Patent Application
20070049955
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oral hygiene device for limiting the growth of bacteria in the mouth of a user, or otherwise improve oral hygiene. More specifically, the present invention relates to an oral hygiene device which uses a anti-microbial compound for inhibiting the growth of bacteria and other microbes in the user's mouth over a prolonged period of time. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the anti-microbial compound can be applied from an applicator, or from a combined applicator and bacteria removal device, such as a tongue scraper.
2. State of the Art
To maintain proper hygiene, individuals engage in a number of activities to reduce bacterial count and otherwise remove contaminants from the mouth. The most common activity, of course, is using a toothbrush and toothpaste to remove plaque and food particles from one's teeth and gums to thereby lessen the risk of dental carries. The scrubbing action of the tooth brush removes most of the bacteria, etc., from the teeth and adjacent gums.
Dentists also highly recommend frequent flossing. Passing the floss between the teeth and below the gum line removes food particles caught therein. It also breaks up bacteria colonies between the teeth and gums which can cause dental carries.
While frequent brushing and flossing can significantly reduce tooth decay and periodontal disease, they do not resolve all issues of dental hygiene. For example, many people have bad breath or halitosis due to bacteria which feed on food particles in the mouth. While brushing reduces the levels of such bacteria on the teeth and associated gums, it has only a marginal effect on overall bacteria concentrations. Almost immediately after brushing has ceased, bacteria start growing again. This is readily demonstrated by slimy or filmy feeling which develops in the mouth within a relatively short time after brushing one's teeth. This is caused in large part by the large bacteria colonies present on the person's tongue and in other parts of the mouth.
To treat bad breath and otherwise reduce bacteria in the mouth, many people use mouthwash. The mouthwash also helps to wash out food particles, dead tissue cells and the like. Unfortunately, many mouthwash solutions have an unpleasant taste and provide a distinct medicine smell after use. Additionally, the fresh feeling which is provided by the mouthwash quickly dissipates and bacterial growth resumes on the tongue and other oral tissues.
Yet another problem with the common use of mouthwash is that the mouthwash contains antiseptics, such as methyl alcohol. Thus, it is recommended that the user not swallow the mouth wash. However, when thoroughly rinsing and gargling with a liquid, the natural reflex is to swallow the liquid once it is received in the back part of the mouth. For this reason, many people using mouthwash rinse only the forward portions of the mouth. While the mouthwash does kill some germs and removes some other contaminants, it generally has minimal effectiveness at removing the bacteria, dead cells, and food particles at the back of the tongue which contribute to bad breath. As soon as the mouthwash has been expelled from the mouth, these bacteria are able to work their way forward on the tongue, recontaminating the recently cleaned areas. Thus, the medicine smell of the mouth wash merely masks bad breath, and does so only temporarily.
A much less used instrument for dental hygiene is a tongue scraper. Over the years, there have been numerous different configurations of tongue scrapers which are designed to abrade the surface of the tongue and remove bacteria, dead cells, and food particles. They remove large amounts of bacteria, dead cells, and food particles along the tongue. Tongue scrapers are particularly desirable in that they remove the white film on the tongue and temporarily give a cleaner feeling to the mouth. Representative examples of tongue scrapers include U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,893,524; 2,583,750; 4,582,059; 5,569,278; 5,735,35,864; 5,766,193; 5,779,475; 5,779,654; 5,792,159; 5,810,856; 5,868,769; 5,916,228; 5,938,673; Des. 367,707; Des. 385,962; Des. 391,370; Des. 404,487; Des. 406,891; and Des. 408,534; Considerable attention is paid in these patents to the configuration of the scraper head and the manner in which it engages the tongue. Patents for tongue scrapers date back at least 130 years to U.S. Pat. No. 194,364.
