The exemplary embodiments disclose an apparatus, a system and method, and a computer program product for removing dental plaque. The exemplary embodiments may include emitting light, detecting reflections of the light, analyzing the reflected light, and determining an amount or location of dental plaque based on the reflected light.

A method (500) for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device (10), the method comprising: (i) emitting (520) light at a first intensity by a light emitter (42); (ii) obtaining (530) first reflectance measurements reflectance data; (iii) determining (540), by a controller (30) from the first reflectance data, whether the location comprises gingiva; (iv) automatically adjusting (550), based at least in part on the first reflectance data, the intensity of a light emitter to a second intensity different from the first intensity, and/or automatically adjusting (550) a gain of a light detector; (v) obtaining (560) a second plurality of reflectance measurements by the light detector of the oral care device for at least some of the locations; and (vi) determining (570), using the second plurality of reflectance measurements, whether gingiva at the location is inflamed.

The present invention relates to an electrochemical device for releasing ions, comprising an electrical circuit comprising a first electrode and a second electrode adapted for providing a galvanic cell when the electrodes are exposed to a fluid constituting an electrolyte, and a boost converter adapted for amplifying a potential generated between the first and the second electrode. The electrical circuit further comprises a third electrode connected with an output side of the boost converter, wherein the second and the third electrode constitutes an electrolytic cell powered by the galvanic cell when the electrodes are exposed to a fluid. The present invention further relates to devices, such as a toothbrush or a shaver, adapted for being used in connection with a fluid, comprising such electrochemical device for releasing ions.

A smart toothbrush system, utilizing fluorescence and an intraoral camera, includes a toothbrush handle with embedded electronics, detachable brush and intraoral camera heads, and wireless connectivity capability for communication with external devices. The detachable brush head system is capable of directing particular wavelengths of light to the oral cavity, producing visible fluorescence when incident upon certain biomaterials that are indicative of the presence of various dental conditions. The intraoral camera head is capable of directing the same wavelengths of light to the oral cavity to produce the same fluorescing effect and can be used to closely inspect or record the presence of harmful biomaterials indicative of dental health.

A manual toothbrush, including a disposable head comprising a thermoplastic material and a reusable handle comprising an aluminum material, has a center of gravity, a longitudinal axis, and mutually opposite front and back sides. The handle has a proximal end, which is adjacent to the head when the head is attached to the handle, and a distal end opposite thereto. The center of gravity lies within the handle even when the brush head is loaded with toothpaste, wherein the center of gravity is arranged at or in close proximity to the pivot point of a wrist joint of a user brushing teeth, which arrangement facilitates precise and accurate brushing movements by the user. The handle's proximal end terminates with a chamfered surface, wherein the chamfered surface and a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the axis form therebetween an angle from about 15 to about 30 such that one of the front side and the back side of the handle is shorter than the other.

A folding self-cleaning toothbrush is configured with of a head having bristles, a handle with an open recess wherein the head can be stored, a joint which allows the head to fold into the handle, a battery, and a sanitization device with LED lights that emit light in a spectrum suitable for cleaning the head/bristles. The head may be detachable and disposable. The toothbrush also has a computing system for controlling activation of the UV light emitter/sanitization device, as well as to generate notifications related to use and/or cleaning of the toothbrush.

A sonic vibration toothbrush includes a head extending in an axial direction with a plurality of bristles implanted at an outer circumference thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction; a head arm having an inner space to transmit a sonic wave to the head. A top portion of the head arm where the inner space is narrowed is coupled to the head and a motor accommodating portion that accommodates a motor therein and transmits a sonic wave generated by a rotating force of the motor to the head arm. The toothbrush further includes a handle having a space for accommodating a battery; an input unit provided at the motor accommodating portion in a button form; a display unit provided at the handle; and a control circuit that controls the motor according to input information provided from the input unit.

A plaque detecting device including a light emitting unit which irradiates light toward a tooth, and first and second light receiving units which receive radiated light from the tooth. The first light receiving unit extracts the spectral component of a first wavelength region containing fluorescent light specific to plaque and obtains a first output value corresponding to intensity of that spectral component. The second light receiving unit extracts the spectral component of a second wavelength region containing fluorescent light specific to enamel and obtains a second output value corresponding to the intensity of this spectral component. Determination of the relative magnitude of the ratio between the first output value and the second output value as compared to a first threshold value is performed. Determination of the relative magnitude of the difference between the first output value and the second output value as compared to a second threshold value is performed.

A brushing apparatus includes a head and a handle extending out from the head. The head includes a plurality of bristles. A camera may be secured to the head of the brushing apparatus adjacent to the plurality of bristles. The system may further include a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory contains instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive an image from the camera as bristles of the plurality of bristles are engaged with a body. Further instructions cause the processor to detect an atypical contour of the image that indicates a physical anomaly. Further instructions cause the processor to generate a notification in response to detecting the atypical contour that indicates the physical anomaly.

In one embodiment, the invention can be a brush unit detachable from a main body unit of an electric toothbrush. The brush unit includes: a light transmitting part included on a front surface of the brush unit, a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the brush unit in a pressing direction, wherein the light transmitting part directs more light in a first direction, which intersects the pressing direction, than in the pressing direction; and a light receiving part included on the front surface for receiving light; wherein the light transmitting part and the light receiving part are arranged on opposing sides of the plurality of tooth cleaning elements; and wherein the first direction lies within a plane including both the light transmitting part and the light receiving part.