Low friction toothbrush

Abstract

A brush for use in cleaning teeth, and a method for cleaning teeth using such brush, in which bristles are used in the brush that are prepared from a composition containing a thermoplastic polymeric resin in admixture with a slip agent.

1 . A brush for use in cleaning teeth comprising bristles that are prepared from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymeric resin in admixture with a slip agent.  
     
     
         2 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic polymeric resin is one or more members of the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, fluoropolymers, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and styrenic polymers and copolymers.  
     
     
         3 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic polymeric resin is a polyamide.  
     
     
         4 . A brush according to  claim 3  wherein the polyamide is nylon 6,12.  
     
     
         5 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the slip agent is one or more members of the group consisting of a fluorinated olefin polymer, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, graphites, fullerene and talc.  
     
     
         6 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the slip agent is polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         7 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises the slip agent in an amount of about 0.5 or more, and yet about 10 or less, weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of polymer plus slip agent.  
     
     
         8 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the bristles extend out from a planar surface.  
     
     
         9 . A brush according to  claim 1  wherein the bristles extend radially out from a central axis in multiple directions toward a circumferential perimeter about the central axis  
     
     
         10 . A brush according to  claim 9  wherein the bristles are clasped by a twisted wire.  
     
     
         11 . A method of cleaning teeth comprising (a) providing a brush that comprises bristles that are prepared from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymeric resin in admixture with a slip agent; and (b) applying the brush to the surface of one or more teeth to clean the teeth.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of selecting as the thermoplastic polymeric resin one or more members of the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, fluoropolymers, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and styrenic polymers and copolymers.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of selecting as the thermoplastic polymeric resin a polyamide.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the polyamide is nylon 6,12.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of selecting as the slip agent one or more members of the group consisting of a fluorinated olefin polymer, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, graphites, fullerene and talc.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of selecting as the slip agent polytetrafluorethylene.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of preparing a composition that comprises the slip agent in an amount of about 0.5 or more, and yet about 10 or less, weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of polymer plus slip agent.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of providing a brush on which the bristles extend out from a planar surface.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises a step of providing a brush on which the bristles extend radially out from a central axis in multiple directions toward a circumferential perimeter about the central axis.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the bristles are clasped by a twisted wire.