Toothbrush Interdental Brush Storage Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients often resist flossing due to its inconvenience and the challenges associated with handling interdental brushes, leading to inadequate cleaning of interdental spaces, which are critical for preventing periodontal disease.
Innovation Solution
A dental hygiene device that integrates a toothbrush component with a compartment to store and securely hold an interdental brush, featuring a ventilation window for drying to prevent biofilm growth, and a latch or friction fit mechanism for easy attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interdental brushes are stored separately, then they can be kept clean and dry, but patients have difficulty locating and handling them
Solution Approach 1:
The interdental brush is stored inside a compartment of the toothbrush handle, with the brush head fitting into a recessed cavity. This nesting arrangement keeps the interdental brush protected and dry while making it easily accessible when needed, as it is already positioned within reach in the handle compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the toothbrush and interdental brush storage into a single integrated unit. The interdental brush compartment is built into the toothbrush handle, merging two separate dental hygiene tools into one convenient device that provides both brushing and interdental cleaning functions.
2Reliability
If interdental brushes are stored in a closed compartment, then they are protected from contamination, but moisture accumulates promoting biofilm growth
Solution Approach 1:
The compartment containing the interdental brush includes ventilation holes that allow air circulation through the storage space. These porous openings enable moisture to escape while preventing larger contaminants from entering, maintaining a dry environment that inhibits biofilm growth while keeping the brush protected.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation holes extract excess moisture from the closed compartment by allowing it to escape to the external environment. This extraction of harmful moisture prevents the accumulation of dampness that would otherwise promote biofilm growth on the stored interdental brush.
3Manufacturing precision
If interdental brushes are made small for effective interdental cleaning, then they can reach between teeth, but they become difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush handle acts as an intermediary that provides a comfortable grip and easy handling mechanism for the small interdental brush. By mounting the tiny brush in the handle compartment, the user can easily access and manipulate it with their fingers, overcoming the handling difficulties of small interdental brushes that would be difficult to grasp directly.
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 device facilitates convenient and effective cleaning of interdental spaces by providing a dedicated storage and drying mechanism for interdental brushes, encouraging regular use and improving oral hygiene by enhancing accessibility and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
At least one ventilation window located within the toothbrush component allows for drying of the interdental brush component to prevent the growth of biofilms
Data Source
AI summary
A dental hygiene device includes a toothbrush component and at least one interdental brush component that can be stored within the toothbrush component. At least one ventilation window located within the toothbrush component allows for drying of the interdental brush component to prevent the growth of biofilms. The interdental brush component removably attaches to the toothbrush component by a latch mechanism, a door mechanism or a friction fit between the interdental brush component and the toothbrush component.