleaning action of the interdental gingival sulcus, a common site for periodontal disease, in addition to the general tooth surface cleaning action of a brush. Furthermore, it physiologically compensates for the self-cleaning action of the gingival sulcus, which is greatly reduced in the elderly and those with weakened oral function, by utilizing the structure and function of periodontal tissue, thereby enhancing the body's defense capabilities. Because the brush has a cover, the tongue and oral mucosa are protected, making it safe. Since it is easy for caregivers to operate and apply to elderly and those with weakened oral function, it can efficiently support the improvement of the oral hygiene environment and the body's defense capabilities in elderly and those with weakened oral function, and is expected to have the effect of preventing periodontal disease and aspiration pneumonia. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view of a periodontal disease prevention device illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

[0036] [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the same figure.

[0037] [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the main body of the device installed inside the outer cylinder and the arrow-shaped brush (1) attached to the shaft outside the outer cylinder.

[0038] [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit including the arrow-shaped brush motor control circuit section (15), the vibration motor control circuit section (16), and the power supply section (14). [Modes for carrying out the invention] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0039] In this embodiment, a hollow arrow-shaped brush (1) with three rows of bristles is mounted on a shaft (8) connected to an arrow-shaped brush motor (11) by a flexible joint (10). The arrow-shaped brush motor control circuit (15) incorporates a reverse interlocking switch (4) that also serves as a manual power switch to change the direction of rotation by converting the electrical polarity, and a variable resistor (3) with a manual slide switch. This allows for stepless control of the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the arrow-shaped brush with three rows of bristles in the range of 80 / min to 0 / min. Furthermore, a protective cover (2) is installed on the neck of the outer cylinder (5) that houses the main body of the device, which covers the arrow-shaped brush (1), preventing the brush from coming into contact with the cheek mucosa or tongue.

[0040] The vibration motor (12) is installed below the arrow-shaped brush motor (11) inside an outer cylinder (5) whose gripping portion below the neck is covered with a flexible resin. Similarly, an electrical circuit unit (13) consisting of an arrow-shaped motor control circuit unit (15) and a vibration motor control circuit unit (16) is installed below the vibration motor, and a power supply unit (14) consisting of a battery installed below it supplies power to the vibration motor control circuit unit (16) and the arrow-shaped brush motor control circuit unit (15).

[0041] The operation of the device configured as described above will be explained. The motor control circuit unit (15) for the feather-shaped brush and the vibration motor control circuit unit (16) share the battery (14) as their power source, but they can be controlled independently, and it is possible to perform the functions of a conventional device by operating only the feather-shaped brush. However, the present invention uses the continuous rotational motion of the arrow-shaped brush (1) in one direction to apply intermittent pressure stimulation to the periodontal tissue at a frequency of approximately 240 / min or less, which is considered to be the maximum frequency of physiological pressure fluctuations occurring in the human body, thereby simultaneously producing an effect of increased blood flow and a rectifying effect on the tissue fluid. Furthermore, the rotating arrow-shaped brush (1) can be vibrated by the vibration motor (12), thereby simultaneously producing an effect of increased blood flow and a rectifying effect on the tissue fluid in the periodontal tissue.

[0042] Because the arrow-shaped brush (1) can perform a relatively slow, continuous rotational movement in one direction accompanied by vibration from the gingivobuccal junction toward the crown, it is possible to continuously rectify the tissue fluid of the gums produced by increased blood flow through the peristaltic pump-like action of the brush, guide it beneath the attached epithelium, and allow it to seep into the gingival sulcus through the intercellular spaces of the attached epithelial cells. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Arrowhead-shaped brush 2. Protective cover 3. Arrowhead-type brush control circuit section / Variable resistor 4. Reverse-linked switch (also serves as power switch) 5. Outer cylinder 6. Vibration motor control circuit / Variable resistor 7. Vibration motor control circuit / Power switch 8. Shaft 9. Bearings 10. Flexible joint 11. Motor for arrow-shaped brushes 12. Vibration motor 13. Electrical circuit section (excluding the arrow-shaped brush control circuit section and vibration motor control circuit section / power supply section) 14. Power supply unit (battery) 15. Arrowhead-shaped brush control circuit section 16. Vibration motor control circuit section

Claims

[Claim 1] A periodontal disease prevention device characterized in that, in an electric toothbrush in which the product of the number of brush bristle rows and the number of rotations per minute of the arrow-shaped brush, which rotates continuously in the same direction by the arrow-shaped brush motor, is 240 / min or less, the device applies vibration to the rotating arrow-shaped brush using a vibration motor, with the main components being an arrow-shaped brush having a feather-shaped brush with a feather-shaped bristle row formed by bristle rows arranged in the longitudinal direction of the shaft with bristles planted perpendicular to the side of the shaft as the feather-shaped brush, a shaft to which the arrow-shaped brush is attached, a bearing to hold the shaft, a flexible joint connecting the shaft and the motor for the arrow-shaped brush, a motor for the arrow-shaped brush, a vibration motor, an arrow-shaped brush control circuit unit that controls the rotation direction, rotation speed and ON / OFF of the motor for the arrow-shaped brush, a vibration motor control circuit unit that controls the vibration intensity and ON / OFF of the motor for the vibration motor, a power supply unit (battery), and an outer cylinder housing the main component having a protective cover on the neck and a gripping part covered with soft resin, the product of the number of brush bristle rows and the number of rotations per minute of the arrow-shaped brush that rotates continuously in the same direction by the motor for the arrow-shaped brush being 240 / min or less.

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