Shapes for tooth whitening strips

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tooth whitening strip of material having a shape adapted to fit a user's teeth. Each user has four front teeth, two canine teeth and additional back teeth, such as molars. Each tooth has a front side, a tip, and a back side. The strip of material is of a shape so that the strip will substantially cover the front side of at least the user's front four teeth and two canine teeth. The front sides of additional teeth may be covered. The tooth whitening strip will then fold over the tips and onto the back side of one or more of the front four teeth. However, the strip of material will not cover the tips of the two canine teeth. The strip of material may be of any shape that allows for the canines to protrude. Possible shapes include substantially trapezoidal with or without stair stepped sides or notches, and rectangular with notches, stair stepped sides, or recesses.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tooth whitening strip of material having a shape adapted to fit a user's teeth, each of said user's teeth having a front side, a tip, and a back side and each user having four front teeth, two canine teeth, and additional back teeth; such that the strip substantially covers the front side of at least the user's front four teeth and two canine teeth and is foldable over the tips and onto the back side of one or more of the front four teeth without covering the tips of the two canine teeth.  
     
     
         2 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the strip has a first, second, third, and fourth side, said first and second sides beings opposing, and said third and fourth sides being opposing.  
     
     
         3 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 2  wherein the third side is concave and the fourth side is convex.  
     
     
         4 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 2  wherein the third side is shorter then the fourth side.  
     
     
         5 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 4  wherein the first and second sides are stair stepped.  
     
     
         6 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 3  wherein the first and second sides have recesses causing the third side to be shorter than the fourth side.  
     
     
         7 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the shape of the strip is substantially trapezoidal.  
     
     
         8 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the strip has at least two recesses which prevent the strip from covering the tips of the two canine teeth.  
     
     
         9 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the strip has at least two holes or slits which prevent the strip from covering the tips of the two canine teeth.  
     
     
         10 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 9  wherein the slits are cross-slits.  
     
     
         11 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the shape of the strip has rounded corners.  
     
     
         12 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 2  wherein the strip comprises a fold line from the first side to the second side such than when the strip is placed on the user's teeth, the fold line corresponds to the tips of the teeth.  
     
     
         13 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 12  wherein the user's teeth further comprises an upper and a lower set of teeth, and said fold line is up to about 0.1 cm to about 4 cm in length when the user applies the strip to the lower set of teeth.  
     
     
         14 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 12  wherein the user's teeth further comprises an upper and a lower set of teeth, and said fold line is up to about 4.3 cm in length when the user applies the strip to the upper set of teeth.  
     
     
         15 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the strip is comprised of a flexible material having a sufficient flexibility to form a curved shape and being readily conformable to tooth surfaces and to interstitial tooth spaces without permanent deformation when placed against the teeth.  
     
     
         16 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the strip is substantially unnoticeable by others when worn.  
     
     
         17 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the strip is applied to adjoining soft tissue of the teeth in addition to the teeth.  
     
     
         18 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 1  wherein the strip has shallow pockets on a substance-coated side of said strip of material, said shallow pockets having a substance located therein.  
     
     
         19 . The tooth whitening strip according to  claim 15  wherein the strip is a polyethylene film having a nominal film thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.