Interchangeable tooth brush and associated method for promoting oral health

Abstract

An improved antimicrobial electric toothbrush and method includes a handle, a tip, and a plurality of bristle tufts and a drive mechanism. The bristle tufts may include four tufts of 10.5 mm length and another four tufts of 5.5 mm length. The tips of the bristle tufts may additionally be spaced apart and includes a cone shaped tip. The size and diameters of the bristle tufts may be combined with the reciprocating movement of the bristle tufts such that the bristle tips can reach into the crevices and tight spaces between the teeth and between the teeth and gums where no conventional toothbrush can reach. A second component of the apparatus may include an improved brush design with two counter rotating arrays of bristle tufts for use in polishing the teeth.

1 . An interchangeable toothbrush system for removing microbial masses between teeth and subgingival areas of gums as well as polishing buccal and lingual areas of the teeth, said interchangeable toothbrush system comprising:
 a power-operated toothbrush comprising   an interchangeable antimicrobial brush head removably connected to said   toothbrush, said antimicrobial brush head having a plurality of first bristle tufts configured in such a manner that said first bristle tufts are capable of accessing microbial masses between the teeth and subgingival areas of the gums; and   an interchangeable polishing brush head removably connected to said toothbrush, said polishing brush head having a plurality of second bristle tufts configured in such a manner that said second bristle tufts are capable of polishing buccal and lingual areas of the teeth.   
     
     
         2 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 1 , wherein said first bristle tufts of said antimicrobial brush head are configured in first and second linear rows extending along left and right sides of antimicrobial brush head respectively, each of said first and second linear rows of said first bristle tufts including short ones of said first bristle tufts and long ones of said first bristle tufts arranged in an alternating pattern respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 2 , wherein said first row of said first bristle tufts is spaced approximately three to four millimeters away from said second row of said first bristle tufts;
 wherein each of said short first bristle tufts has a longitudinal length of approximately 5.5 millimeters, each of said short first bristle tufts has a diameter of approximately 3.5 millimeters at a respective base thereof;   wherein each of said long first bristle tufts has a longitudinal length of approximately 10.5 millimeters and a diameter of approximately two millimeters at a respective base thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said short and long first bristle tufts include cone shaped distal ends having a longitudinal length of approximately 2.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 4 , wherein an angle a of said cone shaped distal ends of said long first bristle tufts is about 21.8 degrees measured from a longitudinal axis of said long first bristle tufts. 
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 4 , wherein an angle β of said cone shaped distal ends of said short first bristle tufts is about 35 degrees measured from a longitudinal axis of said short first bristle tufts. 
     
     
         7 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 2 , wherein, in each of said first and second rows of said first bristle tufts, a spatial distance between corresponding apexes of distal ends of said short first bristle tufts is approximately 8 millimeters;
 wherein, in each of said first and second rows of said first bristle tufts, a spatial distance between corresponding apexes of distal ends of said long first bristle tufts is approximately 8 millimeters.   
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 1 , wherein said polishing brush head comprises: first and second bristle tuft arrays disposed side-by-side, each of said first and second bristle tuft arrays comprises:
 a plurality of long said second bristle tufts arranged in a first circular pattern defined along an outer perimeter of said first and second bristle tuft arrays respectively; and   a plurality of short said bristle tufts concentrically arranged in a second circular pattern spaced inwardly from said long second bristle tufts respectively;   wherein, while said first bristle tuft array rotates in a clockwise direction, said second bristle tuft array rotates in a counter clockwise direction.   
     
     
         9 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 8 , wherein, in each of said first and second bristle tuft arrays, a spatial distance between respective tops of distal ends of diametrically opposed ones of said long second bristle tufts is approximately 7-8 millimeters;
 wherein, in each of said first and second bristle tuft arrays, a spatial distance between respective tops of distal ends of diametrically opposed ones of said short second bristle tufts is approximately 2-3 millimeters.   
     
     
         10 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 8 , wherein each of said long second bristle tufts are about 7 millimeters in longitudinal length and have a diameter of approximately 1.5 millimeters at a respective base thereof;
 wherein each of said short second bristle tufts are about 6 millimeters in longitudinal length and have a diameter of about 2 millimeters at a respective base thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 8 , wherein said short and long second bristle tuft arrays of said first bristle tuft array rotates in a clockwise direction while said short and long second bristle tuft arrays of said second bristle tuft array rotates in a counter clockwise direction. 
     
     
         12 . An interchangeable toothbrush system for removing microbial masses between teeth and subgingival areas of gums as well as polishing buccal and lingual areas of the teeth, said interchangeable toothbrush system comprising:
 a toothbrush having a handle and a motor drive mechanism situated therein;   an interchangeable antimicrobial brush head removably connected to said handle, said antimicrobial brush head having a plurality of first bristle tufts configured in such a manner that said first bristle tufts are capable of accessing microbial masses between the teeth and subgingival areas of the gums; and   an interchangeable polishing brush head removably connected to said handle, said polishing brush head having a plurality of second bristle tufts configured in such a manner that said second bristle tufts are capable of polishing buccal and lingual areas of the teeth.   
     
     
         13 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 12 , wherein said first bristle tufts of said antimicrobial brush head are configured in first and second linear rows extending along left and right sides of antimicrobial brush head respectively, each of said first and second linear rows of said first bristle tufts including short ones of said first bristle tufts and long ones of said first bristle tufts arranged in an alternating pattern respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The interchangeable toothbrush system of  claim 13 , wherein said polishing brush head comprises: first and second bristle tuft arrays disposed side-by-side, each of said first and second bristle tuft arrays comprises:
 a plurality of long said second bristle tufts arranged in a first circular pattern defined along an outer perimeter of said first and second bristle tuft arrays respectively; and   a plurality of short said bristle tufts concentrically arranged in a second circular pattern spaced inwardly from said long second bristle tufts respectively;   wherein, while said first bristle tuft array rotates in a clockwise direction, said second bristle tuft array rotates in a counter clockwise direction.   
     
     
         15 . A method of utilizing an interchangeable toothbrush system for removing microbial masses between teeth and subgingival areas of gums as well as polishing buccal and lingual areas of the teeth, said method comprising the chronological steps of:
 providing a toothbrush having a handle and a motor drive mechanism situated therein;   providing and removably connecting an interchangeable antimicrobial brush head to said handle, said antimicrobial brush head having a plurality of first bristle tufts configured in such a manner that said first bristle tufts are capable of accessing microbial masses between the teeth and subgingival areas of the gums; and   providing and removably connecting an interchangeable polishing brush head to said handle, said polishing brush head having a plurality of second bristle tufts configured in such a manner that said second bristle tufts are capable of polishing buccal and lingual areas of the teeth.