mouth cleaning device

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide toothbrushes and/or other cleaning devices for contacting and cleaning teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and orthodontic appliance in an oral cavity. Certain embodiments provide a mouth cleaning device. The device includes a handle portion for holding and maneuvering the mouth cleaning device in an oral cavity. The device also includes a cleaning head portion including a core and a plurality of cleaning elements extending radially around the core, the core attached to the handle portion.

1 . A mouth cleaning device, said device comprising:
 a handle portion for maneuvering the mouth cleaning device in an oral cavity; and   a cleaning head portion attached to the handle portion,   wherein said cleaning head includes
 a first cleaning element having a rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections; 
 a second cleaning element having a rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections, 
   wherein said cleaning head is positioned so that said cleaning projections of said first and second cleaning elements contact both a cheek location on the user's cheek, and a portion of at least one of the user's teeth or gums proximal to said teeth location to allow a user to clean both cheek and at least one of teeth or gums at the same time.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first cleaning element is substantially parallel to said second cleaning element. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first cleaning element is joined to said second cleaning. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said first cleaning element is joined to said second cleaning element by an additional cleaning element positioned substantially perpendicular to at least one of said first cleaning element and said second cleaning element. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning head is positioned so that said cleaning projections of said first and second cleaning elements contact both a tongue location on the user's tongue and a portion of at least one of the user's teeth or gums proximal to said tongue location to allow a user to clean both tongue and at least one of teeth or gums at the same time. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head portion is arranged at an angle to the handle portion. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning projections have a plurality of lengths. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the cleaning projections oriented toward the users teeth or gums are shorter than the cleaning projections oriented toward the user's cheek. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cleaning projections comprise bristles at least in part. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning elements are of a plurality of lengths. 
   
   
       11 . A toothbrush comprising:
 an elongated handle; and   a cleaning head connected to a said handle,
 wherein said cleaning head includes: 
 a first cleaning element having a first rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections, 
 wherein said first rigid central core is oriented substantially parallel to said elongated handle; and 
 a second cleaning element having a second rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections, 
 wherein said second rigid central core is oriented relative to said first rigid central core at an angle other than parallel and in contact with said first cleaning element. 
   
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said first central core is oriented substantially perpendicularly to said second central core. 
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said first central core is connected to said second central core by the central core of a third cleaning element having a plurality of cleaning projections. 
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said first cleaning element and said second cleaning elements are different portions of a single cleaning element strucutre. 
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of cleaning projections bristles at least in part. 
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said first cleaning element is different length from said second cleaning element. 
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , wherein said first, second, and third cleaning elements are configured is substantially a U-shape. 
   
   
       18 . An oral cleaning device, the device comprising:
 a handle;   a cleaning head connected to said handle, wherein said cleaning head includes:
 a first cleaning element having a first substantially rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections, wherein said substantially rigid central core is oriented substantially parallel to said elongated handle; 
 a second cleaning element having a second substantially rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections, wherein said second substantially rigid central core is oriented substantially parallel to said first cleaning element; and 
 a third cleaning element having a third substantially rigid central core and a plurality of radially positioned cleaning projections, wherein said third substantially rigid central core extends between said first cleaning element and said second cleaning element at a point distal from said handle. 
   
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said cleaning projections have a plurality of lengths. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said cleaning projections comprise bristles at least in part.