Abstract: The disclosure provides a natural sweetener system and oral care compositions comprising the same. In one aspect the natural sweetener system comprises a combination of a Rebaudioside A extract and enzymatically glucosylated steviol glycosides extract obtained from Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. The natural sweetener system of the disclosure unexpectedly improves the taste of oral care compositions masking the bitterness and metallic notes of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oral hydrogel compositions, more particularly to thermosensitive gel compositions, which undergo a sol-gel transition in the oral cavity, and which optionally comprise therapeutic actives for sustained release.

Abstract: A personal care implement that uses less plastic by removing material from a handle of the oral care implement while maintaining a comfortable grip which is similar to a normal grip that a user associates with a personal care implement. That is, the handle has a recess in a rear surface thereof, such that the handle or a portion thereof has a U-shaped transverse cross-sectional area. Portions of the handle may be covered with an elastomeric material to increase gripability and comfort. The handle may also include various rib structures elongated along the recess to increase the strength of the handle so that it does not significantly deform during normal use.

Abstract: A tracking attachment for an oral care implement that includes a housing and a tracking unit configured to track position, orientation, or movement of the oral care implement. The housing may define a receiving cavity that is configured to receive a portion of the oral care implement. The housing may include a first housing portion having an inner surface that defines a first portion of the receiving cavity that is open at both of the first and second ends of the first housing portion and a second housing portion that mates with the first housing portion to detachably couple the second housing portion to the first housing portion. The second housing portion may have an inner surface that defines a second portion of the receiving cavity that is open at the second end of the second housing portion.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for detecting blood in an oral cavity during toothbrushing is disclosed. A toothbrush includes a sensor configured to emit first light at a first wavelength and second light at a second wavelength, and receive reflected portions of the light, the reflected portions having a first intensity and a second intensity, respectively. For each of a plurality of different times of a brushing session, a processor calculates a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity. The processor identifies peaks in the ratio over the different times and, based on the number of peaks in the ratio, determines whether hemoglobin is present in the oral cavity.

Abstract: A process for electrochemically whitening a tooth, the process including: a) contacting the tooth with a whitening gel having a first pH, the whitening gel located in a dental device comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode; b) flowing a current between the positive electrode and the negative electrode through whitening gel to whitening the tooth such that the whitening gel transitions from the first pH to a second pH; c) irradiating the tooth with light emitted from a light source present on the dental device; wherein the whitening gel comprises a peroxide source; an electrolyte source; and wherein the second pH is greater than the first pH.

Abstract: A packaged product, a method of manufacturing a package, and a method of dispensing a consumable substance from a package. The packaged product may include a flexible tube having a cavity and an opening that forms a passageway into the cavity. A cap may be detachably coupled to the flexible tube to close the opening. A flexible container may be positioned within the cavity of the flexible tube, and a consumable substance may be disposed within the flexible container, which can be completely sealed and free of openings prior to first use. Introduction of one or more drops of water into the first cavity through the opening in the outer container may dissolve at least a portion of the flexible container thereby forming a hole in the flexible container through which the consumable substance is configured to be dispensed.

Abstract: An oral care implement with fluid dispensing system includes a head, handle, and intermediate neck. The head comprises plural tooth cleaning elements. A reservoir containing oral care fluid is fluidly coupled to an elastomeric valve nested between a pair of longitudinally spaced protective lamellas on the head. A depressible actuator button operates to dispense the oral care fluid from the reservoir through the valve to the tooth cleaning elements. The protective lamellas formed of elastomeric material are foldable to alternating cover the valve to prevent ingress of external fluids in the oral cavity of the user into the valve to minimize fouling of the fluid dispensing system. Laterally open areas between the lamella allow the oral care fluid to migrate outwards to the tooth cleaning elements. To control the dosage of oral care fluid dispensed, a modular system comprising interchangeable spacer inserts is usable to change and customize the dosage.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of teeth, including one or more dental treatment applicators having at least two walls and a floor, the walls and floor defining a well configured to accommodate at least one human dental arcade and an active agent. Furthermore, one or more energy-applying elements such as electrodes or light sources are located on at least one of the walls.

