FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an orthodontic brush for use by dental patients having braces. More specifically the invention relates to a brush with a pair of wire brushes elastically attached to a handle. Due to the elasticity of the wire brushes and the narrow gap between these, the orthodontic brush of the present invention keeps a significant pressure against the brackets, tubes, and wires resulting in better removal of plaque. Moreover, the present brush has the ability to go around the orthodontic wire, and in addition underneath the orthodontic wire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People without fixed orthodontic appliances may find conventional toothbrushes adequate in removing plaque. However, orthodontic patients with fixed devices, such as braces, face great challenges in the removal of plaque around these devices. When brace hardware and orthodontic wires are connected to teeth, food easily collects on exposed and hidden tooth surfaces in and around the tooth hardware and behind the orthodontic wires, and is difficult to remove. If not frequently cleaned, plaque will form and lead to tooth decay and gingivitis.

While most prior art tooth cleaning devices, such as twisted wire brushes, are able to remove a significant amount of food from the brace hardware and orthodontic wires, most are unable to effectively remove plaque from tooth surfaces located behind the orthodontic wires and complementary brace hardware.

Current interdental brushes are specialized devices designed only to clean between teeth by pushing a flat protrusion between the teeth in an action similar to flossing. Interdental brushes may be inserted when orthodontic devices are in place on the teeth. However, such interdental brushes are only somewhat effective in cleaning and do not reach all areas of teeth and gums. Additionally, such brushes fail to clean around and in the orthodontical devices. Conventional proximal brushes attempt to clean outward tooth surfaces and are rendered less effective by the presence of orthodontic appliances, such as dental braces, which deflect or push aside bristles, thus preventing or at least reducing cleaning in and around the orthodontic appliance and affected tooth and gum areas.

US5537708 discloses a toothbrush comprising a handle portion extending in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal handle axis, an intermediate portion also having a longitudinal axis extending in an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the handle, a pair of brushes having first and second ends through which a longitudinal brush axis runs, said brushes extending through the first end from the elastic intermediate portion having an angel of approximately 45 degrees between the longitudinal axis of the elastic intermediate portion and the longitudinal brush axis, wherein the brushes are angled so they approach each other at the second ends leaving a gap between the second ends of the core of the brushes. This toothbrush is insufficient in the removal of plaque around the teeth and orthodontic braces.

None of the prior art toothbrushes provide a toothbrush, which acts to effectively clean the teeth and orthodontic braces of patients under orthodontic treatment.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide an improved orthodontic brush with the ability to go around the orthodontic wire, and in addition underneath the orthodontic wire for use by dental patients having braces

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above problems with the prior art have been solved in the present invention with a brush having a pair of wire brushes elastically attached to a handle. Due to the elasticity of the wire brushes and the narrow gap between these the orthodontic brush of the present invention keeps a significant pressure against the brackets, tubes, and wires resulting in better removal of plaque.

According to the present invention there is provided an orthodontic brush (1) comprising: • a handle portion (2) extending in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal handle axis; • an elastic intermediate portion (3) having a longitudinal axis extending at an angle ranging from 45 to 135 degrees from the longitunal axis of the handle; and

• a pair of brushes (4), such as wire brushes, having first (5) and second ends (6) through which a longitudinal brush axis runs, said brushes extending through the first end (5) from the elastic intermediate portion (3) in an angle ranging from 45 to 135 degrees between the longitudinal axis of the elastic intermediate portion and the longitudinal brush axis;

said elastic intermediate portion (3) is an elastic wire (7) onto which the first ends (5) of the brushes (4) are attached, wherein the elastic wire (7) is bent so that the ends (7a and 7b) converge, wherein the brushes (4) are angled so that they approach each other at the second ends (6) leaving a gap between the second ends (6) of the core of the brushes ranging from 2 to 15 mm.

It is preferred that the elastic wire (7) is bent to obtain a circular or oval form in which the distance between the ends (7a and 7b) is between 3 and 16 mm. In addition to the circular or oval form the elastic wire may also be bent to obtain a triangular or any polygonal form (square, pentagonal, hexagonal etc).

