Oral care device

Abstract

An oral care device may include a mouthpiece having an arch-shaped channel defined by a bottom wall that is located between an inner wall and an outer wall, a plurality of bristles affixed to and extending inwardly from each of the bottom wall, the inner wall, and the outer wall, the mouthpiece being shaped to receive a dental arch. The oral care device may include a drive mechanism including a drive motor that oscillates the mouthpiece along a mouthpiece arcuate path having a mouthpiece pivot point. The oral care device may include a housing that contains the mouthpiece and the drive mechanism. The oral care device may include a lip rest that engages the lips and cheeks of the user, the lip rest extending from the top end of the housing and having a central opening that enables the mouthpiece to extend therethrough and connect to the drive mechanism.

Description

[0001] TITLE: ORAL CARE DEVICE

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Dental cleaning plays a significant role in impacting the overall health of an individual. According to studies, most people do not brush their teeth correctly. Important aspects of toothbrushing include moving the bristles over the teeth in an arcuate motion, brushing for a sufficient period of time, reaching molars in the back of the mouth, and brushing the inner surfaces of the teeth and gums. It is also important to position the toothbrush bristles at a proper angle between the teeth and the gumline, also known as the gingival sulcus area. Dental professionals usually recommend a 45-degree bristle / tooth face angle.

[0004] Manual toothbrushing demands expertise, proficiency, and time to achieve optimal brushing outcomes, and typically requires a minimum of three minutes to be effective. Proper use of a manual toothbrush is complicated, and many people struggle to obtain sufficient cleaning without causing harm to their teeth and gums.

[0005] In response, many dental cleaning devices including electric toothbrushes have been developed, all of which are intended to improve the tooth brushing experience. Many such devices are aimed at brushing one tooth at a time and feature rotating, lateral, or vibrating brush movements. Users are typically required to maneuver a relatively small brush head across every tooth surface, including the interdental areas to achieve thorough cleaning, which can be time-consuming and may necessitate skill to ensure optimal cleaning results.

[0006] Other devices cover a larger portion of the dentition, using a U-shaped mouthpiece, which provides some type of motion or vibration to clean the teeth. Many of these devices include bristle movement that is perpendicular to the tooth surfaces, which is not optimal forteeth cleaning and can cause gum discomfort. Other existing devices provide a vibrational movement of the mouthpiece, which results in an insufficient movement of the bristles to deliver a thorough cleaning and can be uncomfortable for the user. Other existing devices provide a larger range of mouthpiece movement but have mouthpieces that are unable to follow the contours of the dental arch throughout the range of movement and / or have mouthpiece structures that are complex, uncomfortable for the user, and challenging to clean. Many existing devices use a mouthpiece having motorized movement that also contacts the lips and cheeks of the user, which can be uncomfortable and reduce efficacy. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved mouthpiece-based, motorized brushing system that addresses these deficiencies.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The oral care device of the present invention enables a user, regardless of ability, expertise, or training, to have a high-quality oral hygiene routine to prevent the numerous adverse effects resulting from improper toothbrushing. The oral care device of the present invention provides a more effective brushing experience by providing a relatively low- frequency, arcuate brushing motion resulting in more effective brushing of tooth surfaces andinterdental areas, and bristles that are angled to effectively clean the gingival sulcus area. In addition, the device includes a lip rest that supports the mouthpiece throughout its range of motion, while helping to isolate the lips and cheeks of the user from the mouthpiece motion. Overall, the oral care device provides an automated brushing experience that is more similar to that of manual brushing.

