JPS582701B2 - Photoelectrochemical reaction oral hygiene device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] In view of the fact that the tooth surface is in contact with saliva, which has a lower pH than the tooth tissue, it has the property of preventing the penetration of anions such as fluorine contained in dentifrice. A negative electrode is attached to the brush-embedded part of the toothbrush, and by supplying power from the outside, the body is used as a conductor, and the gum side is used as a positive electrode to transfer anions such as fluorine to the teeth using electrolytic reactions through saliva and tap water. Various methods have been proposed in the past to promote penetration into organizations.

However, in order for this electrolytic reaction to effectively reduce plaque, etc., a relatively large amount of electric power is required, and since the current is passed through the body as a conductor, the electrical resistance varies depending on individual differences, and the way the current flows may vary. The safety of flowing electric current into the body in an irregular or constant manner was not certain.

In addition to such toothbrushes, it is also known to spray a cleaning liquid into the oral cavity to remove plaque and sterilize the teeth to keep the oral cavity hygienic.

The present invention relates to an oral hygiene device such as a toothbrush or an oral irrigator that utilizes electrochemical action. By neutralizing through a reduction reaction based on the reaction, it prevents demineralization of teeth caused by a drop in pH, and also decomposes dental plaque and deposited pigments, which are the cause of tooth decay, etc. through electrical polarization. Therefore, it is possible to very effectively prevent dental caries and alveolar pyorrhea and beautify the teeth.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. A groove-like passage 3 is formed in the tip 2a of the electrically insulating handle 2 to allow saliva, tap water, etc. to pass through when inserted into the oral cavity. , on one side 3a of the opposing wall portions 3a and 3b of this passage 3,
A semiconductor 4 facing this passage 3 and causing a photoelectrochemical reaction
An oral hygiene device A having a basic configuration in which a light beam irradiation path 5 for irradiating light from the other wall surface portion 3b toward the semiconductor 4 is provided along the handle 2. Hereinafter, preferred specific configurations will be described in detail.

In the illustrated example, a brush 1 is attached to the tip 2a of the handle 2.

Then, keeping in mind that the life of the brush 1 is short, the handle 2 is attached to a handle member 2 having the passage 3, the semiconductor 4, and the light irradiation path 5.
A and a handle member 2B having a brush 1, and the latter handle member 2B is disposable and replaceable.

Both handle members 2A, 2B are connected by fitting along the longitudinal direction with a dovetail groove 2b formed on one of the dovetail grooves 2b and a protrusion 2c formed on the other side with the same shape as this dovetail groove 2b. This is performed by tightening and pressing a screw 6 screwed into one of the handle members 2A and 2B against the other.

The groove-like passage 3 is formed near the tip of the permanent side handle member 2A so as to open toward both sides, and a hole 2d communicating with the passage 3 along the direction in which the brush 1 is projected is formed in the replacement side handle member. It is formed in 2B.

This ensures a sufficient amount of water in contact with the semiconductor 4.

However, if the passage 3 is formed with one or both ends closed in the lateral direction, or if the passage 3 is formed with at least one side open in the lateral direction, the replacement side handle member 2B is used.
The present invention also includes a case where the hole 2d is not formed.

The semiconductor 4 may be any type of N-type semiconductor that generates electronic excitation through a photoelectrochemical reaction.

The irradiation path 5 is made of transparent glass fiber embedded in the permanent side handle member 2A, and covered with a non-transparent material 5'.

The permanent side handle member 2A is detachably attached to the grasping portion 8.

The grasping part 8 includes a glass fiber 5 that constitutes the irradiation path.
One end of the translucent glass fiber 9 is inserted with the end faces abutted against each other.

The glass fiber 9 has a sufficient length that does not interfere with the operation of the oral hygiene device A, and the other end is connected to the light source box B.
It is connected to the.

The light source box B includes an incandescent lamp or mercury lamp 10, a cooling fan 11 for this lamp 10, and its 1 drive motor M.
It also has a built-in condenser lens 12 that focuses on the end face of the glass fiber 9.

13 is a thermal fuse; 14 is a hook switch that opens when the oral hygiene device A is hooked and closes when it is removed;
Reference numeral 15 denotes a power switch, and 16 denotes a power supply plug, which are configured in a circuit as shown in FIG.

Note that the present invention also includes a case where the light source is a fluorescent lamp and the transparent glass fiber is directly applied to the fluorescent lamp.

Further, the present invention also includes a case where the light source is built into the grasping section 8.

In that case, the glass fiber 9 or the like is not required, and a small lamp or light emitting diode is used as the light source.

Furthermore, instead of the brush 1, or in addition to the brush 1, it also includes a brush in which a cleaning liquid ejection hole is formed at the tip of the handle 2.

In summary, the photoelectrochemical reaction type oral hygiene device according to the present invention is an oral hygiene device that is inserted into the oral cavity and is operated by attaching a semiconductor 4 that generates a photoelectrochemical reaction at a location that comes into contact with saliva. It is characterized by being configured so that it can be irradiated with light, and it satisfies the four conditions of light, a semiconductor, water, and a tooth that is an electronic conductor, and a battery reaction occurs due to light energy, and a chemical reaction occurs. This can significantly enhance the dental hygiene effect.

That is, when the semiconductor 4 is irradiated with a light beam in the oral cavity, the semiconductor 4 generates electronic excitation, and is polarized by being provided with holes due to the potential gradient with the space charge layer on the surface.

Furthermore, the teeth have opposite polarity due to the difference in electron density.

Therefore, a photosensitized electrolytic oxidation reaction that releases electrons from saliva and water occurs around the semiconductor 4, while a reduction reaction that obtains electrons from saliva and water occurs around the teeth, forming a so-called electrochemical photovoltaic cell. It is.

In other words, it has a simple structure that requires only the use of a semiconductor and irradiation of light onto it, and there is no need to supply power from the outside; it also uses electricity from the simple photoelectric effect to carry out electrolytic reactions using the body as a conductor. Fundamentally different from conventional semiconductors, stable oxidation and reduction reactions are easily carried out with a small amount of energy, regardless of individual differences, and because semiconductors are small and serve their purpose, they require relatively large amounts of external power. Compared to an electrolytic reaction by supply, the cost of materials is lower, and even if it is used constantly in the oral cavity every day, there is no need to run an electric current inside the body, so it can provide reliable safety.

Then, with an efficient reaction that utilizes the easily obtained energy of this light, the reduction reaction neutralizes the teeth whose pH has decreased due to plaque and tartar attached to the teeth, resulting in the decrease in pH. It can effectively prevent tooth demineralization, and at the same time, it decomposes dental plaque, which is the cause of tooth decay, and also decomposes deposited pigments etc. due to the above-mentioned polarization effect.
Overall, it has been possible to very effectively prevent dental caries and alveolar pyorrhea and make teeth beautiful.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the photoelectrochemical reaction type oral hygiene device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. It is an electrical circuit diagram. 2...Handle, 2A, 2B...Handle member, 3
...Groove passageway, 3a, 3b...Wall surface portion, 4...Semiconductor, 5...Light irradiation path, 9...Glass Fiber, B...
light source box.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An oral hygiene device that is inserted into the oral cavity and operated, and is characterized in that a semiconductor 4 that causes a photoelectrochemical reaction is attached to the part that comes into contact with saliva, and that the semiconductor 4 is configured to be able to be irradiated with light. Electrochemical reaction oral hygiene device.