Transparent dentifrice for use with electromagnetic radiation emitting toothbrush system

Abstract

A cleaning and whitening system for teeth having an electromagnetic radiation emitting toothbrush and a dentifrice with a photosensitive agent is disclosed. The toothbrush has a cleaning surface, such as bristles. The toothbrush is also adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation toward the cleaning surface. The electromagnetic radiation may be monochromatic or polychromatic. Further, the electromagnetic radiation may be substantially free of ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, the electromagnetic radiation may consist essentially of wavelengths within a range of 300 to 750 nanometers. The photosensitive agent is dispersed throughout the dentifrice. The dentifrice transmits the electromagnetic radiation through a varying thickness disposed over a target surface during use of the system. As a result, a significant portion of the photosensitive agent reacts, resulting in whitening stains, removing and/or disclosing undesired substances, and/or foaming. The dentifrice may be clear and may have clear abrasive particles. A method for tuning the cleaning and whitening system for teeth includes formulating the dentifrice with photosensitive agents that react to a range of electromagnetic radiation and providing a toothbrush that emits that electromagnetic radiation range. Another method of tuning the cleaning and whitening system includes designing a toothbrush that emits a range of electromagnetic radiation and formulating a dentifrice with photosensitive agents that react to the electromagnetic radiation range.

1 . A system comprising a dentifrice, the dentifrice including a dispersed photosensitive agent, which is formulated to be reactive to a predetermined range of wavelengths of polychromatic electromagnetic radiation, the dispersed photosensitive agent being distributed throughout the dentifrice in such a way that, when the dentifrice is disposed in varying thicknesses over a target surface during use, the dentifrice is transparent to and transmits the predetermined range of wavelengths of polychromatic electromagnetic radiation through its varying thicknesses, whereby during such use a significant portion of the dispersed photosensitive agent, throughout the varying thicknesses of the dentifrice, receives the predetermined range of wavelengths of polychromatic electromagnetic radiation thus enabling the significant portion of the dispersed photosensitive agent to react to the predetermined range of wavelengths of polychromatic electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises a peroxy compound. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the peroxy compound is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises one or more salt compounds. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the dentifrice is aqueous and at least a portion of the salt compound is dissolved in the dentifrice. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dentifrice comprises a clear gel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the clear gel comprises clear abrasive particles. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the clear gel comprises abrasive particles that are not clear. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-bacterial agent for removing bacteria in the presence of the polychromatic electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the anti-bacterial agent has an affinity for bacteria, whereby, during use of the system, the anti-bacterial agent becomes concentrated about areas of bacteria on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-plaque agent for removing plaque in the presence of the polychromatic electromagnetic radiation; and   the anti-plaque agent has an affinity for plaque, whereby, during use of the system, the anti-plaque agent becomes concentrated about areas of plaque on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a disclosing agent having an affinity for bacteria and/or plaque, wherein said disclosing agent changes appearance when irradiated by the polychromatic electromagnetic radiation, whereby, during use of the system, the disclosing agent becomes concentrated about areas of bacteria and/or plaque on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface, whereby the irradiated, disclosing agent visually announces locations of bacteria and/or plaque on the target surface. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises a foaming agent for generating foam in the presence of the polychromatic electromagnetic radiation, whereby foam generated during use of the system operates as a carrier that delivers dentifrice to areas not reachable by a toothbrush cleaning surface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the polychromatic electromagnetic radiation is substantially free of ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising a dentifrice, the dentifrice including a dispersed photosensitive agent that is formulated to be reactive to a predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, the dispersed photosensitive agent being distributed throughout the dentifrice in such a way that, when the dentifrice is disposed in varying thicknesses over a target surface during use, the dentifrice is transparent to and transmits the predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation through its varying thicknesses, whereby during such use a significant portion of the dispersed photosensitive agent, throughout the varying thicknesses of the dentifrice, receives the predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation thus enabling the significant portion of the dispersed photosensitive agent to react to the predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises one or more of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises one or more salt compounds. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the dentifrice is aqueous and at least a portion of the salt compound is dissolved in the dentifrice. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the dentifrice comprises a clear gel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the clear gel comprises clear abrasive particles. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the clear gel comprises abrasive particles that are not clear. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-bacterial agent for removing bacteria in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , the anti-bacterial agent having an affinity for bacteria, whereby, during use of the system, the anti-bacterial agent is concentrated about areas of bacteria on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-plaque agent for removing plaque in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , the anti-plaque agent having an affinity for plaque, whereby, during use of the system, the anti-plaque agent is concentrated about areas of plaque on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a disclosing agent having an affinity for bacteria and/or plaque, the disclosing agent changing appearance when irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation, whereby, during use of the system, the disclosing agent becomes concentrated about areas of bacteria and/or plaque on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface, whereby the irradiated, disclosing agent announces locations of bacteria and/or plaque on the target surface. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises a foaming agent for generating foam in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation, whereby foam generated during use of the system operates as a carrier that delivers dentifrice to areas typically not reachable by a toothbrush cleaning surface. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is exclusive of any wavelengths corresponding to ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the electromagnetic radiation is monochromatic; and   the photosensitive agent reacts when exposed to the monochromatic electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises one or more of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises one or more salt compounds. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the dentifrice is aqueous and at least a portion of the salt compound is dissolved in the dentifrice. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the dentifrice comprises a clear gel. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the clear gel comprises clear abrasive particles. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the clear gel comprises abrasive particles that are not clear. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the electromagnetic radiation is monochromatic; and   the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-bacterial agent for removing bacteria in the presence of the monochromatic electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the anti-bacterial agent has an affinity for bacteria, and, during use of the system, the anti-bacterial agent is concentrated about areas of bacteria on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-plaque agent for removing plaque in the presence of the monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the electromagnetic radiation is monochromatic;   the photosensitive agent comprises an anti-plaque agent for removing plaque in the presence of the monochromatic electromagnetic radiation and the anti-plaque agent has an affinity for plaque, whereby, during use of the system, the anti-plaque agent is concentrated about areas of plaque on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising a disclosing agent having an affinity for bacteria and/or plaque, wherein said disclosing agent changes appearance when irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation, whereby, during use of the system, the disclosing agent is concentrated about areas of bacteria and/or plaque on the target surface relative to other areas on the target surface, whereby the irradiated, disclosing agent announces locations of bacteria and/or plaque on the target surface. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the photosensitive agent comprises a foaming agent for generating foam in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation, whereby foam generated during use of the system operates as a carrier that delivers dentifrice to areas not reachable by a toothbrush cleaning surface. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined range of wavelengths of polychromatic electromagnetic radiation has a lower limit of approximately 350 nanometers and an upper limit of approximately 700 nanometers. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the photosensitive agent has a relatively high reaction rate when exposed to electromagnetic radiation in a highly reactive portion of the predetermined range compared to an average reaction rate when the photosensitive agent is exposed to electromagnetic radiation over the predetermined range; and   the predetermined range of wavelengths of polychromatic electromagnetic radiation is bound to wavelengths that are substantially within the highly reactive portion of the predetermined range.