Tooth polishing brush

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothbrush with uniform diameter bristles containing a polishing agent with a particle size of from about 0.01 μm to about 100 μm, wherein cleaning of the teeth is improved without any of the adverse side effects associated with over aggressive abrasion. An embodiment of the present invention includes a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments comprised of (a) a thermoplastic filament base material and (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm. Particles less than 0.1 μm can be used if aggregation occurs such that the aggregate size on bristle is described. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of cleaning the oral cavity comprised of: (A) providing a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments comprised of (a) a thermoplastic filament base material and (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.10 to about 10 microns; (B) applying an effective amount of an abrasive-free and polishing agent-free dentifrice to the free ends of said bristles; and, (C) brushing the teeth, gums, etc. of said oral cavity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of elongated filaments having a generally uniform diameter comprised of: 
 (a) a thermoplastic filament base material; and,    (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.10 micron to about 10 microns.    
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush according to    claim 1    wherein the diameter of said filament does not vary more than 20% along the length of said filament.  
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush according to    claim 2    wherein the diameter of said filament does not vary more than 10% along the length of said filament.  
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush according to    claim 3    wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: 
 particles of plastic;  
 particles of walnut shells;  
 particles of hardwood;  
 particles of corn cob;  
 particles of rubber;  
 calcium carbonate;  
 aragonite clay;  
 orthorhombic clays;  
 calcite clay;  
 rhombohedral clays;  
 kaolin clay;  
 bentonite clay;  
 dicalcium phosphate;  
 dicalcium phosphate anhydrous;  
 dicalcium phosphate dihydrate;  
 tricalcium phosphate;  
 calcium pyrophosphate;  
 insoluble sodium metaphosphate;  
 precipitated calcium carbonate;  
 magnesium orthophosphate;  
 trimagnesium phosphate;  
 hydroxyapatites;  
 synthetic apatites;  
 alumina;  
 hydrated alumina;  
 hydrated silica xerogel;  
 metal aluminosilicate complexes;  
 sodium aluminum silicates;  
 zirconium silicate;  
 silicon dioxide; and  
 combinations thereof.  
 
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush according to    claim 4    wherein said polishing agent has a Moh's hardness of from about 0.5 to about 10.  
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush according to    claim 5    wherein said filaments contain from about 0.5% (wt) to about 25% (wt), said polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of kaolin, alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush according to    claim 6    wherein the filament base material is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, acetyl resins, polyesters, fluoropolymers, polyacrylates, polysulfones and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush according to    claim 7    wherein said polishing agent is generally dispersed throughout said filament.  
     
     
         9 . A toothbrush according to    claim 8    wherein said filament further comprises a dispersing agent.  
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush according to    claim 9    wherein said filament further comprises a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, dimethylamides of unsaturated fatty acid, fatty acids, fluoropolymer-based dispersants, fats, aluminum stearate, silicone oils, bisamide waxes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush according to    claim 10    wherein said filament further comprises a coupling agent selected from the group consisting of vinyl silane, chloropropyl silane, epoxy silane, methacrylate silane, primary amine silane, diamine silane, mercapto silane, cationic silane, cyloaliphatic expoxide silane, titanate and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A toothbrush according to    claim 11    wherein said filaments have a diameter of from about 100 μm to about 350 μm.  
     
     
         13 . A toothbrush according to    claim 12    wherein said thermoplastic filament base material is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, acetyl resins and polyesters.  
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush according to    claim 13    wherein said dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, bisamide waxes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A toothbrush according to    claim 14    wherein said polishing agent is kaolin clay.  
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush according to    claim 7    wherein said filament further comprises a core region and a sheath region which extends along at least a portion of the outer surface of the filament and further extends inwardly into a portion of the cross-sectional area, wherein said sheath region contains an effective amount of said polishing agent and said core region comprises from 0% to about 25% polishing agent.  
     
     
         17 . A toothbrush according to    claim 7    wherein said filament further comprises a core region and a sheath region which extends along at least a portion of the outer surface of the filament and further extends inwardly into a portion of the cross-sectional area, wherein said sheath region contains from 0% to about 25% of said polishing agent and said core region contains an effective amount of said polishing agent.  
     
     
         18 . A toothbrush according to    claim 17    wherein the free ends of said filaments are rounded off, resulting in a general dome shape having a height to width ratio of less than about 1.  
     
