As it is known, the devices for oral hygiene commonly in use, that is to say traditional toothbrushes, comprise a cleaning element, made up of bristles-arranged in a variety of manners, fixed to a handle capable of being gripped in order to rub the bristles against the surface of the teeth.

This practice, although of recognised hygienic and sanitary worth, as it allows the removal of both residual food and the plaque that forms on the surface of the teeth, causes continual wear to the enamel, in particular at the base of the tooth, where the layer of enamel is thinner.

This abrasion is determined by several factors, such as the hardness of the bristles, which is necessary to a certain point in order to allow removal of the plaque, and the force excerpted by means of the handle.

This force is produced by the lever effect employed by the toothbrush user to press the bristled against the teeth.

For this reason the user finds it difficult to calibrate this force and, at times, in the mistaken conviction that he is following correct methods of hygiene, he attempts to excerpt the maximum possible force, increasing abrasion of the enamel and even damaging the gums.

It is also noted that, through the handle, it is extremely

difficult to excerpt an even pressure on the surface of the teeth and to control the movement of the toothbrush head; this pressure depends, in fact, on the inclination of the handle with respect to the teeth, which cannot be constant.

The technical problem behind the present invention is that of providing a device for oral hygiene that makes it possible to overcome the difficulties mentioned with reference to the state of the art.

This problem is solved by a device-for oral hygiene as specified above, characterised in that it comprises fixing means of said cleaning element to one finger of one hand.

The main advantage of the device for oral hygiene according to the present invention is that it enables the user to calibrate the force excerpted on the surface of the teeth better, as there is a direct reference through the finger used for oral hygiene.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said fixing means comprises a flexible and elastic tubular element, apt to be fitted on a user's finger whereby said cleaning element is positioned at the pad of the last joint of said finger.

This kind of fixing means, allows the oral hygienic device to be small, foldable and to be easily stored in a small envelope, packaging or the like, fitted, used and then disposed.

According to a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, said cleaning element is a sponge fixed to the tubular element at the end thereof, i. e. at the pad of said last joint.

This kind of cleaning element allows the oral hyigienic device user to carry out a more effective and, at the same time, gentler cleaning action rather than a brush having bristles which can irritate the human gums.

The combination of said fixing means as a tubular flexible element and of said cleaning element as a sponge is softer and hence it makes the cleaning action more careful and precise, since the sponge can be operated also relying on finger sensitivity.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the detailed description of two preferred embodiments thereof, both provided merely as non- limiting examples, and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: * figure 1 shows a perspective view, partly in cross- section, of a device for oral hygiene according to a first embodiment of the present invention; * figure 2 shows a perspective view of a device for oral hygiene according to a second embodiment; * figure 3 shows an enlargement of the device for oral hygiene of figure 2; and * figure 4 shows the device for oral hygiene of figure 2 in the form of a disposable pack.

With reference in particular to figure 1, a device for oral hygiene according to a first embodiment of the present invention is indicated as a whole in 1.

It comprises a cleaning element 2, suitable to be rubbed

aver the surface of the teeth, the form of which will be understood in full from the following description.

The device 1 further comprises fixing means 3 of said cleaning element 2 to one finger D of one of the hands H of the person using the device 1.

The fixing means 3 are shaped in such a way that the cleaning element 2 can be positioned on the pad of the last joint in said finger.

In effect, said fixing means 3 comprise a flexible tubular element 4, capable of being drawn onto said finger D, and which in the present embodiment has the shape of a cap, with an open end 5, surrounded by a border 6, and a closed end 7 corresponding to the end of said finger D.

The cleaning element 2 is anchored to the tubular element 3 in correspondence with said closed end 7.

Said tubular element 4 is preferably made of elastic material, being drawn with elastic force onto said finger D. Said elastic material is, for example, latex or the like, of the type already used for surgical gloves and allowing the user maximum tactile sensitivity.

The cleaning element 2 comprises a sponge 8, in the shape of a parallelogram, having a rough upper cleaning surface 9, advantageously formed by a plastic substrate 10 with a plurality of raised surface peduncles, extremely small in size and therefore not shown in the enclosed figures.

The sponge 8 is suitably impregnated with a dental detergent substance capable of being released during the oral hygiene operations.

Said detergent substance, supplied in the form of a gel, a liquid, a creme or a semi-soluble powder, advantageously contains a disinfectant agent to prevent oral infections.

