Interdental cleaning tools

Abstract

To provide an interdental cleaning tool that can efficiently remove foreign objects between teeth while conforming to the curved surface of the dental arch, and that is reusable and hygienic. [Solution] The interdental cleaning tool comprises a plate-shaped main body 11 made of nylon and tapered towards one end, and a serrated tip 12 provided on at least a part of the main body 11, with the main body 11 having the flexibility to conform to the curved shape of the interdental space. The serrated shape consists of multiple blade-like protrusions formed at a pitch of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, and a protective cap or a large-diameter grip portion is provided as needed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool for removing food residues and dental plaque sandwiched between teeth. In particular, the present invention relates to a cleaning tool made of a flexible nylon material and having a serrated tip, which improves the cleaning efficiency and the operability of the user.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to remove foreign substances such as food scraps sandwiched between teeth, wooden toothpicks and thread-like dental floss have been generally used. However, wooden toothpicks are hard and tend to damage the gums, and dental floss has a problem that the operation is complicated and it is particularly difficult to handle for the elderly and those with poor manual dexterity.

[0003] In order to solve such problems, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-67416 proposes a configuration in which a plastic strip-shaped cleaning tool is provided with irregularities and through holes to enhance the cleaning performance between teeth. However, the configuration does not have sufficient flexibility, is difficult to follow the curve of the teeth, and is not assumed to be reused, so there is room for further improvement.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an interdental cleaning tool that eliminates the drawbacks of conventional wooden toothpicks and thread-like cleaning tools and can reliably scrape out foreign substances while flexibly following the curve of the dental arch. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to realize a configuration that can be repeatedly used by washing after use and is also environmentally friendly.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention is an interdental cleaning tool for removing foreign matter trapped between teeth, and is made of nylon and comprises a plate-shaped main body formed in a tapered shape toward one end, and a jagged tip provided on at least a part of the main body, wherein the main body has the flexibility to conform to the curved shape of the interdental space.

[0007] Furthermore, in the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention, it is preferable that the jagged tip portion has a plurality of blade-like protrusions formed at a pitch of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0008] Furthermore, in the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention, the thickness of the main body is preferably 0.5 mm or less.

[0009] Furthermore, in the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention, it is preferable that a protective cap for maintaining hygiene after use can be attached to at least a part of the main body.

[0010] Furthermore, in the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention, it is preferable to provide a thick-diameter grip portion with a non-slip surface at one end of the main body so that it can be easily grasped by elderly people or those requiring care. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this invention, by equipping a flexible, plate-shaped body made of nylon with a serrated tip, it is possible to efficiently remove foreign objects by conforming to the shape of the interdental spaces. Furthermore, by making it reusable, it is possible to provide an interdental cleaning tool that is excellent in terms of economy and environmental friendliness. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a plan view and an enlarged view of the tip portion showing one embodiment of the interdental cleaning tool of the present invention. [Figure 2]The figures show modified examples of the interdental cleaning tool of the present invention; the left figure shows the tool with a protective cap attached, and the right figure shows the tool with a large-diameter grip section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements in all drawings, and redundant explanations will be omitted. In addition, in the descriptions within the text, reference numerals previously mentioned will be used as necessary.

[0014] In this specification, "plate-like" refers to a shape in which the width and length are relatively larger than the thickness. Furthermore, "serrated shape" broadly includes shapes with irregularities such as sawtooth, wave, and step shapes that can scrape off plaque or food debris when inserted between teeth and slid.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the interdental cleaning tool 10 comprises a plate-shaped main body portion 11, a tip portion 12 formed on one end of the main body portion 11, and a jagged-shaped tip portion 13 formed on the tip end of the tip portion 12.

[0016] The interdental cleaning tool 10 has at least a main body 11, a tip section 12, and a tip section 13 integrally formed, and uses nylon (for example, a thermoplastic polyamide resin such as nylon 6, nylon 66, or nylon 12) as the material. Nylon has a moderate modulus of elasticity and abrasion resistance, and possesses the characteristic of being resistant to breakage even when subjected to repeated bending stress.

[0017] Therefore, when inserted between teeth, the main body 11 and the tip 13 elastically deform, making it easier to follow the curved shape of the dental arch and the inclination direction between teeth. Furthermore, since nylon has excellent water resistance and chemical resistance, there is little performance degradation even when washed with water or detergent, making it suitable for repeated use.

[0018] The main body part 11 forms a gripping area for the user to grip and operate with a finger. The planar shape of the main body part 11 may be a strip shape with a substantially constant width along the longitudinal direction, or may be a tapered shape whose width gradually decreases toward the tapered part 12.

