Moisture-Reactive Dental Cleaning Tablet for Mess-Free Dosing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral care products, such as toothpastes and tablets, face challenges in ease of use, particularly for children and those with dexterity issues, and often result in waste and mess, while tubeless tablets are dry and chalky, lacking user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A dental cleaning tablet with a core containing dental hygiene compounds and a moisture-reactive outer shell that dissolves quickly, providing a measured dose for easy use and a pleasant experience, eliminating the need for tubes and addressing dryness issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If toothpaste is packaged in a plastic tube, then the toothpaste can be stored and dispensed, but it creates package waste and makes a mess when used by children
Solution Approach 1:
The toothpaste is divided into individual single-use tablets, each containing a pre-measured dose. This segmentation eliminates the need for a large tube that creates waste and mess, while maintaining the functionality of storing and dispensing toothpaste. Each tablet is a separate, self-contained unit that dissolves in the mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses disposable single-use tablets instead of reusable tubes. Each tablet is designed to be used once and then discarded, eliminating the waste associated with empty tubes and the mess of squeezed-out toothpaste. The tablets are inexpensive to manufacture and dispose of compared to managing tube waste.
2Ease of manufacture
If toothpaste is in tube form, then it can be stored, but it is bulky and difficult to use for travel
Solution Approach 1:
The toothpaste is segmented into individual tablets that can be easily packed for travel. Each tablet is compact and takes up minimal space compared to a tube of toothpaste. The tablets can be stored in a small container or even a pocket, making them highly portable and convenient for travel.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If compressed tablet form is used, then tube waste is eliminated, but the tablet is dry and chalky requiring abundant saliva
Solution Approach 1:
The physical and chemical parameters of the tablet are optimized to improve dissolution characteristics. The tablet formulation includes specific binders and disintegrants that allow it to break down quickly and evenly in the mouth, reducing the chalky feel and minimizing the need for abundant saliva. The moisture content and density are carefully controlled to achieve optimal dissolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The tablet is formulated as a composite material containing toothpaste ingredients combined with dissolution-enhancing agents. This composite structure allows the tablet to maintain its solid form for storage while rapidly dissolving in the mouth, eliminating the dry and chalky characteristics of simple compressed tablets.
4Ease of operation
If tubeless tablet form is used, then dexterity challenges are addressed, but the product is dry and not chewy making children more likely to swallow
Solution Approach 1:
The tablet's physical properties are modified to create a chewy texture that is appealing to children and clearly distinguishes it from candy. The formulation includes ingredients that provide a pleasant chewiness and flavor release, making it obvious that the tablet is meant to be chewed and brushed with rather than swallowed.
Solution Approach 2:
The tablet is formulated with vibrant colors and flavors that are appealing to children, but the color and flavor are designed to change or intensify when chewed, providing feedback that it is meant to be processed in the mouth. The visual and sensory characteristics are carefully designed to differentiate the tablet from edible candies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dental cleaning tablet offers a mess-free, single-use, pre-measured dose that dissolves in the mouth, enhancing oral hygiene without requiring dexterity and providing a pleasant chewing experience, suitable for children and adults alike.
Implementation Method 1
a moisture-reactive outer shell that dissolves quickly
Data Source
AI summary
A dental cleaning tablet. The dental cleaning tablet includes a core, wherein the core includes one or more dental hygiene products and an outer shell, wherein the outer shell completely covers the core.