While the tongue scraper removes large amounts of bacteria and food particles, the small amounts of bacteria and related food source which remain on the tongue allow bacteria colonies to quickly regrow. These bacteria contribute to the slimy feeling that can develop in the mouth and also contribute to bad breath. While attempts have been made to provide tongue scrapers which also emit mouthwash to thereby kill bacteria, the release of mouthwash provides modest relief. Despite being released from the tongue scraper, suffers the same disadvantages mentioned above for the purposes of oral hygiene.
Thus, there is a need for an improved oral hygiene device. Such a device should be easy to use and should help inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth of the user.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an oral hygiene device that is relatively easy to use.
The above and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a oral hygiene device having an anti-microbial compound disposed thereon to kill or otherwise inhibit the growth of bacteria in the user's mouth. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the oral hygiene device also has a tongue scraper or other bacteria removal device disposed thereon. Preferably, the tongue scraper, etc., is used to remove the film which develops on the user's tongue. The anti-microbial compound is then used to treat the tongue or other areas of the mouth to inhibit the regrowth of bacterial colonies.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the oral hygiene device has a first end which is configured to scrape a patient's tongue and a second end which is configured to hold an anti-microbial compound for disposition on a user's tongue, or other portions of the mouth, to kill bacteria and/or inhibit the growth thereof.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the anti-microbial compound is disposed in the form of a generally solid compound. As the anti-microbial compound is placed against tissue in the user's mouth, the anti-microbial compound forms a layer of anti-microbial gel or film which kills bacteria or inhibits the growth thereof. In a preferred application of the invention, the anti-microbial compound is a solid which becomes hydrated or dissolved when it contacts moisture on the tongue, etc., and leaves a thin layer of anti-microbial gel on the tongue as the generally solid anti-microbial compound is moved back and forth along the tongue.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the gel is sufficiently viscous and/or sticky that it adheres to tissues in the mouth and remains on the tissue over a prolonged period of time to control the growth of bacteria and other microbes.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the tongue scraper may be omitted, and the anti-microbial compound placed on the end of an applicator for application on the tongue or adjacent tissues. As the anti-microbial compound contacts the moist tissues in the mouth, it forms a gel which is deposited on the tongue. The gel remains on the tongue for a prolonged period of time and continues to kill bacteria, thereby inhibiting the development of bad breath.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the anti-microbial compound can include flavorings, such as spearmint, wintergreen or peppermint, which give a fresh feeling to the mouth. Such flavorings also typically have refreshing odors which will mask bad breath caused by bacterial growth.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the anti-microbial compound can also include sweeteners. The sweeteners help make the anti-microbial compound unobjectionable to the user, even if the gel remains on the user's tongue for a prolonged period of time.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the anti-microbial compound can include abrasives. The abrasives help to loosen dead skin cells and to break up bacterial colonies to improve penetration of the anti-microbial compound.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the compound can include an anesthetic to help numb the tongue or throat of a user, such that a person suffering from a sore throat or other oral discomfort can numb the area of discomfort for a prolonged period of time.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are numerous different embodiments for utilizing the various aspects of the invention and that various embodiments may resolve various problems discussed above with respect to the prior art.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the various elements of the present invention will be given numeral designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that the following description is only exemplary of the principles of the present invention, and should not be viewed as narrowing the pending claims.
Referring to
The scraper bar 22 and the remaining components are preferably molded out of plastic. This allows the entire oral hygiene device 10 to be disposable. It will be appreciated, however, that other materials such as metal or wood could also be used. Additionally, the oral hygiene device 10 could be cleaned and reused if desired.
The scraper bar 22 preferably is beveled on a inner edge 22a to provide a scraper edge which is dragged along the surface of the tongue of the user. As the scraper edge 22a is drawn along the tongue, the scraper edge lifts bacteria, food particles, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. After each pass over the tongue, the scraper edge 22a can be rinsed to remove the contaminants which have been lifted from the mouth.
By repeatedly passing the scraper bar 22 over the tongue, the user is able to remove the white film and associated bacteria on the tongue. With the bacteria removed, the risk of halitosis is diminished, as the source of the foul odors is reduced. Additionally, by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth, the risk of dental carries and periodontal disease may be reduced.