[0019] Also, on the side edges of the main body part 11, a minute chamfering or curved surface treatment may be performed to improve finger contact. Thereby, even when used for a long time, the burden on the fingertips can be reduced.

[0020] From the viewpoints of insertability between teeth and flexibility, the thickness of the main body part 11 is preferably 0.5 mm or less. More specifically, it can be in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. When the thickness exceeds 0.5 mm, the resistance increases when introducing it between teeth, and an excessive pressing force may be required.

[0021] On the other hand, if it is less than 0.1 mm, there is a risk that the rigidity is insufficient and it is likely to buckle. Therefore, by setting it within the above range, it can be easily inserted between teeth, and a balance can be obtained such that an appropriate pressing force can be transmitted during cleaning. Also, from the viewpoints of ease of gripping and the contact area with the tooth surface, the width of the main body part 11 can be, for example, about 1 mm to 4 mm, more preferably about 1.5 mm to 3 mm. If the width is excessively narrow, the gripping becomes unstable, and if it is excessively wide, it becomes difficult to introduce it between teeth. Therefore, the above range is suitable.

[0022] From the viewpoints of operability and moment balance during use, the length of the main body part 11 can be, for example, about 30 mm to 100 mm. If it is less than 30 mm, the gripping area is insufficient, and the operation may become unstable. On the other hand, if it exceeds 100 mm, the portability decreases, and there is a possibility that it will be bulky during storage.

[0023] Furthermore, by appropriately setting the length of the main body part 11, the pressing force applied to the tip part 13 can be appropriately controlled, and it becomes possible to suppress an excessive burden on the gums. Depending on the application, it may be designed as a short type for portable use, a standard type for home use, a long type for care sites, etc.

[0024] The tip section 12 is a gradually tapering region extending from the main body 11 to the tip 13, and is formed so that its width and thickness decrease towards the tip in order to facilitate insertion into the interdental space. The length of the tip section 12 can be, for example, about 3 mm to 20 mm, and it is preferable to have a continuous tapered shape rather than a steep step. The taper angle can be, for example, about 1° to 15° from the viewpoint of reducing the resistance to insertion into the interdental space.

[0025] Furthermore, the cross-section of the tip section 12 is not limited to a straight taper, but may also be a curved taper shape with curvature, which can further reduce contact with the gingiva. In addition, the tip section 12 may be configured to gradually decrease only in the width direction, or it may be configured to gradually decrease in the thickness direction at the same time. By gradually decreasing the thickness, the initial elastic deformation when introduced into the interdental space is facilitated, and it is possible to smoothly guide the tool into the interdental space while suppressing buckling.

[0026] The tip portion 13 is inserted between teeth and constitutes a cleaning section that physically scrapes out plaque and food debris. The tip portion 13 has a serrated shape, and as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 1, it can be configured with multiple blade-like projections (sawtooth) arranged in a continuous pattern. Each blade-like projection may be formed at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the interdental direction, for example, by forming it to be tilted backward with respect to the direction of travel, the effect of drawing out foreign matter from between teeth can be enhanced.

[0027] The cross-sectional shape of the blade-like projection is not limited to a triangular shape; it may also be trapezoidal, semicircular, or an asymmetrical shape combining acute and obtuse angles. By using an asymmetrical shape, it is possible to design the device to strongly scrape in one direction during reciprocating sliding while suppressing irritation to the gingiva in the opposite direction.

[0028] The pitch of the serrated surface (the distance between adjacent peaks) is preferably in the range of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, from the viewpoint of balancing cleaning power and contact with the gums. If it is less than 0.2 mm, the engagement force with foreign objects tends to be weak, and if it exceeds 1.0 mm, there is a risk of increased irritation to the gums.

[0029] Furthermore, the height of the jagged shape (the difference in height between peaks and valleys) can be set to, for example, about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. If the height is too small, the scraping effect will be insufficient, and if it is too large, there is a possibility of damaging the gums, so the above range is preferable. In addition, the top of the blade-like projection may be given a slight curve (for example, R0.01 to R0.1) rather than being a perfectly sharp angle. This allows for maintaining scraping performance while suppressing excessive invasiveness to the gums.

[0030] The serrated shape of the tip portion 13 may be provided on only one side of the plate surface of the main body portion 11, or on both sides of the plate surface. If it is provided on only one side, it can exhibit a unidirectional scraping action that takes the cleaning direction into consideration. On the other hand, if it is provided on both sides, a scraping effect can be obtained at all times during the reciprocating motion within the interdental space.

