Oral hygiene system and method

Abstract

Systems and methods are generally described for an oral hygiene device. The oral hygiene device may include a handle portion and a head portion coupled to the handle portion and including a pick head interface. A pick head may be removably coupled to the pick head interface. The pick head may include a pointed pick member. An image capture device may be disposed in the head portion. The image capture device may be effective to capture image data representing images of an area proximal to a tip of the pointed pick member. A vibration element may be coupled to the pick head interface. The vibration element may be effective to vibrate the pick head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral hygiene system, comprising:
 a hygiene device, comprising:
 a handle portion; 
 a head portion coupled to the handle portion, the head portion including a pick head interface; 
 a pick head removably coupled to the pick head interface, the pick head comprising a pointed pick member comprising a core and an outer region surrounding the core, the outer region comprising a porous and pliable material softer than dentin of human teeth and suitable for removing biofilm from between teeth and gums, wherein a first hardness of the core is greater than a second hardness of the outer region; 
 a light source; and 
 a vibration element coupled to the pick head via the pick head interface, the vibration element configured to vibrate the pick head during a cleaning session. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the light source comprises an ultraviolet (UV) light source.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage container configured to contain the hygiene device.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the storage container includes a pick storage compartment configured to store at least one replacement pick head.   
     
     
         5 . An oral hygiene method comprising:
 vibrating, by a vibration element of a hygiene device, a pick head of the hygiene device, wherein the pick head comprises a pointed pick member, and the pointed pick member comprises a core and an outer region surrounding the core, the outer region comprising a porous and pliable material softer than dentin of human teeth and suitable for removing biofilm from between teeth and gums, wherein a first hardness of the core is greater than a second hardness of the outer region;   directing a light source of the hygiene device at an interior of a mouth of a subject; and   guiding the pointed pick member along at least one of teeth and gums of the subject.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 illuminating the interior of the mouth of the subject with ultraviolet (UV) light.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 illuminating the interior of the mouth of the subject with ultraviolet (UV) light to cause a marker in the mouth of the subject to fluoresce.