Disposed at a second end 34 of the oral hygiene device 10 is an anti-microbial compound 38. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the anti-microbial compound 38 can be either a single substance or a compound or mixture of substances. The important factor is that the anti-microbial compound inhibit microbe growth where it is applied, and that the anti-microbial compound remain on the tongue for some length of time. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with numerous anti-microbial compounds, such as polyethylene glycol, carbamide peroxide, sodium chlorite, hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, sodium perborate, propyl paraben, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, triclosan and benzalkonium chloride
In order to maintain the anti-microbial compound 38 on the oral hygiene device 10, it is preferred that the anti-microbial compound is either a solid or a semi-solid, such as a very viscous gel, hereinafter referred to as generally solid. In one embodiment of the invention, the anti-microbial compound 38 forms a solid on an applicator (shown in
Once the generally solid anti-microbial compound 38 is placed against the tongue or other tissues in the mouth, the anti-microbial compound 38 is dissolved or hydrated and forms a gel-like compound. Thus, as the second end 34 is passed over the tongue or other tissues, a layer of anti-microbial gel is deposited on the tongue. The anti-microbial gel remains on the tongue and inhibits growth of bacteria colonies. This is particularly beneficial along the back of the tongue where bacteria colonies are common and mouthwash and other hygiene products are generally ineffective for a prolonged period of time.
As the anti-microbial gel adheres to the tongue, the gel kills, or otherwise inhibits the growth of bacteria and thereby inhibits the development of odor producing compounds in the user's mouth. This is accomplished by including any of a number of known binders and tactifying agents, such as carboxypolymethylene, collidon, xantham gum, etc. While the gel will eventually dissolve and be removed from the user's tongue due to the user's saliva and swallowing, the gel will typically remain in place for at least three to fifteen minutes. This is in sharp contrast to mouthwashes which are typically present for 30 seconds or less. Thus, with a single application, a user can minimize halitosis or other problems associated with oral microorganisms for a prolonged period of time. By using the oral hygiene device 10 after each meal, a user can be substantial halitosis free during the day.
In addition to the anti-microbial compound 38 killing or inhibiting growth of bacteria, the anti-microbial compound 38 can also contain compounds which mask odors as they do develop. Such compounds are often given a strong scent such as wintergreen or peppermint. The compounds have both the effect of masking unpleasant odors and providing a refreshing taste in the user's mouth, thereby reducing the unpleasant taste which often accompanies bacterial growth.
In addition to odor masking, flavorings may be added to make the anti-microbial gel more pleasing to the user. Such flavorings could include, for example, peppermint, berry, grape, banana, wintergreen, cinnamon, spearmint, butterscotch, cherry, orange and strawberry. Other flavorings could also be used.
In addition to flavorings, sweeteners could may also be added to provide a pleasant taste. Such sweeteners could include phenylalanine, sodium saccharin, sucrose, maltitol, manitol and sorbitol. Other sweeteners could also be used.
The compound 38 may instead of or in combination with the anti-microbial include any oral topical anesthetics, such as benzocane, can be used to numb area of discomfort, such as a sore throat or a tooth ache.
The second end 34 of the oral hygiene device 10 can also have abrasives to help scour the surface of the tongue and to break up bacteria colonies thereon. The abrasives may either be positioned on the outside of the anti-microbial compound 38, or formed as part of the anti-microbial compound mixture. Abrasives such as silica powder, calcium carbonate, pumice, silicon carbide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and gypsum powder could be used. Other abrasives could also be used.
In a presently preferred combination, the range of the various components of the anti-microbial mixture would be about:
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that amounts outside of these presently preferred ranges could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to readily adjust the various percentages of the components to develop other anti-microbial compounds which will inhibit the growth of bacteria in the user's mouth.
