An electric toothbrushing device is disclosed, the device comprising means (16) for producing vibration of a toothbrush head (14), means (24, 32, 40, 42, 44) for producing an orientation signal indicating of an area of the mouth being brushed, and means (47, 48, 49) for producing a pressure signal indicating a pressure applied to the toothbrush head. The device further comprises processing means (46) arranged to link values of the orientation signal with values of the pressure signal in order to provide feedback to a user regarding a brushing pressure applied to each of a plurality of different areas of the mouth. By linking values of the orientation signal with values of the pressure signal, the user can be better informed about which parts of the mouth are being or have been brushed too hard. This can help the user to correct their brushing technique.

An oral care implement including a handle and an oral care refill head. The handle has a gripping portion, an engagement component coupled to a distal end of the gripping portion, and a stem. The engagement component includes a plate portion and a first engagement feature. The stem extends through an opening in the engagement component and protrudes from the plate portion. The oral care refill head includes an oral care treatment portion and a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion has an inner surface that defines a sleeve cavity having a cavity axis and a second engagement feature. When the oral care refill head is detachably coupled to the handle, the first and second engagement features mate with one another to at least one of: (1) position the oral care refill head and the handle in an operational alignment; and (2) lock the oral care refill head to the handle.

In the context of dental care, a system (100) is provided which comprises i) an appliance (110) that is configured to operate a functional unit, ii) a data providing arrangement (120) that is configured to include operation data in the form of respective combinations of a mouth area and an effective time duration of a dental care action for the area concerned, wherein the effective time durations of the respective combinations add up to a total operation time of a dental care procedure and have respective values according to a proportional division of the total operation time on the basis of a distribution of the extent to which dental care is needed at the areas of the respective combinations, and iii) a controller (130) that is configured to communicate with the data providing arrangement (120) and to control operation of the appliance (110) in accordance with the operation data.

A tracking attachment for an oral care implement that includes a housing and a tracking unit configured to track position, orientation, or movement of the oral care implement. The housing may define a receiving cavity that is configured to receive a portion of the oral care implement. The housing may include a first housing portion having an inner surface that defines a first portion of the receiving cavity that is open at both of the first and second ends of the first housing portion and a second housing portion that mates with the first housing portion to detachably couple the second housing portion to the first housing portion. The second housing portion may have an inner surface that defines a second portion of the receiving cavity that is open at the second end of the second housing portion.

A method for controlling display of a user interface for optimizing performance in using a personal care appliance is provided including: receiving a user info or regimen; receiving a protocol or routine to use the appliance; receiving an appliance status related to a user's usage of the appliance; comparing the appliance status to a target usage of the appliance in the protocol or routine; and controlling display of an indicator of the user's performance based on the comparison.

A personal care appliance is provided that includes a brushhead for use in skincare; an appliance body having a motor assembly for oscillating the brushhead, wherein the brushhead or a portion of the motor assembly that is configured to oscillate includes a marking; and a brush encoder configured to detect the marking, and determine the oscillation of the brushhead.

A system to promote optimum performance of a personal care appliance is provided including: a personal care appliance having an appliance status; and a client device, in communication with the appliance, including circuitry configured to compare the appliance status with the protocol for using the appliance, control display of an indicator based on the comparison.

An oral hygiene implement is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle; a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. The head has a plurality of contact elements. An indication element is positioned between the neck and handle of the oral hygiene element. A transmission element is positioned between the indication element and a light emitting source. The light emitting source provides electromagnetic energy to the transmission element.

An oral care device having a head with cleaning elements and a handle coupled to the head. The handle may include a selectively rotatable ring arranged between the head and a distal end of the handle that is configured to allow a user to select a desired mode of operation of the oral care device. The handle may include a selectively illuminated light that is configured to display at least one color that visually indicates that certain behaviors, patterns, and/or consistent habits have been performed successfully. The handle may include a processor configured to track a duration of a user's brushing session, a light ring on a bottom surface of the handle, and a pressure sensor. Respective portions of the light ring may be selectively illuminated by the processor to visualize progress toward achieving a predetermined brushing routine time and/or to visualize an over-pressure condition sensed by the pressure sensor.

An oral care system includes an oral care implement and motion tracking attachment configured to allow tracking of the implement during an oral care activity such as tooth brushing. The oral care implement may include a handle and head. The tracking attachment is coupled to the implement and comprises colored tracking markers detectable by a programmable visual-based motion tracking unit. The tracking attachment in one configuration may comprise a housing with plural insertable tracking colored wedges. In another configuration, a colored tracking portion colored panels and optional colored neck band may be formed on or attached to the oral care implement. Both the tracking attachment and tracking portion embodiments as applicable facilitate tracking at least one of a position, orientation, movement, and the like of the oral care implement to which it is attached. The tracking attachment may be non-electric in nature without any onboard electronics in some embodiments.