DE102015003350A1 - Device for cleaning the tongue and oral mucous membranes and tooth surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cleaning the tongue and oral mucous membranes and tooth surfaces, ideally with a handle at the end of which is a head piece that carries a cleaning pad or can accommodate interchangeable, but essentially consisting of a cleaning pad, which by its particular structure a large Having surface with a variety of microstructured and / or macrostructured scraping surfaces and at the same time record by his particular structure large amounts of liquid and solid abgeschabter deposits from the tongue, hold and so can remove from the oral cavity and is easy to clean under an air or water jet and can be applied by means of which, for example, for disinfection and / or deodorization after or during cleaning means.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to the field of oral health, more specifically a device for cleaning the tongue and oral mucous membranes and tooth surfaces (hereafter called tongue cleaning device) periodontitis, tooth decay and bad breath diseases are very widespread worldwide and are known to be caused or caused by microorganisms, mainly bacteria in the oral cavity. Here, bacteria play in biofilms on the hard tooth tissues, in periodontal pockets in interdental spaces occasionally also on the oral mucosa and especially on the tongue and tongue base and in the depressions of the tongue organize and deposit a major role. 70 to 90% of the microorganisms that colonize the oral cavity live in the tongue and tongue base, the back of the tongue.

Of the approximately 1000 known species, only a few bacterial species are caries or periodontitis pathogenic or cause malodors. In addition, deposits on the tongue are also known as a cause of loss of appetite or impairment of the sense of taste and smell.

Furthermore, said biofilms may also be a reservoir for bacterial or other pathogens, such as viruses or yeasts, which are not ordinarily part of oral cavity colonization, and have negative effects on general health and infectious diseases such. As colds, influenza infections, inflammation of the respiratory tract up to chronic obstructive lung diseases favor.

Therefore, a variety of medical, dental and domestic measures for the maintenance and achievement of oral health are directed in particular at people who can operate only reduced oral hygiene due to movement restrictions or dry mouth, to the reduction of bacterial deposits and to bring about a healthy oral flora.

This includes above all the cleaning of the visible tooth surfaces by daily brushing several times, the cleaning of the interdental spaces with dental floss, dental wood and interdental brushes, the professional teeth cleaning, gaps and gum pockets at the dentist, the application of antibacterial or aseptic mouthwashes, gels, toothpastes and im Case of chronic or acute periodontal disease, the local or systemic use of antibiotics, a "full mouth disinfection", which includes the oral mucus clusters and, more recently, the administration of probiotics to restore a balance of colonization of the oral cavity.

Increasingly, the long-term cleansing of the tongue in eastern cultures has been included. Therefore, there are a variety of devices that are known in addition to the application of the toothbrush for cleaning the tongue.

These devices are characterized by either one or an array of hard or flexible scraping edges (e.g. DE000000580878A ; DE000029803277U1 ; DE000010153449A1 ; CH000000083043A ; DE000006918518U ) or additionally carry bristles or raised structures (eg. DE000029618012U1 ; CH000000034123A ; DE000069718946T2 ; DE202005009026U1 ; DE202005004291U1 ; DE102006025825A1 ), essentially to be able to penetrate deeper into the tongue surface.

A few devices simultaneously enable the spraying of liquids (eg DE000019959188A1 ; DE000000200258A ) or in addition the suction generated by externally generated negative pressure (eg. DE000069935755T2 ) or a mechanical collection of the deposits on a surface attached to the scraping edge (eg. DE000000591498A ).

All known and commercially available devices is rather a scraping or punctual loosening of the pads in common, with the disadvantage that only inadequate and effective removal and removal of the pads is done and the pads are usually only superficially relaxed and by the movement of the device on the tongue surface In the same way, the image should rather be effectively removed from the back to the front and effectively removed, as in the case of the picture, by means of an edge or a brush, by means of an edge or a brush, one wishes to quickly remove the clay which has gotten into or out of the carpet by simply scraping it.

Description of the invention: problem and solution

An object of the present invention, in view of the above, is to provide a tongue cleaning device for home or professional use, which allows to receive pads from and on the tongue over a surface and by sweeping the tongue from and out of the tongue and the Zugengrund absorb at the same time, absorb in the tongue cleaner and thus remove and transport away.