Turning now to
Disposed at the second end 34 of the oral hygiene device 10, on the opposite end of the rail 30, is the anti-microbial compound 38. The anti-microbial compound 38 is disposed on the applicator (represented by dashed line 42).
The small profile of the oral hygiene device 10 makes it inexpensive to make, easy to use and easy to discard. Unlike many of the prior art tongue scrapers, the tongue scraper can be made for pennies a piece. Thus, there is simply no need to continue to use the oral hygiene device 10 for more than one cleaning of the tongue. This, or course, eliminates the need to sanitize the tongue scraper 18 to prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. In contrast, many of the tongue scrapers of the prior art are non-disposable and should be sanitized to prevent auto-contamination.
At the opposing second end 34 of the oral hygiene device, the anti-microbial compound 38 forms a rounded or tear drop shape on the applicator 42. As the anti-microbial compound 38 is moved across the surface of the tongue, or other tissues in the mouth, the moisture thereon will cause the anti-microbial compound to moisten and dissolve/hydrate into a gel or highly viscous material, which adheres to the surface of the tongue. The gel formed by the anti-microbial compound 38 is sufficiently viscous to remain on the tongue for a prolonged period of time. If necessary, materials such as xanthan gum or other fillers could be added to increase the viscosity of the material used to control bacterial growth and to hold it on the tongue. However, the examples set forth below effectively cling to the surface of the tongue.
Turning now to
The anti-microbial compound 38 can be disposed on the holding surface 44 in a variety of ways. For example, the holding surface 44 can be dipped in a gel of the anti-microbial compound 38. The anti-microbial compound 38 is then preferably dried or otherwise hardened so that the anti-microbial compound 38 does not come off in shipping, or while the user uses the tongue scraper 18 at the opposing end of the oral hygiene device. In the alternative, the anti-microbial compound can be melted, disposed on the applicator end, and then allowed to cool.
While the broadly rounded holding surface 48 shown in
Turning now to
The opposing end 114 lacks a tongue scraper 18 (
Turning now to
The scraper bar 222 is attached by an arm 226 to a main rail 230. The main rail 230 is preferably at lest two inches long, and more preferably between three and four inches long to enable to tongue scraper 218 to be extended to a position adjacent the back of the tongue.
Disposed on the main rail 230 slightly distally from the tongue scraper 218 is an anti-microbial compound 238. The anti-microbial compound 238 is typically supported by an applicator 242 which forms a holding surface 244. The holding surface 244 can be generally planar, or can have a plurality of holes, projections, detents or other mechanical or chemical structures for helping to hold the anti-microbial compound 238 to the holding surface until it is deposited in the user's mouth.
In use, the tongue scraper 218 is pulled repeatedly across the tongue until the desired film, etc., has been removed. The oral hygiene device 210 is then turned over so that the anti-microbial compound 238 can be applied to the tongue. If desired, the anti-microbial compound can also be applied to the teeth, gums and other tissues in the mouth.
As demonstrated in
In the embodiment shown in
A variety of different compounds can be used as the anti-microbial compound 38 or 238. The following are examples of antimicrobial agents which can be used on the applicator 42 or 242 of the oral hygiene device 10. In light of the present disclosures, those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous other compounds and mixtures could be used on the applicator 42 or 242 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. For example anti-microbial agents such as carbamide peroxide, sodium chlorite, hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, sodium perborate, propyl paraben, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, triclosan and benzalkonium chloride can be included. Other anti-microbial agents may also be used. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such anti-microbial agents usually have anti-bacterial properties, and also reduce the slimy feeling which bacterial growth can cause in the mouth.
Thus, there is disclosed an improved oral hygiene device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications can be made to the embodiments shown herein. For example, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the anti-microbial compound could be used with other tongue scrapers or tooth brushes to inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth.
Those skilled in the art with also appreciate that the embodiments discussed above are only meant to teach one of ordinary skill in the art how to use the invention and not to limit the claims. The appended claims are intended to cover modifications.