[0009] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a handset for an oral care system;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof;

[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded view thereof;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece and mouthpiece connector;

[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded view thereof;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bristle block that is to be affixed to the mouthpiece;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a partial elevation view of the mouthpiece;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the drive mechanism for the handset;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view of the drive mechanism shown with the mouthpiece connected thereto;

[0020] FIG. 10A is a front view of the drive mechanism shown with fluid tubing;

[0021] FIG. 10B is an enlarged partial view showing a connection between a mouthpiece coupling and a link arm;

[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the handset with the mouthpiece and a lip rest removed, showing a seal that surrounds the slider;

[0023] FIG. 12 is an end elevational view of the mouthpiece and lip rest;

[0024] FIG. 13 is a side elevational view thereof;

[0025] FIG. 14 is a bottom view thereof;

[0026] FIG. 15 is a top view thereof, illustrating aspects of the rotational movement of the mouthpiece; and

[0027] FIG. 16 is a perspective view thereof.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The ensuing detailed description provides preferred exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention.Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

[0030] To aid in describing the invention, directional terms are used in the specification and claims to describe portions of the present invention (e.g., upper, lower, left, right, etc.). These directional definitions are merely intended to assist in describing and claiming the invention and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. In addition, reference numerals that are introduced in the specification in association with a drawing figure may be repeated in one or more subsequent figures without additional description in the specification in order to provide context for other features.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an oral care device 10 arranged to provide oral care to the teeth of a user’s upper or lower dental arches. The oral care device 10 includes three main components: a mouthpiece 14, a lip rest 18, and a handle assembly 46. The handle assembly 46 includes a power button 54, which selectively activates and deactivates brushing. Referring to FIGS. 5-6, the mouthpiece 14 includes a body 216 that is pre-shaped in a U-shaped configuration to allow for easy insertion around the user’s dental arch. The U-shaped configuration includes a front portion 224, a left leg 228, and a right leg 232.

[0032] The body 216 of the mouthpiece 14 is preferably formed of an elastomer, e.g., a silicon rubber or nylon, preferably having a hardness within a range of 30 ShA to 65 ShA and having a modulus of elasticity within the range of 2 - 20 MPa. As used in this application, hardness means ASTM D2240 type A hardness.

[0033] The mouthpiece 14 may be provided in different sizes according to mouth size, e.g., a small size for children 6 years and younger, a medium size for children between 6 and 9 years old, and a large size for children and adults 12 years and older. The mouthpiece 14 includes an arcuate outer wall 62, an arcuate inner wall 80, and a bottom wall 74 that extends between and connects the outer and inner walls, 62, 80, respectively. In one implementation, the inner wall 80 and outer wall 62 extend upwardly from the bottom wall 74 at an angle between 115 and 125 degrees relative to the bottom wall 74. The inner surfaces of the outer wall 62, inner wall 80, and bottom wall 74 form an arch-shaped channel 85 (i.e., a channel that is shaped like a dental arch) for receiving teeth of the upper jaw or for receiving teeth of the lower jaw. Like a dental arch, the arch-shaped channel 85 is arcuate in the center and becomes more linear as it extents out to its left and right ends. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the mouthpiece 14 is oriented with the channel facing upwardly to provide oral care action to the user’s upper dental arch. In FIG. 3, the mouthpiece 14 is oriented with the channel facing downwardly to provide oral care to the user’s lower dental arch.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 6-8, the mouthpiece 14 is provided with a plurality of pad recesses 92 disposed along the outer wall 62, the bottom wall 74, and the inner wall 80. Optionally, pad recesses 92 may be omitted from incisor and canine occlusal areas, as brushing the sharp edges of these teeth is not required. In this exemplary implementation, each of the pad recesses 92 has a trapezoidal perimeter shape and is arranged to receive abristle block 96. The trapezoidal shape ensures that each bristle block 96 in installed in the correct orientation, but could, alternatively, be of any suitable shape. The bristle block 96 is adhered to the pad recess 92 by any suitable means, e.g., a suitable biocompatible adhesive.