Said substance can, however, be a normal toothpaste containing fluorine and/or chlorhexidrine-based substances.

The sponge 8 of the present embodiment is sewn to said tubular element 4, that is to say to the fixing means 3, using a thread 11 contained and extending inside said tubular element 4.

In this way, the device 1 described able also comprises dental floss means 12 which, in the present embodiment, comprise said thread 11.

As regards use of the device 1 described above, it is necessary to proceed as follows.

By deformation of the tubular element 4, the latter can be drawn onto the finger D, preferably the index finger, so that the sponge 8 is positioned on the last pad at the tip of the finger. The rough surface 9 is then rubbed on the surface of the teeth, enabling the necessary force to be calibrated with great exactness using the tactile sensations reaching the finger through the sponge 8.

When the latter is compressed it releases the dental detergent substance, thus completing the oral hygiene operation, which ends by rinsing the mouth as if using a normal toothbrush.

To use the dental floss means 11 it is sufficient, once the rubbing operation has been completed, to turn the cap element inside out, thus fully exposing the thread 11, and

-using it like normal dental floss. In this regard, the thread 11 has a strength, compactness and hygienic characteristics that make it suitable for this kind of use.

With reference to figures 2 and 3, a second embodiment of the device for oral hygiene 1 according to the present invention will now be described.

In this embodiment, parts equivalent or identical to the ones described above will be indicated using the same reference numbers.

The device 1 comprises a cleaning element 2, capable of being rubbed over the surface of the teeth, and fixing means 3 of said cleaning element 2 to one finger D of the hand M of the person using the device 1.

The fixing means 3 are shaped in such a way that the cleaning element 2 can be positioned in correspondence with the pad on the tip of the last joint of said finger, and they comprise a flexible tubular element 4, suitable to be drawn onto said finger D, which like the previous embodiment is in the shape of a cap, with an open end 5, surrounded by a border 6, and a closed end 7, corresponding with the end of said finger D, at which end the cleaning element 2 is anchored.

The tubular element 4 is similar to the one described above in terms of application and materials.

The cleaning element 2 is also the same as the one described above, comprising a sponge 8, with a rough upper cleaning surface 9, impregnated with a dental detergent substance supplied in the form of a gel, a liquid, a creme or a semi-soluble powder, and containing a disinfectant agent, fluorine and/or chlorhexidrine-based substances.

. In the present embodiment the cleaning element 2, that is to say the sponge 8, is glued to said fixing means 3, that is to say the tubular cap-shaped element 4, by means of a layer of glue 13.

In the present embodiment of the invention the dental floss means 11 comprise a thin strip 14 of elastic material formed in the tubular element 4. The thin strip 14 is formed by cuts 15 extending from said border parallel to the axis of the tubular element 4.

The use of the device 1 described above is similar to that described previously. As regards the dental floss means, on the other hand, it is necessary to proceed as follows.

It is sufficient to detach the thin strip 14 from the tubular element 4 by pulling, stretch the elastic strip 14 to make it thinner and use it in this stretched position as dental floss. Furthermore, it is not strictly'necessary to detach the thin strip 14, but it can be used while still connected to the tubular element 4.

The device for oral hygiene described above with reference to both embodiments can advantageously be provided in the form of a disposable unit, suitably contained in a sealed bag B that cannot be closed up again.

In this form the device 1 can easily be dispensed by automatic dispensing machines, for example in public toilets and the like, or in packs containing a given number of the devices.

As well as the advantage indicated above, the device for dental hygiene according to the present invention is distinguished by the fact that its use is strictly

personal, and it is not therefore a vehicle for infection.

It is not necessary to clean it thoroughly after use, as residual plaque would only be removed with great difficulty, as is the case for traditional toothbrushes.

Furthermore, the use of a sponge in the place of bristles allows for more effective cleaning that has a less aggressive effect on the enamel.

In addition to this, the device according to the invention effectively replaces travelling toothbrushes, while at the same time providing greater levels of hygiene.

Said dental floss means of the above described device for oral can be operated as means for securing the device for oral hygiene to a user's hand by gripping said strip or thrad between user's fingers.

Moreover, said device may be effectively used for cleaning small surfaces, like microphones of public phones, or for disinfecting small areas of the human skin, for instance before giving someone an injection.

A person skilled in the art will be able to make a number of additional modifications and variations to the above mentioned device for oral hygiene, with the aim of satisfying additional contingent needs, without however departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the enclosed claims.