Another task is to record the pads by simply washing out the Tongue cleaner, ideally under a jet of water or air jet or by pivoting in a liquid from the tongue cleaner to remove again Another task is roughen stubborn pads and simultaneously massage the tongue and at the same time in addition to the function described above with an additional scraping edge Another task is Apply it after cleaning the tongue, disinfectant and / or deodorizing aromatizing gels or liquids on the tongue or bring in the tongues can.

According to the invention, a tongue cleaning device is provided ( 1 ), with a handle ( 2 ) at the end of a head piece ( 3 ), which has a depth cleaning pad ( 4 ) carries this through its structure ( 5 ) has a large surface area with a multiplicity of macrostructured scrapes ( 6 ) which can also carry microstructured structures and at the same time by its in a plurality of horizontally and laterally arranged at angles to each other structures in a three-dimensional, porous, spongy structure ( 7 ) can absorb large amounts of liquid and solid scraped off debris and liquids from the tongue, suck it up and hold it and thus remove it from the oral cavity and which is easy to clean because of its permeability under an air or jet of water. 8th ) or both sides ( 9 ) of the header by a ( 10 ) or several resiliently executed clasps ( 11 ), which simultaneously supports structures ( 12 ), in order to loosen stubborn deposits and to be able to produce a massage effect and wherein the depth cleaning pad is fixed or interchangeable and can also serve for the application of gels, pastes, creams or liquids on the previously cleaned areas after cleaning.

According to a preferred embodiment, the depth cleaning pad is removable from the handle and executed interchangeable.

The depth cleaning pad has a large surface area in order to be able to cover the tongue with the surface over a wide area.

The depth cleaning pad is between 5 mm and 70 mm, preferably 15 mm to 35 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 25 mm wide and between 5 mm and 150 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 50 mm, particularly preferably between 30 mm and 40 mm long and between 1 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 15 mm, particularly preferably between 9 mm and 11 mm thick.

The surface of the depth cleaning pad, in the preferred embodiment, has a structure having a plurality of flexible or solid scraping surfaces and protuberances which engage the crevices and furrows between the papillae and dislodge and receive plaque deposits and biofilms from the crevices and grooves between the papillae or absorb.

Furthermore, the scraping surfaces are arranged to be horizontally and laterally disposed at many different angles to each other and with respect to the surface.

The scraping surfaces are three-dimensionally arranged and interconnected or networked so that they form, as it were, channels and cavities and that they represent a spongy open-pored three-dimensional structure that can pick up and hold the scraped-off coverings.

The depth cleaning pad thus has pores with a mean size of 0.1 mm to 15 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 6 mm. Thus, the depth cleaning pad is crossed by channels having an average size of 0.1 mm to 15 mm, preferably a medium size between 2 mm and 6 mm.

The three-dimensional structure of the depth cleaning pad can actively absorb the deposits and deposits and biofilm by capillary action and actively by compression and relaxation and passively by the mechanical force of the stripping movement.

The three-dimensional structure of the depth cleaning pad can hold the deposits and deposits and biofilm and thus transported away from the tongue and out of the oral cavity The structure of the three-dimensional depth cleaning pad is arranged open-pore so that they are easily and without significant resistance to washing out or blowing through with water or air can and thus the recorded pads from the depth cleaning pad can be easily and largely completely removed.

The structure of the depth cleaning pad also allows the application of gels, pastes or liquids for disinfection or the supply of fragrance or flavor or antibacterial substances on and in the tongue.

The depth cleaning pad is made of plastics or of metals or natural materials or combinations thereof, preferably made of soft plastics, more preferably made of polyurethane foam (polyurethane foam).

The depth cleaning pad can be used in different degrees of hardness and with different Pore sizes designed to accommodate different sensations of the user.

According to a preferred embodiment, the depth cleaning pad is an open-pore flexible foam which is resiliently supported from one side of the tongue scraper head so that a corresponding force can be exerted on the tongue surface during use and the wicking action can be assisted by compression and relaxation.

Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the tongue cleaner this is designed so that there is a front and a back of the head piece both can be used The headpiece carries, for example, on one side resilient retaining clips with openings to allow access to the depth cleaning pad and raised structures around persistent at the same time To be able to loosen pads and massage the tongue surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the tongue cleaner this designed so that the handle is ergonomically designed and manufactured with a minimum of plastic.

Furthermore, the handle can be individually marked with color rings or colored brackets.