[0035] As best shown in FIG. 7, each bristle block 96 comprises a plurality of bristles 100 affixed to the top surface of a pad 98. The bristles 100 extend from the top surface to a free end ortip. As illustrated, the bristles 100 are provided as a plurality of bristle tufts 104, with each of the bristle tufts 104 comprising a plurality of bristles 100. The bristle tufts 104 are shown disposed in and extending from the bristle block 96. The height of the bristles 100 may be within a range between 4mm and 12.5mm. The bristles 100 and the pad 98 may be formed of any suitable material, e.g., silicon, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a blend of polyester and cotton, or nylon, with nylon being preferred, as it is most commonly employed for toothbrush bristles. In one embodiment, the bristles 100 and pad 98 are formed of a material that is more rigid and has a substantially higher modulus of elasticity than the material used to form the mouthpiece 14. For example, in one embodiment, the bristles 100 and pad 98 are formed of a material preferably having a modulus of elasticity within the range of 200 - 2000 MPa. More preferably, the bristles 100 and pad 98 are each formed of a material that has a modulus of elasticity than is at least ten times that of the material used to form the mouthpiece 14. In some implementations, the pad 98 may be formed of a material that has a modulus of elasticity than is at least 100 times that of the material used to form the mouthpiece 14. In this implementation, the bristles 100 and pad 98 are made from the same material, which helps ensure a strong mechanical and chemical bond between the bristles 100 and pad 98. In other implementations, the bristles 100 and pad 98 may be made of different materials.

[0036] The bristles 100 are commonly used or are suitable for use to provide oral health benefits (e.g., tooth cleaning, massaging, stimulating, etc.) by making intimate contact with portions of the teeth and / or gums. The bristle tufts 104 may be formed with bristles of the same or different bristle materials (such as nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, etc.). The bristles 100 extend inwardly from each of the inner wall 80, the outer wall 62, and the bottom wall 74. Moreover, some or all of the bristles 100 may be angled at various angles with respect to the surface of the tooth. The tips of the bristles 100 may also be trimmed at an angle to align with the surface of the teeth and gums to enable even contact of the bristles 100 with the teeth and gums.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 8, the outer wall 62 of the mouthpiece 14 may be disposed at an angle so that the bristles 100 extending inwardly from the outer wall 62 are be disposed at a desired angle with respect to the face of the user’s teeth 107 when the mouthpiece 14 is engaged with a dental arch. For example, as best shown in FIG. 8, a line 105 is drawn parallel to the bottom wall 74 of the mouthpiece 14, and the outer wall 62 is shown at an angle “a” with respect to a vertical axis drawn perpendicular to the line 105. The vertical axis is a roughapproximation of the side surface of a tooth 107. Thus, when “a” is approximately 30 degrees, the bristles 100 extending from the outer wall 62 are angled at approximately 60 degrees with respect to the vertical surface of the tooth 107. Likewise, bristles 100 extending inwardly from the inner wall 80 may be angled at approximately 60 degrees with respect to the vertical surface of the tooth 107. In this manner, the bristles 100 are disposed at an angle to efficiently clean the gingival sulcus area. In another implementation, the bristles 100 affixed to the outer wall 62 and the inner wall 80 may have an incidence angle that is within 5 degrees of being perpendicular to the bottom wall 74. In this implementation, the bristle blocks 96 affixed to the outer wall 62 and the inner wall 80 may have different lengths in order to provide the incidence angle that is within 5 degrees of being perpendicular to the bottom wall 74. The bristles 100 can be disposed at different angular arrangements in the mouthpiece 14 to provide effective cleaning around and in between the user’s teeth, gums, and the gingival sulcus area.