[0031] Alternatively, the plate may have a serrated edge (left and right ends), which can help to pull out foreign objects from the side along the interdental wall. A composite configuration with irregularities on both the plate surface and the edge is also possible.

[0032] Furthermore, the serrated shape may be formed along the entire length of the tip portion 13, or it may be formed only on a portion of the tip that is more likely to come into contact with the interdental spaces. For example, by providing the serrated shape only in a range of about 3 mm to 10 mm from the tip, it is possible to maintain the efficiency of scraping off foreign objects while suppressing irritation to the vicinity of the gums.

[0033] Alternatively, the density of the serrations can be increased towards the tip and decreased towards the base, creating a stepped arrangement. This configuration allows for delicate cleaning in the deeper parts of the interdental space while efficiently removing relatively coarse debris near the entrance. These shapes can be appropriately selected depending on the expected interdental space width, the target of cleaning (primarily plaque or primarily food debris), and the user's age group.

[0034] The method of using the interdental cleaning tool 10 will now be explained. The user grasps the main body 11 with their thumb and index finger, and lightly touches the tip 12 to the entrance of the interdental space. Due to the tapered shape of the tip 12, it is gradually introduced according to the opening width of the interdental space. Then, the tip 13 is inserted into the interdental space and slid back and forth or up and down along the tooth surface.

[0035] This sliding motion causes the jagged, blade-like protrusions to mechanically engage with plaque or food debris within the interdental space, generating a hooking and scraping action. In particular, because the blade-like protrusions are arranged in a continuous pattern, multiple contact opportunities are obtained within the interdental space, allowing for efficient removal of foreign matter.

[0036] The interdental cleaning tool 10 of this invention is made of nylon and has appropriate flexibility, so the main body 11 and tip 13 elastically deform according to the curved shape of the dental arch and the inclination direction between teeth. This makes it easier to make surface or line contact with the side walls inside the interdental space, and the serrated shape can scrape off foreign matter while adhering closely to the tooth surface.

[0037] Furthermore, compared to cleaning tools with excessive rigidity, it is less likely to generate excessive reaction forces within the interdental space, reducing localized stress concentration on the gingiva. As a result, cleaning can be performed without applying excessive pressure, reducing the risk of gingival damage and bleeding. In addition, due to its elastic restorative force, the shape quickly returns to its original state after sliding, maintaining stable performance even during repeated cleaning actions.

[0038] The interdental cleaning tool 10 can be cleaned after use and reused. Cleaning methods include rinsing with running tap water, rinsing with warm water, rinsing with a neutral detergent, or light scrubbing with a brush. If necessary, hygiene can be further improved by wiping with alcohol, irradiating with ultraviolet light, or air-drying or warm-air drying for a certain period of time.

[0039] Nylon material offers excellent water and abrasion resistance, and can withstand repeated bending and washing processes, thus maintaining cleaning performance over a long period. This contributes to reducing waste compared to disposable cleaning tools, resulting in superior effects from both an economic and environmental impact reduction perspective.

[0040] Next, a modified example shown in Figure 2 will be described. The interdental cleaning tool 10 shown on the left of Figure 2 is configured to be able to be fitted with a protective cap 14 in order to maintain hygiene of the tip 13 and to improve safety when carrying it. In this embodiment, since it is assumed that the interdental cleaning tool 10 will be used repeatedly, a configuration that facilitates hygiene management after use is important. By providing a protective cap 14, it becomes easier to maintain a dry state after cleaning and secondary contamination during storage can be suppressed.

[0041] The protective cap 14 is a cylindrical member made of resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or nylon, and has a fitting portion that fits onto the tip portion 12 or a part of the main body portion 11. The fitting structure can be friction fitting, snap fitting with locking claws, or screw fitting.

[0042] The inner diameter of the cap 14 is preferably set so as not to come into excessive contact with the tip 13, and so as not to damage the serrated shape of the tip 13. Furthermore, by providing ventilation holes inside the cap 14, residual moisture after washing can be easily evaporated, which can also suppress the growth of bacteria. This allows the tip 13 to be covered after use for storage, preventing dust and foreign matter from adhering to it from the outside, and also prevents it from coming into contact with other objects in a bag or elsewhere when carried.

[0043] The interdental cleaning tool 10 shown on the right in Figure 2 is equipped with a large-diameter grip portion 15 to further improve grip. Since the main body portion 11 is relatively thin-walled, it may be difficult for users with weak grip strength to grasp if it remains small in diameter. Therefore, a large-diameter grip portion 15, which is radially enlarged, is provided on the other end of the main body portion 11 (opposite the tip portion 13). The large-diameter grip portion 15 can be formed, for example, as a cylindrical, elliptical, or substantially polygonal prism shape. The outer diameter can be, for example, about 8 mm to 20 mm, and it is preferable that it be a size that can be stably held with the fingertips.

