Apparatus, method and product for treating teeth

Abstract

A brushing system including a multiple cartridge dispensing system which dispenses the treatment material either directly onto brush bristles, or through the brush to the bristles. A multiplicity of materials may be provided to the cartridges for use in brushing. In addition to use in dental care, the system finds utility in hair coloring, spot laundry cleaning, skin and nail care, and polishing, as well as numerous others.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tooth brushing system comprising: 
 (a) a body;    (b) a first material reservoir for supplying a first material;    (c) a second material reservoir for supplying a second material; and    (d) an applicator supported by the body,    wherein the first and second material reservoirs are in liquid communication with applicator, and wherein the first and second reservoirs are supported by the body.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) a regulator positionable in a first position to engage the applicator in liquid communication with the first reservoir, and in a second position to engage the applicator in liquid communication with the second reservoir.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first or second reservoirs are removably contained within said body.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first or second reservoirs comprises a positive displacement.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) a first dental treatment material positioned in the first reservoir; and    (f) a second dental treatment material positioned in the second reservoir;    wherein the first dental treatment material is different from the second dental treatment material, and wherein the first and second dental treatment materials each comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of anti-bacterial agents, bleaching agents, breath conditioning agents, buffers, carriers, cleaners, coatings, tooth colorants or dyes, coloring or dying agents, conditioners, emulsifiers, foaming agents, fillers, flavors, flow agents, fluorides, gelling agents, inert agents, medicines, oxidizing agents, polish, preservatives, sealants, scrubbing agents, stain removers, tartar control agents, viscosity agents, washes, and whiteners.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said first material is provided without an additional thickening agent.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the viscosity of the first materials, when measured at a shear rate of about 1 seconds −1  is in the range of about 0.1 poise to about 5,000 poise.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said second material is provided without an additional thickening agent.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the viscosity of the first and second materials, when measured at a shear rate of about 100 seconds −1 , is in the range of about 0.05 poise to about 100 poise.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first material comprises fluoride, and the second material comprises at least one selected from gingivitis treatments, whitening agents, breath treatments, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) a third material reservoir for supplying a third material, wherein the third reservoir is in liquid communication with applicator, and wherein the third reservoir is supported by the body; and    (f) a third material positioned in the third reservoir, wherein the third material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of whitening agents, advanced cleaning agents, baking soda, peroxide, tartar control, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 (g) a fourth material reservoir for supplying a fourth material, wherein the third reservoir is in liquid communication with applicator, and wherein the third reservoir is supported by the body; and    (g) a fourth material positioned in the fourth reservoir, wherein the fourth material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of whitening agents, advanced cleaning agents, baking soda, peroxide, tartar control, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         13 . A brushing system comprising: 
 (a) a body;    (b) a material reservoir supported by the body, wherein the material reservoir comprises treatment regimen of at least two materials, and wherein the materials are positioned to sequentially dispense from the reservoir; and    (c) an applicator supported by the body, and in liquid communication with the material reservoir.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 (d) N number of treatment regimens positioned in the material reservoir, wherein each regimen comprises a first material and a second material, wherein each regimen is positioned to allow dispensing of substantially all of the first material of the Nth regimen prior to application of the second material of the Nth regimen, and positioned to allow dispensing of substantially all of the second material of the (N−1)th regimen prior to application of the first material of the Nth regimen, and wherein N is an integer of at least 1.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein each regimen further comprises a third material, wherein each regimen is positioned to allow dispensing of substantially all of the first material of the (N−1)th regimen prior to application of the second and third materials of the Nth regimen, and to allow dispensing of substantially all of the second material of the (N−1)th regimen prior to application of the third material of the (N−1)th regimen, and positioned to allow dispensing of substantially all of the third material of the Nth regimen prior to application of the first material of the Nth regimen, and wherein N is an integer of at least 1.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein N is 1.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first material comprises a whitening agent, and the second material comprises a polisher.  
     
     
         18 . A method of brushing teeth with a brushing system, wherein the brushing system comprises a body, first and second material reservoirs supported by the body, and an applicator supported by the body, wherein the applicator is in liquid communication with the first and second material reservoirs, and wherein the first material reservoir contains a first dental treatment material, and wherein the second material reservoir contains a second dental treatment material, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) dispensing first dental treatment material from the first reservoir to the applicator;    (b) contacting the first dental treatment material to teeth;    (c) dispensing second dental treatment material from the second reservoir to the applicator; and    (d) contacting the second dental treatment material to the teeth.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 prior to step (a), inserting said first and second reservoirs into said body.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the brushing system further comprises a switch positionable in a first position to engage the applicator in liquid communication with the first reservoir, and in a second position to engage the applicator in liquid communication with the second reservoir, the method further comprising, prior to step (a) first engaging the applicator in liquid communication with the first reservoir, and prior to step (c) first engaging the applicator in liquid communication with the second reservoir.