Explanation to the drawings

1 Figure 3 is an overall perspective view of the tongue cleaning implement in a preferred embodiment of the present invention having a depth cleaning pad

2 Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the three-dimensional depth cleaning pad in an exchangeable form that can be inserted into the handle;

3 is a sectional view taken along a line AA through the depth cleaning pad according to the invention

4 Shows the surface of the depth cleaning pad

5 is a rear perspective view of the handle with head piece with two resilient retaining clips

6 is a detailed view of the braces and showed an exemplary representation of the breakthroughs and raised structures

7 shows a color clip to identify the handle

Description of the preferred embodiment

1 shows the tongue cleaning device, with an ergonomically designed handle ( 2 ), Stabilizing ribs ( 2a ) Recessed grip ( 2 B ), a recess for a color coding clip ( 2c ), at the end of the flat designed head piece ( 3 ) with an additional conventional scraping edge ( 3a ), which is not part of the invention and a flat surface cleaning pad used ( 4 ).

2 shows the three-dimensional depth cleaning pad ( 4 ) in an exchangeable form, with a frame ( 4a ) is included so that it can be inserted into the head piece of the handle and exchanged and with its locking edge above ( 4b ) and locking edge down ( 4c ) safe and clear in the header ( 3 ) can be engaged.

3 shows a sectional view taken along a line AA 1 , by the depth cleaning pad according to the invention ( 4 ) with its inner open-pored, sponge-like structure ( 5 ) the networked and thus cavities and channels forming structures ( 5a . 5b ).

4 shows a section of the surface of the depth cleaning pad with its micro- and macrostructured scraping surfaces ( 6 directed and interconnected and interconnected at a plurality of angles to each other and to the surface ( 6a ) and so cavities and channels ( 6b ) form.

5 shows the rear view of the handle ( 2 ) with head piece ( 3 ) with two springy retaining clips ( 10 ; 11 ) and its breakthroughs ( 11a ) and raised structures ( 11b ).

6 shows one of the retaining clips ( 10 ) and in detail the breakthroughs ( 11a ) and sublime structures ( 11b )

7 shows a color clip ( 2d ) for identifying the handle ( 2 ) at the recess on the handle ( 2c ) can be attached.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

grip

2a

Stabliliserungsrippen

2 B

grip

2c

Recess for color coding clip

2d

Color coding clip

3

headpiece

3a

scraping

4

Tiefenreinigungspad

5

open-pored, sponge-like structure

6

micro- and macrostructured scraping surfaces

6a

networked structure

6b

Cavities and channels

10, 11

clasps

11a

breakthrough

11b

sublime structure

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 000000580878 A [0007]
• DE 000029803277 U1 [0007]
• DE 000010153449 A1 [0007]
• CH 000000083043 A [0007]
• DE 000006918518 [0007]
• DE 000029618012 U1 [0007]
• CH 000000034123 A [0007]
• DE 000069718946 T2 [0007]
• DE 202005009026 U1 [0007]
• DE 202005004291 U1 [0007]
• DE 102006025825 A1 [0007]
• DE 000019959188 A1 [0008]
• DE 000000200258 A [0008]
• DE 000069935755 T2 [0008]
• DE 000000591498 A [0008]

Claims (10)

Device for cleaning the tongue and / or tooth surfaces and / or the oral mucosa, with a handle 2 at the end of a flat head piece 3 This is a deep cleaning pad 4 This is due to its structure 5 a large surface with a variety of macrostructured scraping surfaces 6 and at the same time having a three-dimensional, deep, open-pored sponge-like structure with channels and a large internal volume. A device according to claim 1, wherein the multiple scraping surfaces on the entire surface of the depth cleaning pad are microstructured so as to be organized laterally as well as vertically at angles to one another or to occupy different angles in a chaotically distributed manner. Device according to the preceding claims 1-2, wherein the scraping surfaces can also be microstructured. Apparatus according to the preceding claims 1-3, wherein the depth cleaning pad has open pores. Device according to the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the depth cleaning pad is traversed, starting from the pores with predominantly continuous channels. Apparatus according to the preceding claims 1-5, wherein the depth cleaning pad is flexible or rigid Apparatus according to the preceding claims 1-6, wherein the depth cleaning pad is made of hard or elastic plastics or of metals or natural materials. A device according to the preceding claims 1-7, wherein the depth cleaning pad is fixedly connected to the grip part or is included with a fixed lip and is exchangeably connected to the grip part. Device according to the preceding claims 1-8, wherein the depth cleaning pad is resiliently supported on one side or from two sides by a clasp structure of the handle part Device according to the preceding claims 1-9, wherein the depth cleaning pad can be used without the handle part

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