[0038] When the bristles 100 are grouped into bristle tufts 104, it is thereby possible to select the combination of bristle configurations, bristle materials and / or bristle orientations to achieve specific intended results and operational characteristics, thus maximizing and enhancing cleaning, massaging, stimulation, and the like. In some aspects of the disclosure, however, several of the bristles within each tuft are substantially parallel, and closely situated. The bristles 100 move in a controlled manner to perform oral care action in the user's mouth. The bristles 100 may be cylindrical or other shapes.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mouthpiece 14 includes a connector receiver 88 positioned on the outer surface 66 of the outer wall 62. The connector receiver 88 includes an opening sized to slidably receive a mouthpiece connector 108 therein. The mouthpiece connector 108 is provided with a mouthpiece inlet channel 116 and a mouthpiece outlet channel 112 to enable the introduction and evacuation of fluids within the mouth of a user. The mouthpiece inlet channel 116 and mouthpiece outlet channel 112 are both in fluid flow communication with the arch-shaped channel 85 of the mouthpiece 14. In operation, water and toothpaste are injected through the mouthpiece inlet channel 116 in a first direction and into the user’s mouth. After the cleaning sequence has been completed, waste liquid from the user’s mouth is pumped out through the mouthpiece outlet channel 112 in a second direction opposite the first direction. The mouthpiece inlet channel 116 is provided with a check valve 120 to prevent any soiled fluids in the mouth from entering the injection path of the mouthpiece inlet channel 116 to reduce risk of cross-contamination. The mouthpiece outlet channel 112 is provided with a filter housing 124 having a mesh filter 128 to separate solids from the waste liquid pumped from the user’s mouth.

[0040] The oral care device 10 described herein is intended to be used with a base (not shown), that supplies and removes fluids from the device. An exemplary base, fluid management structure for the device 10, and method for managing the fluid flow in and out of the mouthpiece 14 during brushing are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application No.63 / 651 ,017, entitled FLUID MANAGEMENT FOR AUTOMATED BRUSHING SYSTEM. The structures and processes for that provisional application may be used with the device 10.

[0041] As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, the handle assembly 46 includes a housing 50 having a top end 236 that is open and arranged to receive and contain the mouthpiece 14 and the mouthpiece connector 108 therein. As best shown in FIG. 10, at its opposite end, the mouthpiece connector 108 is arranged for attachment to and releasable engagement with a slider 168 disposed within the housing 50. The slider 168 includes a slider inlet channel 184 (see FIG. 10B) to convey water and toothpaste to the mouthpiece inlet channel 116 of the mouthpiece connector 108, and a slider outlet channel 188 (see FIG. 10B) to receive waste liquid from the mouthpiece outlet channel 112 of the mouthpiece connector 108. As best shown in FIG. 9, the slider 168 includes slider pins 170 that extend downwardly through an arcuateshaped slider track 180 of a slider arm 176 to enable the slider 168 to rotate about a slider rotation axis. Rotational movement of the slider 168 is caused by other mechanical components forming a drive mechanism 135 disposed within the handle assembly 46.

[0042] As best shown in FIG. 4, the drive mechanism 135 is contained within the housing 50 and is disposed between an upper enclosure 134a and a lower enclosure 134b which can be fastened togetherto enclose the drive mechanism 135 using any suitable fastening means, e.g., screws extending through screw holes located on the upper and lower enclosures 134a and 134b, respectively. The drive mechanism 135 includes a drive motor 136 which when energized provides rotational power to a conical pinion gear 140. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10A, rotation of the conical pinion gear 140 drives a circular crank gear 144 to rotate about a centrally located axis. The crank gear 144 includes a crank arm 148 positioned radially from its central axis, the crank arm 148 extending downwardly.

[0043] As best shown in FIG. 9, the drive mechanism 135 also includes a link arm 152 having an elongated body including a front end 196, a rear end 192, a pivot axis 156, and a slot 160 extending along a portion of the elongated body. As best shown in FIG. 10A, the drive motor 136 may be situated along the length of the link arm 152 between its front end 196 and rear end 192. The crank arm 148 extends downwardly through the slot 160 of the link arm 152 and as the crank gear 144 rotates, the crank arm 148 causes the link arm 152 to oscillate back and forth about its pivot axis 156 through an arcuate path.

[0044] . As best seen in FIG. 10B, the link arm 152 and slider 168 are connected through gear sections. In particular, the link arm 152 includes teeth 164, e.g., three teeth, located at the front end 196 thereof. The teeth 164 are arranged to mesh with teeth 172, e.g., two teeth, disposed on the slider 168.

