Pet toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush comprising a brush head having a plurality of nano-bristles. In one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles each have a length, and a diameter of at least a portion of the length is in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns. In another embodiment, the nano-bristles have a base portion and a top portion, with the base portion of the nano-bristles having a diameter in a range of 400 microns to 500 microns and the top portion of the nano-bristles have a diameter in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a brush head having a plurality of nano-bristles;   wherein the plurality of nano-bristles each have a length, and a diameter of at least a portion of the length is in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles are each infused or coated with an additive to reduce plaque and/or bacteria.   
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the additive of each nano-bristle of the plurality of nano-bristles is present at a level of 0.1 % by weight to 10.0 % by weight of each of the nano-bristles of the plurality of nano-bristles, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles are each infused or coated with at least one of sodium hexametaphosphate, ascorbic acid, and beta glucan.   
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles are each infused or coated with chitosan.   
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles are in a range of 5,000 to 15,000 nano-bristles.   
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles have a length of less than or equal to 1.5 cm.   
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles define an outer perimeter region and an inner region surrounded by the outer perimeter region; and   wherein the length of the nano-bristles of the outer perimeter region is shorter than the length than the nano-bristles of the inner region.   
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles define an outer perimeter region and an inner region surrounded by the outer perimeter region; and   wherein the diameter of at least a portion of the length of the nano-bristles of the outer perimeter region is in a range of 100 microns to 150 microns; and   wherein the diameter of at least a portion of the length of the nano-bristles of the inner region is in a range of 50 microns to less than 100 microns.   
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the nano-bristles of the outer perimeter region form a complete loop around the nano-bristles of the inner region.   
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the diameter of at least 25% of the length of the plurality of nano-bristles in the range of 50 microns to 150 microns.   
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles are colored with a colorant which fades with use of the toothbrush; and   wherein the colorant fades with a reduction in an anti-bacterial and/or an anti-fungal treatment provided by the nano-bristles.   
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles are formed of a polymeric composition.   
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the polymeric composition comprises at least one of polyamide, polyethylene, poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polyurethane.   
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the brush head further comprises an abrasive surface having a plurality of protrusions of a side of the brush head opposite a side having the plurality of nano-bristles.   
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the toothbrush comprises an elongated handle to hold the toothbrush; and   wherein the elongated handle and the brush head are formed as a single-piece.   
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the toothbrush is in the form of a finger-cap brush configured to be disposed on a finger of a user.   
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the finger-cap brush comprises a finger cavity to configured to receive the finger of the user therein to hold the toothbrush.   
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the plurality of nano-bristles extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the finger-cap brush.   
     
     
         20 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a brush head having a plurality of nano-bristles;   wherein the nano-bristles have a base portion and a top portion;   wherein the base portion of the nano-bristles have a diameter in a range of 400 microns to 500 microns; and   wherein the top portion of the nano-bristles have a diameter in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns.