Toothbrush/toothpaste fluoride dosing toothbrush, system and method

Abstract

A toothbrush, system and method for use of same are provided to enable a user to deliver a consistent volume of toothpaste to deliver a correct dosage of fluoride to children to avoid fluorosis. It is particularly advantageous to employ the toothbrush which indicates a predetermined length of toothpaste to be applied matched to a dispenser having an orifice of a predetermined diameter so the diameter of the toothpaste applied to the predetermined length results in the correct fluoride dosage.

1 . A toothbrush head comprising a base and a plurality of bristles extending from the base, the plurality of bristles forming a surface for application of a dentifrice, the bristles having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end distal to the base, the toothbrush head having one or more marking indicia selected from the group consisting of:
 indicia on the base delineating a predetermined length along the base, and   indicia on the bristles spaced from the upper end of the plurality of bristles delineating a predetermined length along the head.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush head of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia has the same length as the portion of the base from which the plurality of bristles extends. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush head of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia has a shorter length than the portion of the base from which the plurality of bristles extends. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush head of  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush head has the one or more marking indicia on the base delineating a predetermined length along the base. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush head of  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush head has the indicia on the bristles spaced from the upper end of the plurality of bristles delineating a predetermined length along the head. 
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush head comprising a base and a first plurality of bristles extending from the base and a second plurality of bristles extending from the base, and a dentifrice receiving portion, wherein a bottom surface of the dentifrice receiving portion is defined by distal tips of the first plurality of bristles and at least one side wall of the dentifrice receiving portion is defined by axial lengths of the second plurality of bristles, and wherein the dentifrice receiving portion has a volume of from 90 to 275 cubic mm. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a dispenser or dispenser cap having an orifice sized to deliver a volume of dentifrice having a predetermined geometrical configuration; and   a toothbrush head comprising a base and a plurality of bristles, the plurality of bristles forming a surface for receiving the volume of dentifrice from the dispenser or dispenser cap,   the surface comprising one or more marking indicia collectively occupying a predetermined area of the surface,   wherein the predetermined area is sized such that if the volume of dentifrice delivered from the dispenser cap rests on the plurality of bristles to contact the entire predetermined area, then the volume of dentifrice will be from 90 to 275 cubic mm.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined area is sized such that if the volume of dentifrice delivered from the dispenser cap rests on the plurality of bristles to contact the entire predetermined area and only the predetermined area, then the volume of dentifrice will be from 90 to 275 cubic mm. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of bristles comprises a first plurality of the bristles extending from the base and a second plurality of the bristles extending from the base, the second plurality having lengths longer than the lengths of the bristles of the first plurality, and
 wherein the marking indicia comprises a dentifrice receiving portion of the surface as an indentation in the surface, wherein a bottom surface of the dentifrice receiving portion defines the predetermined area and is defined by distal tips of the first plurality of bristles, and at least one side wall of the dentifrice receiving portion is defined by axial lengths of the second plurality of bristles.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a dispenser, or dispenser cap, having an orifice sized to deliver a volume of dentifrice having a predetermined geometrical configuration; and   a toothbrush head comprising a base and a plurality of bristles, the plurality of bristles forming a surface for receiving the volume of dentifrice from the dispenser or dispenser cap,   at least one member selected from the group consisting of the base, the upper end surface of the bristles, and sidewalls of the bristles comprising one or more marking indicia collectively defining a first length of 2 to 27 mm,   wherein a volume of dentifrice, delivered from the dispenser cap, having a second length equal to the first length will be from about 90 to 275 cubic mm.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the base, the upper end surface of the bristles and sidewalls of the bristles comprising one or more marking indicia collectively defining the first length of 15 to 18 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , the orifice sized to deliver the volume of dentifrice having the predetermined geometrical configuration to have a diameter of 3 to 5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the toothbrush head comprises the base and a first plurality of the bristles extending from the base and a second plurality of the bristles extending from the base, and a dentifrice receiving portion as the indicia, wherein a bottom surface of the dentifrice receiving portion is defined by distal tips of the first plurality of bristles and at least one side wall of the dentifrice receiving portion is defined by axial lengths of the second plurality of bristles, and wherein the dentifrice receiving portion has a volume of from 90 to 275 cubic MM. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a dispenser, or dispenser cap, having an orifice sized to deliver a volume of dentifrice having a predetermined geometrical configuration; and   a toothbrush head comprising a base and a plurality of bristles, the plurality of bristles forming a surface for receiving the volume of dentifrice from the dispenser or dispenser cap,   the surface having a first length in a longitudinal direction of 10 to 23 mm,   wherein a volume of dentifrice, delivered from the dispenser cap, having a second length equal to the first length will be from about 90 to 275 cubic mm.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first length is in a range of 10 to 18 mm, wherein a volume of dentifrice, delivered from the dispenser cap, having the second length equal to the first length will be from about 190 to 275 cubic mm. 
     
     
         16 . A method for using the system of  claim 7 , comprising:
 delivering 90 to 275 cubic mm of the dentifrice from the dispenser cap onto the plurality of bristles.   
     
     
         17 . A method for using the system of  claim 10 , comprising:
 delivering 90 to 275 cubic mm of the dentifrice from the dispenser cap onto the plurality of bristles.   
     
     
         18 . A method for using the system of  claim 14 , comprising:
 delivering 90 to 275 cubic mm of the dentifrice from the dispenser cap onto the plurality of bristles.