[0044] The outer surface of the large-diameter grip portion 15 can be provided with knurling, a grid-like pattern of indentations and recesses, vertical or horizontal grooves, or even a coating of a rubber-like elastic material as an anti-slip measure. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or the like can be used as the rubber-like elastic material.

[0045] This makes it easier for elderly people, those requiring care, or other users with weak grip strength or difficulty manipulating objects with their fingers to stably grasp the interdental cleaning tool 10. In addition, the enlarged diameter of the grip portion 15 improves the torque transmission efficiency during rotational operation to the tip portion 13, allowing for effective sliding cleaning with less force.

[0046] Furthermore, by providing a large-diameter grip section 15, it is possible to incorporate a stopper function that physically restricts accidental insertion excessively deep.

[0047] The manufacturing method of the interdental cleaning tool 10 is not particularly limited, but for example, the main body 11, the tip section 12, and the tip section 13 may be integrally molded by injection molding using nylon resin. In injection molding, pre-drying the nylon resin (for example, at 80°C to 120°C for several hours) can prevent the generation of air bubbles and dimensional defects during molding.

[0048] The jagged shape can be integrally molded by creating corresponding fine irregularities on the mold side. Since the pitch of the blade-like protrusions is approximately 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, it is preferable to apply high-precision micro-machining (electrical discharge machining, laser processing, micro-cutting, etc.) to the mold.

[0049] Furthermore, by setting the resin flow direction during molding to the longitudinal direction, the mechanical strength of the tip portion 13 can be increased. In addition, by performing minor deburring or edge chamfering after molding, irritation to the gums can be reduced.

[0050] Alternatively, a plate-like material of a predetermined thickness may be formed by extrusion molding, then the outer shape may be cut out by punching or laser processing, and the tip may be processed into a tapered shape. After that, cutting, pressing, roll forming, or laser processing may be performed to form a jagged shape on the tip portion 13.

[0051] For mass production, a line production method can be adopted in which sheet material is continuously supplied in roll form, subjected to continuous press processing, and then cut to a predetermined length. The large-diameter grip portion 15 may be integrally molded with the main body portion 11, or it may be formed by integrating the hard nylon portion and the soft elastomer portion by two-color molding (insert molding or overmolding). A separate grip member may also be attached by press-fitting, bonding, fitting, or ultrasonic welding.

[0052] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The cross-sectional shape of the main body 11 is not limited to a rectangle; it may have a chamfered corner, a rounded arc shape, or a slightly curved cross-sectional shape in the center. By curving the cross-section, surface contact with the tooth surface can be improved.

[0053] The jagged shape of the tip portion 13 is not limited to a sawtooth shape; it can be a wavy, stepped, triangular wave, or a series of fine protrusions, or any other uneven shape suitable for interdental cleaning. Furthermore, a fine rough surface (textured finish) may be formed on the surface of the tip portion 13, and the friction coefficient may be increased through a synergistic effect with the jagged shape to improve scraping performance. In addition, the material is not limited to nylon; other thermoplastic resins with equivalent elastic properties and wear resistance may be used. However, nylon is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of flexibility and durability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 Interdental cleaning tool, 11 Main body, 12 Tip section, 13 Tip (serrated section), 14 Protective cap, 15 Large diameter grip section.

Claims

1. An interdental cleaning tool for removing foreign objects stuck between teeth, It consists of a plate-shaped main body made of nylon, which is tapered towards one end, A jagged tip portion provided on at least a part of the main body, Equipped with, The main body of the interdental cleaning tool is characterized by having the flexibility to conform to the curved shape of the space between teeth.

2. In the interdental cleaning tool described in claim 1, The interdental cleaning tool is characterized in that the jagged tip has multiple blade-like protrusions formed at a pitch of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

3. In the interdental cleaning tool described in claim 1, An interdental cleaning tool characterized in that the thickness of the main body is 0.5 mm or less.

4. In the interdental cleaning tool described in claim 1, An interdental cleaning tool characterized in that a protective cap for maintaining hygiene after use can be attached to at least a part of the main body.

5. In the interdental cleaning tool described in claim 1, An interdental cleaning tool characterized by having a large-diameter grip portion with a non-slip surface at one end of the main body so that it can be easily grasped by the elderly or those requiring care.

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