Combined toothbrush and flossing device

Abstract

A combination toothbrush and flossing device integrated into a single product. The toothbrush effectively acts as a handle for the flossing device, thereby making it easier to floss difficult to reach teeth in the rear of the mouth. A floss holder that can be retracted into a body of the device to facilitate storage holds a portion of floss for use. Alternatively, a stand-alone flossing-device and handle advantageously is not in the form of a toothbrush. A powered flossing device provides a motorized floss holder to move the floss in an up-and-down manner relative to the body of the device further eases use. The toothbrush is able to be a powered toothbrush with a removable head that can be replaced with a tongue scraper for use as a powered tongue scraper.

What claimed is:  
     
         1 . A integrated toothbrush and flossing device, comprising: 
 a toothbrush having a body, the body having a fore-end from which bristles depend, and a butt end; and    a flossing device attached to the toothbrush, the flossing device having a floss holder for holding a portion of floss for use in cleaning teeth, wherein the flossing device comprises a floss holder moveably secured to the body and wherein the floss holder is able to be at least partially retracted into the body.    
     
     
         2 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floss holder slides from within the body.  
     
     
         3 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floss holder pivot-ably swings from the body.  
     
     
         4 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a floss spool contained within the body, and wherein the floss spool provides floss to the floss holder.  
     
     
         5 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floss holder is removably received to a sliding element that is movably affixed to the body.  
     
     
         6 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floss holder has floss attached thereto.  
     
     
         7 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flossing device is attached to the butt end of the body.  
     
     
         8 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a floss holder drive for moving the floss holder relative to the body.  
     
     
         9 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the floss drive moves the floss holder in an up and down manner relative to the body.  
     
     
         10 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a floss holder dispenser for holding a plurality of floss holders.  
     
     
         11 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 10 , wherein the floss holder dispenser comprises a floss holder slider, the floss holder slider operating to move a floss holder into a position for use.  
     
     
         12 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a drive assembly for moving an output shaft; and    a tongue scraper attached to the output shaft.    
     
     
         13 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 12 , wherein the tongue scraper is removably affixed to the output shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The integrated toothbrush and flossing device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a tooth brush attachment that is removably attached to the shaft.  
     
     
         15 . A flossing device, comprising: 
 a body; and    a floss holder moveably secured to the body, wherein the floss holder holds a portion of floss for use in cleaning teeth and the floss holder can be at least partially retracted into the body.    
     
     
         16 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the floss holder slides to extend outward from within the body.  
     
     
         17 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the floss holder pivot-ably swings outward from the body.  
     
     
         18 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a floss spool contained within the body and wherein the floss spool provides floss to the floss holder.  
     
     
         19 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the floss holder is removably received into a sliding element that is movably affixed to the body.  
     
     
         20 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the flossing device has floss attached thereto.  
     
     
         21 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a floss holder drive for moving the floss holder relative to the body.  
     
     
         22 . The flossing device according to  claim 21 , wherein the floss holder drive moves the floss holder in an up and down manner relative to the body.  
     
     
         23 . The flossing device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a floss holder dispenser for holding a plurality of floss holders.  
     
     
         24 . The flossing device according to  claim 23 , wherein the floss holder dispenser comprises a floss holder slider, the floss holder slider operating to move a floss holder into a position for use.  
     
     
         25 . A powered tongue scraper, comprising: 
 a drive assembly for moving an output shaft; and    a tongue scraper attached to the output shaft.    
     
     
         26 . The powered tongue scraper according to  claim 25 , wherein the tongue scraper is removably affixed to the output shaft.  
     
     
         27 . The powered tongue scraper according to  claim 26 , further comprising a tooth brush attachment that can be removably attached to the shaft.