Abstract: A stand for an oral care implement, an oral care system which includes an oral care implement and a stand, and a method of separating a refill head from a handle using a stand. The stand may include a support feature for supporting the oral care implement in an upright orientation and an engagement feature for engaging the refill head while a user detaches the handle from the refill head. The support feature may be a depression or cavity formed in the stand, and the engagement feature may be one or more recesses or notches formed into a top edge of the stand.

Abstract: An oral care implement includes a head having a front surface that defines a basin having a floor and a sidewall. A head plate is coupled to the head within the basin. The head plate has a plurality of tuft holes. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements are coupled to the head, each extending from a melt matte that is located between the head plate and the floor of the basin through one of the tuft holes in the head plate and protruding from the front surface of the head, The plurality of tooth cleaning elements includes a conical tuft having a cavity and a central cleaning element located within the cavity. The central cleaning element may be spaced apart from the conical tuft from the melt matte to a distal end of the central cleaning element.

Abstract: An oral care implement that is designed for users with reduced dexterity in their hands. In particular, the oral care implement includes a handle portion that includes a gripping portion configured to be gripped by the hand of a user and a grip stop protruding from the gripping portion in a cantilevered manner. The grip stop may be positioned near the end of the handle adjacent to the head of the oral care implement to stop movement of the user's hand upwards towards the head. The grip stop extends from the gripping portion a distance that is greater than a width or diameter of an adult finger to ensure it functions as a stop. In one embodiment, the grip stop may be rotatably or pivotably coupled to the gripping portion so that its exact circumferential position can be modified to enhance user comfort.

Abstract: An oral care system that includes an oral care implement and a tracking attachment. The oral care implement may include a handle and a head. The tracking attachment is detachably coupled to the oral care implement. The tracking attachment may include an outer casing having an outer surface and a connection element that is configured to mate with a connection element on a handle of the powered oral care implement to couple the outer casing to the handle. The tracking attachment may further include a plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the outer casing.

Abstract: The oral car compositions described herein comprise ascorbic acid derivatives as teeth whitening agents. The oral care compositions described herein are stable until use, reasonably priced, safe, easy to use, and do not require special apparatus or trained personnel to be applied.

Abstract: Oral care compositions containing a stannous salt and sodium tripolyphosphate are provided where stannous tripolyphosphate ionic intermediates comprise less than about 1% of the compositions. Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, a methylvinyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer and/or a silica oral polishing agent may be added for further efficacy. In a single phase blend, the oral care composition may be effectively limited to comprise less than about 10% water. In a dual-phase blend, a mixture having the stannous salt in a first phase and the sodium tripolyphosphate in a second phase may be generated from a dual chamber storage tube (with each phase provided from a separate chamber) immediately prior to dental care usage.

Abstract: A container (100) is provided that includes a chamber (102), a dispensing passageway and a resilient valve (120). The chamber contains a viscous fluidic material. The valve (120) is configured to transition from a normal state to a dispensing state upon a discharge pressure being applied to the chamber (102) to allow the viscous fluidic material to pass through the orifice (131) of the resilient valve and to be dispensed from the dispensing passageway as a string of the viscous fluidic material. The orifice (131) is open in the normal state. The valve is also configured to return from the dispensing state to the normal state upon cessation of the discharge pressure, whereby the resilient valve (120) assumes a pinching state while returning from the dispensing state to the normal state in which the string of the viscous fluidic material is pinched off by the orifice edge.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to skin care compositions comprising an effective amount of one or more hydrophilic vitamins and an effective amount of a low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid or an alkali metal hyaluronate (<avg. 75 kDa) (e.g., avg. 35-avg. 60 kDA) (e.g., about avg. 50 kDA), as well as to methods of using and of making these compositions.