In order to achieve good access to the narrow gap between brackets and brace-wires the elastic intermediate portion (3) displaces the pair of brushes (4) with 3 to 20 mm from the handle portion (2). This embodiment is also shown in Figures 1 and 2. This is achieved in e.g. the embodiment, where the longitudinal axis of the elastic intermediate portion (3) extends from the longitudinal axis of the handle portion (2) in an angle ranging from 20 to 140 degrees, preferably 60 to 100 degrees. To get optimal access the longitudinal brush axis of the pair of brushes extends from the longitudinal axis of the elastic intermediate portion (3) in an angle ranging from 60 to 1 10 degrees.

The brushes preferably comprise a plurality of bristles extending radially from wires to form a plurality of substantially circular bristle patterns around the wires. Most preferably the wire brushes are conically twisted wire brushes with the second ends (6) being narrow the first ends (5) being wide.

Hence, the wire brushes comprise a plurality of bristles extending radially from the wires to form a plurality of substantially circular bristle patterns around the wires. The plurality of bristles is arranged to contact and assist in cleaning of the orthodontic appliances in an oral cavity through manipulation of the handle to guide the wire brushes. As an alternative to bristles other materials with cleaning abilities can be used; e.g. rubber or garment. The orthodontic brush of the present invention permits brush bristles to reach farther behind the orthodontic wire (and with more force) for removal of food and plaque from tooth surfaces, than otherwise could be accomplished with any known prior art device.

Conical brushes are preferred over substantially cylindrical brushes, although either can be used. The most preferred embodiment of the present invention would provide a pairs of conical brushes, with the wider end of each conical brush adjacent to the elastic intermediate portion.

The elastic intermediate portion carries the wire brushes so that they form a narrow yet flexible trench for orthodontic wire passage. The flexible trench is useful when placed into a horizontally-extending orientation around the horizontally-extending orthodontic wire of the braces connected between the complementary hardware wrapped around each tooth, whereby brush bristles adjacent to the trench are able to move behind the orthodontic wires, without damaging them, and clean surfaces of the teeth typically inaccessible by other types of orthodontic cleaning devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the orthodontic brush of the present invention seen from different angles.

Figure 2 shows how the orthodontic brush of the present invention is used to clean brackets and orthodontic wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided an orthodontic brush that is able to go around and under braces or other orthodontic appliances rather than being deflected away from the orthodontic appliances. Non-rotating cleaning elements are better suited to cleaning teeth, gingiva, other oral tissue (e.g., tongue and cheek), and orthodontic appliances at least in part because the cleaning elements do not slip on the surface to be cleaned.

The orthodontic brush can be constructed using conventional injection molding techniques. Alternatively the orthodontic brush may be fabricated from multiple components. Bristles may be attached to the wire brushes by gluing, tying, stapling, thermoforming, fusion, welding, etc.

In certain embodiments, bristles may be formed from wire strands, microfibers, thermoplastic material, such as a co-polymer or synthetic polymer (e.g., nylon or polyester), and the like. Thickness and/or length of bristles may be varied based on desired oral contact area, cleaning abrasiveness, and/or other criterion.

As shown in Figure 1 the orthodontic brush (1) includes a handle portion (2); the elastic intermediate portion (3), and the pair of wire brushes (4) having first (5) and second ends (6). In the shown embodiment the longitudinal brush axis extends from the longitudinal axis of the elastic intermediate portion (3) in an angle ranging of about 90 degrees, whereas the longitudinal axis of the elastic intermediate portion (3) forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the handle portion (2) of about 90 degrees. The wire brushes (4) are angled so that they approach each other at the second ends (6) leaving a narrow gap between the second ends (6) of the wires. Conical brushes are used in the present embodiment. The most preferred embodiment of the present invention would provide a pairs of conical brushes, with the wider end of each conical brush adjacent to the elastic intermediate portion.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown how the orthodontic brush (1) is able to clean difficultly accessible areas of teeth (8), orthodontic wires (9) and brackets (10).