Toothbrush with Removable Smart Device

Abstract

An oral care system includes an oral care implement and a smart device removably retained in a cavity of the oral care implement. The smart device may have a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions of the oral cavity and/or for sensing various parameters associated with the movement of the oral care implement within the oral cavity during use. The smart device may also include a transmitter for transmitting data/information obtained by the sensors to an electronic device, such as a smart phone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care system comprising:
 a smart device comprising one or more electronic sensors;   an electronic device comprising a display, the electronic device configured to be operably coupled to the smart device so that information obtained by the one or more electronic sensors of the smart device is configured to be transmitted to the electronic device;   wherein a portion of the smart device is configured to be positioned proximate a user's teeth and gums to perform a bacteria scan wherein at least one of the one or more electronic sensors detect bacteria on the user's teeth and gums; and   wherein upon the bacteria scan being completed, information about an amount of the bacteria detected at specific locations on the user's teeth and gums is transmitted from the smart device to the electronic device and the electronic device displays a model of teeth and gums with a depiction of bacteria on the teeth and gums of the model at locations that are consistent with the specific locations of the user's teeth and gums on which bacteria was detected.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care system according to  claim 1  wherein the electronic device further displays a bacteria counter that comprises a percentage or numerical value associated with bacterial coverage on the user's teeth and gums. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more electronic sensors of the smart device comprises an image capture member, and wherein the smart device is configured to acquire images of the user's teeth and gums and transmit the images to the electronic device which are then displayed on the display of the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care system according to  claim 3  wherein the display indicates any detected gum conditions such as inflammation, recession, bleeding, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care system according to  claim 3  wherein the electronic device further displays treatment suggestions for any abnormalities on the user's teeth and gums. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care system according to  claim 1  wherein when the smart device is positioned proximate to and moved across the user's teeth and gums, the smart device senses oral health conditions associated with the user's teeth and gums. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care system according to  claim 6  wherein the smart device comprises an image capture member which acquires images of the user's teeth and gums as the smart device is moved across the user's teeth and gums, and wherein the images are transmitted to the electronic device and displayed on the display of the electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care system according to  claim 7  wherein the display of the electronic device displays an indication of the oral health conditions detected by the smart device or the electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care system according to  claim 1  wherein the smart device comprises an image capture member which acquires images of the user's teeth and gums as the smart device is positioned proximate to and moved across the user's teeth and gums, wherein the images acquired by the image capture member are transmitted to the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device displays the images acquired by the image capture member with a color representative of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care system according to  claim 9  wherein the electronic device provides, on the display, historical images of the user's teeth for color comparison. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more electronic sensors comprise a breath freshness sensor, and wherein upon the user breathing on the portion of the smart device, the breath freshness sensor is configured to collect data to determine breath freshness of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care system according to  claim 11  wherein the data collected by the breath freshness sensor is transmitted to the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to display information about the user's breath on the display. 
     
     
         13 . The oral care system according to  claim 12  wherein the display includes a breath freshness scale that rates the user's breath on a scale from very bad to very good. 
     
     
         14 . The oral care system according to  claim 12  wherein the display includes a tips section that, when activated, provides the user with breath freshening instructions. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an oral care implement comprising a handle, a head, and tooth cleaning elements located on the head, the handle comprising a cavity; and 
 wherein the smart device is alterable between: (1) an assembled position whereby the smart device is at least partially located within the cavity of the handle of the oral care implement; and (2) a disassembled position whereby the smart device is completely detached from the oral care implement; and 
 wherein the bacteria scan is performed with the smart device in the disassembled position. 
 
     
     
         16 . The oral care system according to  claim 15  wherein the toothbrush comprises a dock sensor configured to detect whether the smart device is in the assembled position or the disassembled position. 
     
     
         17 . The oral care system according to  claim 15  wherein after completion of a toothbrushing session with the oral care implement, the electronic device is configured to display a graph that depicts a coverage percentage for each of the user's teeth. 
     
     
         18 . The oral care system according to  claim 15  wherein in the assembled position a first portion of the smart device is located within the cavity of the handle and a second portion of the smart device protrudes from a bottom end of the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The oral care system according to  claim 18  wherein the first portion of the smart device comprises the one or more electronic sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The oral care system according to  claim 19  wherein the smart device further comprises a battery for powering the one or more electronic sensors.