[0045] As best seen in FIGS. 10A and 15, in this exemplary implementation, the oscillating movement of the link arm 152 through its arcuate path causes the slider 168 and the mouthpiece 14 (which is removably connected to the slider 168) to rotate about an axis of rotation 106 (also referred to as a pivot axis) through approximately 11 .2 degrees of rotation inboth the left and right direction, which provides a total stroke of 22.5 degrees. Preferably, the drive mechanism 135 is adapted to provide a total stroke of at least 15 degrees, more preferably at least 20 degrees and, most preferably, between 20 and 25 degrees.

[0046] In addition, the drive mechanism 135 preferably is adapted oscillate the slider 168 and mouthpiece 14 at a relatively low frequency. In this exemplary implementation, the oscillation frequency of the slider 168 and mouthpiece 14 is user-adjustable between 2.2 and 2.6Hz. Preferably, the drive mechanism 135 is adapted to provide an oscillation frequency of less than 10Hz, more preferably, less than 5Hz, and most preferably, less than 3.5Hz.

[0047] The axis of rotation 106 is preferably centered along a width W of the mouthpiece 14 and is positioned along a length L of the mouthpiece 14. The axis of rotation 106 is preferably within 5% of the length L from a midpoint of the length L. For example, if the length L is 10cm, the axis of rotation 106 is preferably located within 0.5cm of the midpoint of the length L. This positioning of the axis of rotation 106 is intended to enable the mouthpiece 14 to closely follow the contours of the dental arch when it oscillates.

[0048] The oscillation frequency, amplitude of movement (stroke), flexibility, and axis of rotation 106 of the mouthpiece 14 combine to (a) simulate the motion of a manual toothbrush and (b) to enable the mouthpiece 14 to effectively brush tooth surfaces and interdental areas throughout the full dental arch with which the mouthpiece 14 is engaged. The relatively low oscillation frequency of movement provides a comfortable, manual brush-like experience for the user. The relatively low oscillation frequency, stroke, and flexibility of the mouthpiece 14 enables the left leg 228 and the right leg 232 of the mouthpiece 14 to reach the rearmost teeth in the dental arch during brushing and follow the contours of the teeth, so that the bristles 100 stay in contact with both sides of the teeth during throughout the range of movement of the mouthpiece 14.

[0049] The link arm 152 is provided with an inlet tube 208 in fluid flow communication with the slider inlet channel 184 to convey water and toothpaste to the slider inlet channel 184, and an outlet tube 212 in fluid flow communication with the slider outlet channel 188 to receive waste liquid from the slider outlet channel 188. The inlet tube 208 and outlet tube 212 are attached to and extend the length of the link arm 152. Due to the overall length of the link arm 152, during its oscillating movement, the inlet tube 208 and the outlet tube 212 secured thereto will remain attached to the link arm 152. In other words, the link arm 152 provides structure to the inlet tube 208 and the outlet tube 212 so these components do not become fatigued or disconnected during oscillating movement of the link arm 152 during operation.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 11 , a flexible seal 58 surrounds, and is affixed to the slider 168 and extends outwardly from the housing 50. The seal 58 moves with the slider 168 when the drive mechanism 135 is actuated, thereby preventing fluids from the mouthpiece 14 or the user’s mouth from flowing into the drive mechanism 135. The seal 58 forms a fluid-tight barrier that prevents fluids from flowing into the drive mechanism 135 when the device 10 is beingcleaned, and otherwise prevents fluids from flowing into the housing 50 other than through the slider 168.

[0051] As best shown in FIGs. 12-16, the lip rest 18 comprises a connecting portion 23, a mouthpiece engaging portion 25, a lip engaging portion 27, cheek engaging portions 38a, 38b, and a central opening 29. The lip rest 18 may be formed of any suitable biocompatible material that is antibacterial and fungus resistant to ensure safety and hygienic conditions during usage. The lip rest 18 has a modulus of elasticity that is preferably greater than that of the mouthpiece 14, more preferably, at least 2 times that of the mouthpiece 14 and, most preferably, at least 5 times that of the mouthpiece.

[0052] The connecting portion 23 is shaped to secure the lip rest 18 to the top end 236 of the housing 50. The central opening 29 enables the mouthpiece connector 108 to extend through the connecting portion 23 and the mouthpiece engaging portion 25 so that the mouthpiece 14 can be connected to and removed from the mouthpiece connector 108 when the lip rest 18 is connected to the housing 50. The central opening 29 also enables the mouthpiece 14 to connect to the drive mechanism 135.

[0053] The mouthpiece engaging portion 25 is shaped to receive the mouthpiece 14 therein and enable the mouthpiece 14 to move through its range of motion when driven by the drive mechanism 135. As best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the mouthpiece engaging portion 25 has an occlusal tray 34 that is located beneath, and extends along, the bottom wall 74 of the mouthpiece 14. The occlusal tray 34 comprises a left leg 228 and a right leg 232 which define an occlusal tray opening 233 therebetween. Preferably, the occlusal tray 34 supports the bottom wall 74 along at least 50% of the length L of the mouthpiece 14, more preferably, along at least 75% of the length L of the mouthpiece 14 and, most preferable, along at least 80% of the length L of the mouthpiece 14.

[0054] The occlusal tray 34 performs several functions. One function is to provide a stationary separation layer between the mouthpiece 14 and the opposing dental arch of the user, which makes brushing more comfortable forthe user and prevents excess friction on the mouthpiece 14 during brushing (caused by biting down by the opposing dental arch). Another function is to provide support for the body 216 of the mouthpiece 14. The occlusal tray 34 serves to retain the flexible mouthpiece 14 in alignment with the mouthpiece connector 108. Movement of the mouthpiece 14 out alignment can lead to a less effective brushing experience and place stress on the drive mechanism 135. Support provided by the lip rest 18 enables the mouthpiece 14 to be formed of a more flexible material which, as noted above, enhances its ability follow the contours of the dental arch throughout its range of motion.

[0055] The lip engaging portion 27 is located opposite the occlusal tray 34 and extends outwardly from the mouthpiece engaging portion 25 along an edge that is distal to the connecting portion 23. The lip engaging portion 27 curves upwardly and away from the mouthpiece 14 and does not overlap with the inner wall 80 of the mouthpiece 14, leaving mostof the arch-shaped channel 85 open to engage the dental arch. The purpose of the lip engaging portion 27 is to provide a barrier between the user’s lip and the mouthpiece 14, which isolates the lip from movement of the mouthpiece 14. The lip engaging portion 27 may include an upper wall 270, left and right lateral walls 270a, 270b, and a lower wall 275, all of which define a centrally located notch that forms a labial frenulum gap 260 (FIG. 12) which accommodates the labial frenulum of the user.

[0056] Similarly, the cheek engaging portions 38a, 38b extend along, and at least partially overlap with, the outer wall 62 of the mouthpiece 14. This provides a barrier between the user’s cheeks and the mouthpiece 14, which isolates the cheeks from movement of the mouthpiece 14. In this exemplary implementation, the height of the cheek engaging portions 38a, 38b tapers downwardly as each extends from the mouthpiece engaging portion 25 to distal ends of the left leg 228 and right leg 232, respectively, of the occlusal tray 34.

[0057] The mouthpiece engaging portion 25 preferably comprises a neck 31 that is relatively narrow (i.e., smaller perimeter shape) than the connecting portion 23, the lip engaging portion 27, and the cheek engaging portions 38a, 38b. This enables the user to easily position his / her lips between the connecting portion 23, the lip engaging portion 27, and the cheek engaging portions 38a, 38b - which provides proper positioning of the mouthpiece 14 in the user’s mouth.

[0058] While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:1 . An oral care device comprising: a mouthpiece comprising a body having a curved channel defined by a bottom wall that is located between an inner wall and an outer wall, a plurality of bristles affixed to and extending inwardly from each of the bottom wall, the inner wall, and the outer wall, the mouthpiece being shaped to receive a dental arch; a drive mechanism adapted to move the mouthpiece in an oscillating motion along a mouthpiece arcuate path having a pivot axis, the drive mechanism comprising a drive motor; and a housing adapted to contain the mouthpiece and the drive mechanism.

