Abstract:
An oral care implement has a head portion with tooth cleaning elements on one surface thereof and a reservoir containing at least one active agent. A capillary channel extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver active agent(s) to one or more outlets. In one aspect, a vibration-producing device is provided to vibrate at least a portion of the implement to enhance the function of tooth cleaning elements and the delivery of the active agent through capillary action. A variety of active agents can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling.
Abstract:
An oral care implement is disclosed comprising: an oral care region having cleaning elements; a body coupled to the oral care region; a gas outlet operably coupled to a gas source, the gas outlet disposed in the oral care region; an oral care material source storing an oral care material; an oral care material outlet operably coupled to the oral care material source, the oral care material outlet disposed in the oral care region; and wherein the oral care material outlet is spaced apart from the gas outlet. In another aspect, an oral care implement is disclosed comprising an oral care region having an elastomeric tooth cleaning element and an air outlet positioned adjacent the air outlet so that an air stream existing the air outlet causes a dynamic vibratory flexing action of at least a portion of the elastomeric tooth cleaning element.
Abstract:
An oral care system comprising a toothbrush and a dispenser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and an internal reservoir containing an oral care material; a drive component rotatably disposed within the housing and comprising a drive screw, the drive component being axially retained relative to the housing through mechanical interference; and an elevator coupled to the drive screw so that rotation of the drive component in a first rotational direction causes the elevator to axially advance along the drive screw in a first axial direction to dispense the oral care material from a dispensing orifice.
Abstract:
An oral care system comprising a toothbrush and a dispenser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and an internal reservoir containing an oral care material; a drive component rotatably disposed within the housing and comprising a drive screw, the drive component being axially retained relative to the housing through mechanical interference; and an elevator coupled to the drive screw so that rotation of the drive component in a first rotational direction causes the elevator to axially advance along the drive screw in a first axial direction to dispense the oral care material from a dispensing orifice.
Abstract:
A fluid dispensing toothbrush. In one aspect, the toothbrush comprises a body having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid therein, the oral care fluid being delivered to an applicator via capillary action. The toothbrush comprises an actuator for moving either the applicator and/or the reservoir between different positions.
Abstract:
An apparatus may include a connection component configured to connect the apparatus to any one of a plurality of different apparatuses. A toothbrush may include at least one measurement component configured to measure a parameter of use of an oral care region, and a processor configured to change output of a first audio signal of a plurality of audio signals to a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals based on the measured parameter. Another toothbrush may include a processor configured to receive first data from an external source component and output second data corresponding to the received first data to at least one output device in response, and the at least output device configured to output the second data from the processor.
Abstract:
An oral care implement has a head portion with tooth cleaning elements on a front surface thereof and a reservoir containing a fluid. A delivery member extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver the fluid from the reservoir to an applicator that may be positioned on the rear surface of the head. In one aspect, the applicator and the delivery member may be separate components that are fluidly coupled to one another. The applicator and the delivery member may both be formed of a capillary material.
Abstract:
A method of monitoring oral health including deriving a health profile of a user from information obtained from a sample taken from the user; displaying a representation of the health profile on a display, wherein the representation of the health profile includes a list of undesirable oral health characteristics that are detectable from the sample and a graphical depiction of an oral cavity divided into a plurality of regions; and wherein in response to selection of a first one of the undesirable oral health characteristics, the representation of the health profile indicates which regions of the user's oral cavity are affected by the first one of the undesirable oral health characteristic.
Abstract:
An apparatus may include a connection component configured to connect the apparatus to any one of a plurality of different apparatuses. A toothbrush may include at least one measurement component configured to measure a parameter of use of an oral care region, and a processor configured to change output of a first audio signal of a plurality of audio signals to a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals based on the measured parameter. Another toothbrush may include a processor configured to receive first data from an external source component and output second data corresponding to the received first data to at least one output device in response, and the at least output device configured to output the second data from the processor.
Abstract:
An oral care implement including a customizable element and related methods are described. A method of marketing an oral care implement and a face plate may include exposing a primary oral care implement for sale and exposing a plurality of distinct faceplates each removably attachable to the oral care implement. A user may be permitted to select at least one of the removable faceplates. Upon selection of the at least one of the removable faceplates by the user, the oral care implement and the selected faceplate may be provided to the user.