Abstract: A dental floss dispensing unit includes a housing, a supply spool, and a metering element. The supply spool is coupled to the housing and has a length of floss wound thereabout. The length of floss has a free end extending from the housing and a plurality of alternating and distinct first and second floss segments. The metering element engages the length of floss and provides resistance to removal of the length of floss from the housing. A magnitude of the resistance changes as each floss segment moves into engagement with the metering element, thereby providing a tactilely detectable indication to the user that one of the first or second segments is emerging from the housing. The dispensing unit is configured to allow the supply spool to be manually rotated without manipulation (e.g., disassembly) of the housing for rewinding floss onto the spool.

Abstract: An oral care device having a handle, a neck, and a pair of curved arms. The handle includes an enlarged distal end and a reduced proximal end, and a pair of downwardly-extending handle walls. The handle walls are spaced at their upper ends and converge with and join one another at their lower ends to define a substantially V-shaped cross-section and an upwardly-opening blind cavity. A neck extends distally from the handle and defines a tongue portion that is recessed relative to a top surface. A pair of curved arms extend distally and downwardly from the neck. When substantially identical oral care devices are stacked one upon the other, the upwardly-opening blind cavity of one oral care device nestingly receives the downwardly-extending handle walls of another oral care device.

Abstract: A dental floss dispensing unit includes a housing, a supply spool, and a metering element. The supply spool is coupled to the housing and has a length of floss wound thereabout. The length of floss has a free end extending from the housing and a plurality of alternating and distinct first and second floss segments. The metering element engages the length of floss and provides resistance to removal of the length of floss from the housing. A magnitude of the resistance changes as each floss segment moves into engagement with the metering element, thereby providing a tactilely detectable indication to the user that one of the first or second segments is emerging from the housing. The dispensing unit is configured to allow the supply spool to be manually rotated without manipulation (e.g., disassembly) of the housing for rewinding floss onto the spool.

Abstract: The invention provides a toothbrush having a handle portion defining a longitudinal axis, a head portion coupled to the handle portion having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, a light source disposed within at least one of the handle portion and the head portion, and a base portion including a suction cup configured to removably adhere to a support surface, wherein the suction cup includes an actuator configured to actuate the light source.

Abstract: An oral care device having a handle, a neck, and a pair of curved arms. The handle includes an enlarged distal end and a reduced proximal end, and a pair of downwardly-extending handle walls. The handle walls are spaced at their upper ends and converge with and join one another at their lower ends to define a substantially V-shaped cross-section and an upwardly-opening blind cavity. A neck extends distally from the handle and defines a tongue portion that is recessed relative to a top surface. A pair of curved arms extend distally and downwardly from the neck. When substantially identical oral care devices are stacked one upon the other, the upwardly-opening blind cavity of one oral care device nestingly receives the downwardly-extending handle walls of another oral care device.

Abstract: The invention provides a toothbrush having a handle portion defining a longitudinal axis, a head portion coupled to the handle portion having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, a light source disposed within at least one of the handle portion and the head portion, and a base portion including a suction cup configured to removably adhere to a support surface, wherein the suction cup includes an actuator configured to actuate the light source.

Abstract: A manual advance floss holder which is simple and inexpensive to construct, comfortable to grasp, convenient to use in one hand and presents floss for flossing under uniform and proper tension while protecting the supply of unused floss from contamination including a body with a fork located at its distal end, a floss control mechanism within the body of the manual advance floss holder, a floss control mechanism including supply and take-up reels and means for advancing the floss therebetween under tension, and different compartments within the body for isolating spent and fresh floss.