2. The oral care device of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece arcuate path has a total stroke of at least 15 degrees.

3. The oral care device of any of claims 1-2, wherein the mouthpiece arcuate path has a total stroke of at least 20 degrees.

4. The oral care device of any of claims 1-3, wherein the mouthpiece arcuate path has a total stroke that is between 20 and 25 degrees.

5. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -4, wherein the pivot axis is located within a central opening defined by the inner wall of the mouthpiece.

6. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -5, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to oscillate the mouthpiece at a frequency of no more than 10Hz.

7. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -6, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to oscillate the mouthpiece at a frequency of no more than 5Hz.

8. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to oscillate the mouthpiece at a frequency of no more than 3.5Hz.

9. The oral care device of claim 8, wherein the frequency is adjustable by a user.

10. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the body of the mouthpiece is formed of an elastomer.11 . The oral care device of claim 10, wherein the elastomer is silicone rubber.

12. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the body of the mouthpiece has a hardness in the range of 30 ShAto 65 ShA.

13. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the body of the mouthpiece has a modulus of elasticity of in the range of 2 - 20 MPa.

14. The oral care device of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a link arm having a rear end that pivots about a link arm pivot axis and front end adapted to oscillate along a link arm arcuate path when the drive motor is activated.

15. The oral care device of claim 14, wherein the drive motor is located between the front end and the rear end of the link arm.

16. The oral care device of claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises a slider that includes a slider inlet channel and a slider outlet channel.

17. The oral care device of claim 16, further comprising an inlet tube in fluid flow communication with the slider inlet channel and an outlet tube in fluid flow communication with the slider outlet channel, the inlet tube and the outlet tube being affixed to the link arm.

18. The oral care device of claim 16, wherein the front end of the link arm is mechanically engaged with the slider, which causes the sliderto move with the front end of the link arm along a slider arcuate path.

19. The oral care device of claim 16, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece connector includes a mouthpiece inlet channel and a mouthpiece outlet channel, the mouthpiece connector being adapted to releasably engage the slider.

20. The oral care device of claim 19, further comprising a seal extending from the slider to the housing, thereby forming a fluid-tight barrier that prevents fluids from flowing into the housing other than through the slider.21 . A mouthpiece comprising: a body having an arch-shaped channel defined by a bottom wall that is located between an inner wall and an outer wall, a plurality of pad recesses formed in the arch-shaped channel; and a plurality of bristle blocks, each of the plurality of bristle blocks comprising a plurality of tufts affixed to a pad, each of the plurality of tufts comprising a plurality of bristles, each padbeing secured within one of the plurality of pad recesses with an adhesive.

22. The mouthpiece of claim 21 , wherein the body is formed of a body material having a first modulus of elasticity and each pad is formed from a pad material having a second modulus of elasticity, the second modulus of elasticity being greater than the first modulus of elasticity.

23. The mouthpiece of claim 22, wherein the second modulus of elasticity is more than ten times greater than the first modulus of elasticity.

24. The mouthpiece of any of claims 22-23, wherein the body material is silicone.

25. The mouthpiece of any of claims 22-24, wherein the pad material is selected from the group of: nylon, polybutylene terephthalate, and a blend of polyester and cotton.

26. The mouthpiece of any of claims 22-25, wherein each of the plurality of pad recesses has one of the plurality of bristle blocks secured therein.

27. The mouthpiece of any of claims 22-26, wherein the arch-shaped channel has a front portion located between left and right legs, and at least one fluid opening extending through the body in the front portion.

28. The mouthpiece of claim 27, further comprising a mouthpiece connector secured to the body and extending through the outer wall in the front portion.

29. The mouthpiece of claim 28, wherein the mouthpiece connector is formed from a connector material having a third modulus of elasticity, the third modulus of elasticity being greater than the first modulus of elasticity.

