Illuminated electric toothbrushes and methods of use

• US 20060257822A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Willey, Alan David, Ghosh, Chanchal Kumar, Chan, John Geoffrey, Pinyayev, Aleksey Mikhailovich, Majeti, Satyanarayana
• Application Number:
  US11/488,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20060257822A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/215
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49113 the connectors connecting different bonding areas on the semiconductor or solid-state body to a common bonding area outside the body, e.g. converging wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for providing an oral care benefit by combining the use of an oral care composition with an electric toothbrush having an electrically powered element disposed thereon. In particular methods are described for using an electric toothbrush comprising a light emitting element, with oral care compositions to provide tooth whitening and stain removal.

Claims

1. A method of providing an oral care benefit comprising:

(a) applying a uniform coating of an oral care substance onto a delivery device;

(b) applying said delivery device with said substance disposed thereon to surfaces of a plurality of teeth such that said substance contacts said surfaces, said substance providing an active onto said plurality of teeth;

(c) removing said delivery device from said teeth, and releasing at least a portion of said oral care substance from said delivery device onto said plurality of teeth;

(d) brushing said plurality of teeth with an electric toothbrush comprising a head, a handle, a movable bristle holder, and an electrically powered element, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed on and emits energy from said head of said toothbrush.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is a light emitting element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said light emitting from said head of said toothbrush has a wavelength of about 420 to about 470 nm.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said light emitting from said head of said toothbrush has a flux density of about 20 mW/cm² to about 300 mW/cm².

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrically powered element is a light emitting diode.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said oral care substance comprises an active selected from the group consisting of tooth whitening substances, tooth stain removal substances, phosphates, fluoride ion sources, antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, nutrients, enzymes, mouth and throat products, antioxidants, H-2 antagonists and mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said tooth whitening and stain removal substances comprise an active selected from the group consisting of polymers, solvents, chelants, surfactants, and enzymes and mixtures thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said tooth whitening and stain removing substances comprise a photosensitizer activated by light having a wavelength of from about 380 to about 700 nm.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said photosensitizer is Zn phthalocyanine.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said tooth whitening substance comprises an active selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, peroxyacids, peroxyacids precursors, diacylperoxides, and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said tooth whitening substance is present in an amount from about 3% to about 60%.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said tooth whitening substance is present in an amount from about 3% to about 15%.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said tooth whitening substance comprises two or more separate phases.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising rinsing the oral cavity with a rinse comprising an oral care substance.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivery device is selected from the group consisting of a strip of material and a tray.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said delivery device remains on said teeth for about 2 to about 60 minutes.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said teeth are brushed for about 30 seconds to about 8 minutes.

18. A method of tooth whitening comprising:

(a) rinsing the mouth with a tooth whitening rinse, wherein said rinse comprises a polymer and a tooth whitening substance; and

(b) brushing the teeth with an electric toothbrush comprising a head, a handle, a movable bristle holder, a drive shaft and an electrically powered element, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed on and emits energy from said head of said toothbrush.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said polymer is a dicarboxy functionalized polyorganosiloxane.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said mouth is rinsed for about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes.