A device for providing an indication of brushing activity of a toothbrush is disclosed. The device comprises an accelerometer 18 configured to produce acceleration data from motion of the toothbrush 2, means 13 for filtering the acceleration data to produce gravitational components, and for filtering the acceleration data to produce linear acceleration components. The device further comprises means 15 for projecting the gravitational components and the linear acceleration components into an n-dimensional space, where and for performing a clustering process on the projections of gravitational components and linear acceleration components into n-dimensional space to produce clustering results. The clustering results comprise a plurality of clusters 52-54 each of which represents a brushing area. A brushing area can be determined based on an assignment of subsequent gravitational components and linear acceleration components of acceleration data to a particular cluster, and feedback provided to a user based on the determination of brushing area, thereby providing an indication of brushing activity.

A toothbrush, comprises a handle; a head connected to the handle; and a plurality of bristles, respective ones of the plurality of bristles including a first end having a first shape formed by an end-rounding process, a second end having a second shape, and a substantially cylindrical shaft extending between the first end and the second end. The bristles are fastened to the head by a fastener at a fastening point along the shaft, the fastening point being located nearer to the second end than to the first end such that the first end extends from a surface of the head to a first height and the second end extends from the surface of the head to a second height. The first height is greater than the second height.

A diagnostic toothbrush comprising, in combination, a toothbrush body, a standard brush head containing toothbrush bristles for brushing teeth, a diagnostic brush head containing a transducer that can detect a dental pathology, and a camera brush head that can produce video images of dental and oral structures. The standard brush head, the diagnostic brush head and the camera brush head can be interchangeably mounted on the toothbrush body. Data from the diagnostic brush head is transferred to the toothbrush body when the diagnostic brush head is mounted on the toothbrush body, data from the camera brush head is transferred to the toothbrush body when the camera brush head is mounted on the toothbrush body, and the data from the diagnostic and camera brush heads is transmitted from the toothbrush body to a computing device.

An oral cleaning device includes an elongated, hollow body, a cleaning head, and a neck portion extending between the hollow body and the cleaning head. The neck portion forms a fluid channel between the hollow body and the cleaning head and the cleaning head includes at least one opening in fluid communication with the fluid channel. The device further includes a plunger located within the hollow body, movable between a first position and a second position, and a solution chamber formed within the hollow body which contains a cleaning solution and is in fluid communication with the fluid channel in the neck portion. A cleaning end of the plunger is configured to move the cleaning solution in the solution chamber through the fluid channel and through the at least one opening in the cleaning head when the plunger is moved from the first position toward the second position.

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.

The present invention relates to a vibrating toothbrush, and more particularly to a vibrating toothbrush enabled to perform toothbrushing for a running time, periodically output an alarm signal in a multisensory way to guide change of a region subject to toothbrushing, and supply driving power in the form of pulses according to a period, thereby reducing power consumption and rapid driving stress of a motor.

A smart toothbrush is provided. The smart toothbrush includes a toothbrush head configured to be provided with bristles, a toothbrush body configured to be connected to the toothbrush head and to be able to be held, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within an oral cavity of a user while the user is brushing teeth using the smart toothbrush, and a processor configured to determine a tooth brushing section in which the user is brushing teeth within the oral cavity, based on a temperature value measured by the temperature sensor.

A system and method of use to train a user the correct use of a toothbrush are provided. A typical user may be a child, and correct use may include not biting the toothbrush. Accordingly the system includes a toothbrush capable of detecting when it is bitten. This may be achieved by including a sensor capable of detecting pressure applied to a head and/or a brush assembly of the toothbrush from two opposing directions at the same time. The user may initially be provided with training material that encourages the user to associate correct use of the toothbrush with a (pleasurable) sound. When the user brushes his or her teeth without biting the toothbrush, the sound associated with correct use is provided by an audio device. If the user bites the toothbrush, the sound is switched off until the bite is released and normal brushing recommences.

In some embodiments, an oral care implement includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a head disposed at the distal end of the elongate body, a plurality of bristles disposed at the head, a speaker, a sound chamber, and a water impermeable membrane. The speaker is disposed in the elongate body to emit sound corresponding to audio received from an audio source. Speakers disposed in a distance spaced from the proximal end of the elongate body and is configured to emit sound toward the proximal end of the elongate body. The sound chamber includes an elongate internal space extending from the first opening proximate the speaker the second proximate the proximal end of the elongate body. Sound emitted from the speaker passes through the sound chamber. The water impermeable membrane occludes the sound chamber between the speaker and the proximal end.

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.