30. The mouthpiece of claim 28, wherein the mouthpiece connector includes a mouthpiece inlet channel and a mouthpiece outlet channel, both the mouthpiece inlet channel and the mouthpiece outlet channel being in fluid flow communication with the arch-shaped channel.31 . The mouthpiece of claim 30, wherein the mouthpiece inlet channel comprises a check valve adapted to prevent fluid from flowing out of the mouthpiece and into the mouthpiece inlet channel.

32. The mouthpiece of claim 30, wherein the mouthpiece outlet channel comprises an outlet filter.

33. The mouthpiece of any of claims 21 -22, wherein the plurality of bristles of the plurality of bristle blocks affixed to the outer wall and the inner wall have an incidence angle that is within 5 degrees of being perpendicular to the bottom wall.

34. The mouthpiece of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of bristle blocks affixed to the outer wall and the inner wall have bristle blocks of different lengths in order to provide the incidence angle that is within 5 degrees of being perpendicular to the bottom wall.

35. The mouthpiece of claim 33, wherein each of the outer wall and the inner wall extends upwardly from the bottom wall at an angle between 115 and 125 degrees relative to the bottom wall.

36. The mouthpiece of any of claims 21 -22, wherein each of the plurality of recesses is trapezoidal in shape.

37. An oral care device comprising: a mouthpiece including a body having an arch-shaped channel defined by a bottom wall that is located between an inner wall and an outer wall, a plurality of bristles affixed to and extending inwardly from each of the bottom wall, the inner wall, and the outer wall, the mouthpiece being shaped to receive a dental arch; a drive mechanism adapted to cause oscillating movement of the mouthpiece along a movement path, the drive mechanism comprising a drive motor; a housing adapted to contain the mouthpiece and the drive mechanism, the mouthpiece located at a top end of the housing; and a lip rest extending from the top end of the housing and comprising a central opening that enables the mouthpiece to extend therethrough and connect to the drive mechanism; wherein the lip rest overlaps at least a portion of the mouthpiece.

38. The oral care device of claim 37, wherein the body of the mouthpiece is formed of an elastomer.

39. The oral care device of claim 38, wherein the elastomer is silicone rubber.

40. The oral care device of any of claims 37 or 38, wherein the body of the mouthpiece has a hardness in the range of 30 ShAto 65 ShA.41 . The oral care device of claims 37-39, wherein the mouthpiece has a mouthpiece modulus of elasticity.

42. The oral care device of claim 41 , wherein the mouthpiece modulus of elasticity is in the range of 2 - 20 MPa.

43. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest has a lip rest modulus of elasticity and the mouthpiece has a mouthpiece modulus of elasticity, the lip rest modulus of elasticity being at least two times the mouthpiece modulus of elasticity.

44. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest has a central opening that enables the mouthpiece to be connected to the drive mechanism through the central opening.

45. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest has an occlusal tray shaped and positioned to overlap with at least 50% of the bottom wall of the mouthpiece.

46. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest has an occlusal tray shaped and positioned to overlap with at least 75% of the bottom wall of the mouthpiece.

47. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest includes a left leg and a right leg that define an occlusal tray opening therebetween.

48. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest comprises a lip engaging portion that extends away from an upper side of the mouthpiece, thereby providing a barrier between a lip of a user and the mouthpiece.

49. The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest comprises left and right cheek engaging portions that are positioned to each provide a barrier between at least a portion of the outer wall of the mouthpiece and cheeks of a user.

50. The oral care device of claim 49, wherein the lip rest comprises a neck portion and a connecting portion, the neck portion having a smaller perimeter shape than the connecting portion, the neck portion being located between the connecting portion and the lip engaging portion and the left and right cheek engaging portions.51 . The oral care device of any of claims 37-39, wherein the lip rest comprises a lip rest connector, an upper wall, left and right lateral walls, and a lower wall, the upper wall, left and right lateral walls and the lower wall defining a labial frenulum gap, the labial frenulum gap having a smaller perimeter shape than the lip rest connector.

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