     
         19 . A toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of elongated filaments having a generally uniform diameter comprised of: 
 (a) a thermoplastic filament base material; and,    (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.10 micron to about 10 microns,    wherein said filaments are characterized by:    a diameter in the range of from about 100 to about 3 50 μm;    a coefficient of friction of from about 0.01 to about 0.90;    an ISO stiffness rating of Soft to Medium;    a tuft retention greater than 3 lbs.;    a bend recovery of from 80% to 100%;    an elongation at break of from about 1% to about 500%;    a tensile strength of from about 5,000 to about 200,000 psi; and    a tensile and flexural modulus of from about 100,000 to about 3,000,000 psi.    
     
     
         20 . A toothbrush according to    claim 19    wherein the diameter of said filament does not vary more than 20% along the length of said filament and wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: 
 particles of plastic;  
 particles of walnut shells;  
 particles of hardwood;  
 particles of corn cob;  
 particles of rubber;  
 calcium carbonate;  
 aragonite clay;  
 orthorhombic clays;  
 calcite clay;  
 rhombohedral clays;  
 kaolin clay;  
 bentonite clay;  
 dicalcium phosphate;  
 dicalcium phosphate anhydrous;  
 dicalcium phosphate dihydrate;  
 tricalcium phosphate;  
 calcium pyrophosphate;  
 insoluble sodium metaphosphate;  
 precipitated calcium carbonate;  
 magnesium orthophosphate;  
 trimagnesium phosphate;  
 hydroxyapatites;  
 synthetic apatites;  
 alumina;  
 hydrated alumina;  
 hydrated silica xerogel;  
 metal aluminosilicate complexes;  
 sodium aluminum silicates;  
 zirconium silicate;  
 silicon dioxide; and  
 combinations thereof.  
 
     
     
         21 . A toothbrush according to    claim 20    wherein said filaments contain from about 0.5% (wt) to about 25% (wt), said polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 to about 10 wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of kaolin, alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica and combinations thereof and wherein the filament base material is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, acetyl resins, polyesters, fluoropolymers, polyacrylates, polysulfones and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A toothbrush according to    claim 21    wherein said filament further comprises a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, dimethylamides of unsaturated fatty acid, fatty acids, fluoropolymer-based dispersants, fats, aluminum stearate, silicone oils, bisamide waxes and combinations thereof wherein said filament further comprises a coupling agent selected from the group consisting of vinyl silane, chloropropyl silane, epoxy silane, methacrylate silane, primary amine silane, diamine silane, mercapto silane, cationic silane, cyloaliphatic expoxide silane, titanate and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . A toothbrush according to    claim 22    wherein said core material extends along the entire longitudinal surface.  
     
     
         24 . A toothbrush according to    claim 10    wherein said filaments are characterized by: 
 a diameter in the range of from about 150 to about 200 μm;  
 a coefficient of friction of from about 0.20 to about 0.80;  
 a bend recovery of from 90% to 100%;  
 an elongation at break of from about 1% to about 200%;  
 a tensile strength of from about 5,000 to about 100,000 psi; and  
 a tensile and flexural modulus of from 100,000 to about 1,500,000 psi.  
 
     
     
         25 . A method of cleaning the oral cavity comprised of: 
 (A) providing a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of elongated filaments having a generally uniform diameter comprised of: 
 (a) a thermoplastic filament base material; and,  
 (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.10 micron to about 10 microns; and  
   (B) applying an effective amount of an abrasive free and polishing agent free dentifrice to the free ends of said bristles; and,    (C) brushing said oral cavity.    
     
     
         26 . A method of cleaning the oral cavity according to    claim 25    wherein the diameter of said filament does not vary more than 20% along the length of said filament and wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: 
 particles of plastic;  
 particles of walnut shells;  
 particles of hardwood;  
 particles of corn cob;  
 particles of rubber;  
 calcium carbonate;  
 aragonite clay;  
 orthorhombic clays;  
 calcite clay;  
 rhombohedral clays;  
 kaolin clay;  
 bentonite clay;  
 dicalcium phosphate;  
 dicalcium phosphate anhydrous;  
 dicalcium phosphate dihydrate;  
 tricalcium phosphate;  
 calcium pyrophosphate;  
 insoluble sodium metaphosphate;  
 precipitated calcium carbonate;  
 magnesium orthophosphate;  
 trimagnesium phosphate;  
 hydroxyapatites;  
 synthetic apatites;  
 alumina;  
 hydrated alumina;  
 hydrated silica xerogel;  
 metal aluminosilicate complexes;  
 sodium aluminum silicates;  
 zirconium silicate;  
 silicon dioxide; and  
 combinations thereof.  
 
     
     
         27 . A method of cleaning the oral cavity according to    claim 26    wherein said filaments contain from about 0.5% (wt) to about 25% (wt), said polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of kaolin, alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica and combinations thereof and wherein the filament base material is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, acetyl resins, polyesters, fluoropolymers, polyacrylates, polysulfones and combinations thereof.