Oral hygiene device & methods of use thereof

Abstract

Oral hygiene devices and methods of use thereof are herein disclosed. In one embodiment, an oral hygiene device is a toothbrush, floss and a flossing aid combination. A plurality of toothbrush bristles is located at a proximal end of the device while floss and the flossing aid are located at a distal end of the device. The device includes a handle wherein a distal portion of the handle accommodates a plurality of floss spools. A shearing blade proximate to at least one floss spool for shearing a piece of floss from the floss spool may also be included at the distal portion. The distal portion of the handle may also include a flossing aid which may hold a piece of floss and may be used independent of use with hands of an individual.

1 . An oral hygiene device, comprising:
 a body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end adapted to accommodate a piece of floss between at least two prongs, the proximal end having a plurality of bristles thereon;   at least one aperture within the distal portion of the body wherein the aperture includes a mandrel adapted to accommodate a spool of floss;   a channel running from the aperture to an opening on the body, the channel adapted to accommodate floss from the spool of floss to the opening; and   at least one shearing blade positioned on the distal end of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 1  wherein there are two apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 2 , further comprising, a removable first cap to cover the two apertures and the channel, the removable first cap having two protrusions on an inner surface thereon wherein the two protrusions are sized to press- or friction-fit within the two apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 3 , further comprising, a removable second cap to cover the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 1  wherein the distal end is adapted to receive a removable flossing aid, the flossing aid having at least two prongs. 
     
     
         6 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 1  wherein the distal end comprises a flossing aid having at least two prongs integral thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , further comprising, a removable first cap to cover the at least one aperture, the removable first cap having a flange and sized to press- or friction-fit within the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 1  wherein each of the two prongs includes a groove to accommodate a piece of floss tautly across thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , further comprising, a gum scrubber opposite to the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         10 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 9  wherein the gum scrubber comprises a plurality of raised striations. 
     
     
         11 . An oral hygiene device, comprising:
 means for allowing a user to grip an oral hygiene device;   means for accommodating a plurality of floss spools within the means for allowing the user to grip the oral hygiene device;   means for allowing floss from the plurality of floss spools to run from the means for accommodating the plurality of floss spools to an outside of the means for allowing the user to grip the oral hygiene device; and   means for allowing the user to floss teeth of the user by gripping the means for allowing the user to grip the oral hygiene device only.   
     
     
         12 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 11  wherein the means for allowing the user to grip the oral hygiene device is a toothbrush handle. 
     
     
         13 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 12  wherein the means for accommodating the plurality of floss spools is a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 13  wherein the means for allowing floss from the plurality of floss spools to run from the plurality of apertures to the outside of toothbrush handle is a channel. 
     
     
         15 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 14  wherein the means for allowing the user to floss teeth of the user by gripping the toothbrush handle only is a flossing aid. 
     
     
         16 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 15  wherein the flossing aid is integral with the toothbrush body and located at a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 15  wherein the flossing aid is removable relative to the toothbrush body and adapted to friction- or press-fit into a groove at the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 means to clean teeth of the user; and   means to clean gums of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 18  wherein the means to clean teeth of the user is a plurality of bristles and the means to clean gums of the user is a gum scrubber. 
     
     
         20 . The oral hygiene device of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of bristles is located at a proximal end of the means for allowing a user to grip an oral hygiene device and the gum scrubber is located opposite the plurality of bristles.