SINGLE-SERVE ORAL RINSE SYSTEMS

Abstract

A single-dose package that provides an appropriate amount of flavoring and an orally active germicide such as household bleach or sodium hypochlorite useful for a single batch of water-flosser rinse. The mixture eliminates the taste that occurs. It uses a mixture of an orally active germicide mixed with a flavoring such as mint, peppermint, wintergreen, anise, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, lime, honey, honey lemon, red fruit, grapefruit, orange, grape, cherry, cherry cola, berry, or cinnamon. Some mixtures include fluoride. Single-serve packaging helps water-flosser users receive appropriate amounts of bleach. The mixture can contain other excipients, solid or liquid carriers, and can come in powder, granule, gel, liquid, or tablet form. Other useful orally active germicides include glutaraldehyde, chlorhexidine, diamines, alexidine, phenols, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, acridines, silver compounds, halogens, silver ions, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride, and their mixtures.

Claims

1. A method comprising providing a single-dose package comprising a mixture of an orally active germicide and a flavoring agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the package contains an amount of mixture sufficient to form an effective concentration of germicide and flavoring agent for a single session of water flossing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mixture comprises a powder, granule, gel, liquid, or tablet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mixture further comprises a solid or liquid carrier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the mixture further comprises fluoride.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising forming a water-flossing fluid by adding the mixture to 10 ounces of water.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising placing the water-flossing fluid into a reservoir of a water-flossing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the flavoring agent is any single one or any combination of anise, peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, lime, honey, honey lemon, red fruit, mint, grapefruit, orange, grape, cherry, cherry cola, berry, wintergreen, and cinnamon flavor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the germicide is any single one or any combination of glutaraldehyde, chlorhexidine, diamines, alexidine, phenols, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, acridines, silver compounds, halogens, silver ions, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride, or bleach.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the germicide is bleach.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the germicide is sodium hypochlorite.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the amount of mixture is one-half of a teaspoon.

13. The method of claim 5 further comprising forming a water-flossing fluid by adding the mixture to 10 ounces of water.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising placing the water-flossing fluid into a reservoir of a water-flossing device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the flavoring agent is any single one or any combination of anise, peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, lime, honey, honey lemon, red fruit, mint, grapefruit, orange, grape, cherry, cherry cola, berry, wintergreen, and cinnamon flavor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the germicide is any single one or any combination of glutaraldehyde, chlorhexidine, diamines, alexidine, phenols, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, acridines, silver compounds, halogens, silver ions, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride, or bleach.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the germicide is bleach.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the germicide is sodium hypochlorite.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the amount of mixture is one-half of a teaspoon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present invention, single-serve oral rinse system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a single-serve oral rinse system during an ‘in-use’ condition showing a packet of the single-serve oral rinse system being deposited into a water flosser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the (unopened) packet (labeled Breath Fresh) of the single-serve oral rinse system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the unopened packet according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-2.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a kit for the single-serve oral rinse system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-3.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the single-serve oral rinse system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

[0021] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to dental hygiene products and, more particularly, to a single-serve oral rinse system as used to improve the efficiency of flossing the teeth of a user using an oral irrigation device.

[0023] Generally speaking, the present invention provides the exact amount of flavoring and bleach needed for a water flosser. As developed, it eliminates the unpleasant taste that occurs when using bleach without flavoring and is offered in a single-use, disposable packaging for ease of use. In some embodiments, this material utilizes a mixture with a possible combination of bleach, mint, peppermint, wintergreen, cinnamon, or a fluoride additive. It is designed and mixed to ensure that water-flosser users receive the appropriate amount of bleach.

[0024] This innovative product may comprise a mixture of bleach and fluoride with mint, peppermint, wintergreen, and/or cinnamon flavors. The product may come in small plastic or similar material packaging that may measure approximately 1⅞″×3¾″, or about the same size as a packet of soy sauce. It may be available in boxes containing enough packets for a week (7), two weeks (14), or more. There may be roughly a half teaspoon of the product in each packet, designed to be mixed into 10 oz of water. This bleach packet may also be available in an individual use tablet form (Alka-Seltzer style).

[0025] FIGS. 1-4 show single-serve oral rinse system 100 comprising flavored bleach composition 110 having bleach 120, fluoride 130, and at least one flavor 160. Single-serve oral rinse system 100 comprises flavored bleach composition 110 as admixture 112. Flavored bleach composition 110 comprises in functional combination bleach 120, fluoride 130, and at least one flavor 160. Flavored bleach composition 110 is suitably mixed to provide a means for cleaning at least one oral surface using oral irrigation device 180. Admixture 112 comprises at least one fluid 114. Admixture alternately may comprise at least one granule 116. At least one flavor 160 comprises mint, peppermint, wintergreen, and cinnamon or the like. Flavored bleach composition 110 further comprises fluoride-additive 118. In some embodiments, bleach is sodium hypochlorite or a similar oxygenated halide compound.

[0026] Single-serve oral rinse system 100 comprises disposable packet 190 for one-time use for containing flavored bleach composition 110. Single-serve oral rinse system 100 alternately comprises tablet form 192 for individual use. In some embodiments, flavored bleach composition 110 is non-toxic in-use. At least one oral surface is able to be cleansed of food particles. At least one oral surface is able to be cleansed of plaque. At least one oral surface is able to be cleansed of germs. Single-serve oral rinse system 100 reduces gingival bleeding. Single-serve oral rinse system 100 reduces gingivitis.

[0027] Single-serve oral rinse system 100 may be sold as a kit comprising the following parts: at least one set of packets of flavored bleach composition 110 of at least one flavor 160; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Single-serve oral rinse system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different flavoring combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 5 showing flowchart 550 illustrating method of use for single-serve oral rinse system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4. As shown, method of use 500 may comprise the steps of step one 501, opening a packet of a flavored bleach composition; step two 502, pouring flavored bleach composition 110 into an oral irrigation device 180; step three 503, cleaning at least one oral surface; and step three 503, disposing of packaging (disposable packet 190).

[0029] Various inventive methods comprise providing any of the compositions described above. The composition is combined with an amount of water to make a water-flosser rinse. The user fills the water flosser with the fluid and then conducts a water flossing session. Typically, the rinse is non-toxic enough to be disposed of down a residential sink safely and legally.

[0030] Various embodiments of the invention use a mixture of an orally active germicide mixed with a flavoring such as mint, peppermint, wintergreen, anise, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, lime, honey, honey lemon, red fruit, grapefruit, orange, grape, cherry, cherry cola, berry, or cinnamon. Some mixtures include fluoride. In various embodiments of the invention, the germicide is any single or any combination of glutaraldehyde, chlorhexidine, diamines, alexidine, phenols, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, acridines, silver compounds, halogens, silver ions, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride, or bleach.

[0031] The steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

[0032] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary, and numerous modifications, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.