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: A tooth sensitivity treatment device and an applicator tip thereof. The tooth sensitivity treatment device may be configured to dispense a sensitivity formulation onto a user's teeth. The tooth sensitivity treatment device may further be configured to massage the sensitivity formulation onto the user's teeth after dispensing. The applicator may have a bottom end, a top end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The applicator may include an application portion that is not intersected by the longitudinal axis. The application portion may have an outer surface that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The applicator may include a resilient material component and a rigid material component that are integrally coupled together. The resilient material component may form the entirety of the application portion to increase flexibility while massaging the sensitivity formulation onto the user's teeth.

Abstract: An oral care implement for dispensing an oral care agent includes a housing, reservoir therein containing an oral care fluid, and an electrical circuit comprising first and second electrodes connected to an onboard power source. Each electrode is in contact with the oral care fluid in the housing. An actuator, operably coupled to the power source, is configured to both selectively energize the circuit and activate dispensing of the oral care fluid. An electrical charge is applied to the oral care fluid by activating the actuator when dispensing the oral care fluid. When the fluid comprises a peroxide based tooth whitening agent, the dispensed fluid pH is increased by the electrical charge which improves the efficacy of the whitener. In one embodiment, the implement is a modular system including a powered base unit and one or more interchangeable cartridges each having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid.

Abstract: An oral care implement that dispenses an oral care agent during use and a method of assembling such an oral care implement. The method may include contacting a suction tool to a supporting member and then contacting the supporting member to a dissolvable element to form a sub-assembly. Next, the sub-assembly may be inserted into a cavity of a head portion of an oral care implement. Then, the suction force applied by the suction tool onto the sub-assembly may be released to leave the sub-assembly in the cavity of the head portion. Finally, an oral cleaning member may be coupled to the head portion of the oral care implement.

Abstract: A method of priming an applicator of a personal care implement with a fluid. The method may include flowing a fluid along a first capillary member from a reservoir of a fluid supply system to an applicator of a personal care implement along a first fluid flow path, and flowing the fluid along a second capillary member from the reservoir of the fluid supply system to the applicator of the personal care implement along a second fluid flow path that is distinct from the first flow path. In one aspect, the fluid flowing along the second fluid flow path reaches the applicator before the fluid flowing along the first fluid flow path. In another aspect, the first capillary member is formed of a non-absorbent material and the second capillary member is formed of an absorbent material.

Abstract: A method of whitening teeth. The method may include delivering a buffer solution from a reservoir of a toothbrush to one or more tooth cleaning elements of the toothbrush; applying a toothpaste containing a peroxide to the tooth cleaning elements, the toothpaste having a first pH; and brushing the teeth with the tooth cleaning elements, thereby mixing the buffer solution and the toothpaste to form, at surfaces of the teeth, a tooth whitening mixture having a second pH that is greater than the first pH.

Abstract: A method of priming an applicator of a personal care implement with a fluid. The method may include flowing a fluid along a first capillary member from a reservoir of a fluid supply system to an applicator of a personal care implement along a first fluid flow path, and flowing the fluid along a second capillary member from the reservoir of the fluid supply system to the applicator of the personal care implement along a second fluid flow path that is distinct from the first flow path. In one aspect, the fluid flowing along the second fluid flow path reaches the applicator before the fluid flowing along the first fluid flow path. In another aspect, the first capillary member is formed of a non-absorbent material and the second capillary member is formed of an absorbent material.

Abstract: An oral cavity treatment device including a power component and a tray component that are detachably coupled together. The power component may include a housing having a cavity and a power source located therein. The tray component may include a tooth receiving channel and may have a first electrode and a second electrode located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel. The tray component may be detachably coupled to the power component in: (1) a first configuration whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to a positive terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to a negative terminal of the power source; and (2) a second configuration whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source.

Abstract: A personal care system or fluid supply system with components specifically designed and arranged to speed up the process of initially priming an applicator of the personal care system with a fluid. The personal care system may include a personal care implement having an applicator and a fluid supply system disposed within the personal care implement. The fluid supply system may include multiple reservoirs, both filled with a fluid, and one of which has an absorbent member disposed therein. A first capillary member may extend from one of the reservoirs to the applicator and a second capillary member may extend from the reservoir with the absorbent member therein to the applicator. The fluid may travel faster along the second capillary member to speed up the priming process.

Abstract: An oral care implement for dispensing an oral care agent includes a housing, reservoir therein containing an oral care fluid, and an electrical circuit comprising first and second electrodes connected to an onboard power source. Each electrode is in contact with the oral care fluid in the housing. An actuator, operably coupled to the power source, is configured to both selectively energize the circuit and activate dispensing of the oral care fluid. An electrical charge is applied to the oral care fluid by activating the actuator when dispensing the oral care fluid. When the fluid comprises a peroxide based tooth whitening agent, the dispensed fluid pH is increased by the electrical charge which improves the efficacy of the whitener. In one embodiment, the implement is a modular system including a powered base unit and one or more interchangeable cartridges each having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid.

Abstract: An oral care implement for dispensing an oral care agent includes a housing, reservoir therein containing an oral care fluid, and an electrical circuit comprising first and second electrodes connected to an onboard power source. Each electrode is in contact with the oral care fluid in the housing. An actuator, operably coupled to the power source, is configured to both selectively energize the circuit and activate dispensing of the oral care fluid. An electrical charge is applied to the oral care fluid by activating the actuator when dispensing the oral care fluid. When the fluid comprises a peroxide based tooth whitening agent, the dispensed fluid pH is increased by the electrical charge which improves the efficacy of the whitener. In one embodiment, the implement is a modular system including a powered base unit and one or more interchangeable cartridges each having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid.

Abstract: An oral care implement that dispenses an oral care agent during use and a method of assembling such an oral care implement. The method may include contacting a suction tool to a supporting member and then contacting the supporting member to a dissolvable element to form a sub-assembly. Next, the sub-assembly may be inserted into a cavity of a head portion of an oral care implement. Then, the suction force applied by the suction tool onto the sub-assembly may be released to leave the sub-assembly in the cavity of the head portion. Finally, an oral cleaning member may be coupled to the head portion of the oral care implement.

Abstract: An oral care implement for dispensing an oral care agent includes a housing, reservoir therein containing an oral care fluid, and an electrical circuit comprising first and second electrodes connected to an onboard power source. Each electrode is in contact with the oral care fluid in the housing. An actuator, operably coupled to the power source, is configured to both selectively energize the circuit and activate dispensing of the oral care fluid. An electrical charge is applied to the oral care fluid by activating the actuator when dispensing the oral care fluid. When the fluid comprises a peroxide based tooth whitening agent, the dispensed fluid pH is increased by the electrical charge which improves the efficacy of the whitener. In one embodiment, the implement is a modular system including a powered base unit and one or more interchangeable cartridges each having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid.

Abstract: A personal care system or fluid supply system with components specifically designed and arranged to speed up the process of initially priming an applicator of the personal care system with a fluid. The personal care system may include a personal care implement having an applicator and a fluid supply system disposed within the personal care implement. The fluid supply system may include multiple reservoirs, both filled with a fluid, and one of which has an absorbent member disposed therein. A first capillary member may extend from one of the reservoirs to the applicator and a second capillary member may extend from the reservoir with the absorbent member therein to the applicator. The fluid may travel faster along the second capillary member to speed up the priming process.

Abstract: An oral care implement that dispenses an oral care agent during use and a method of assembling such an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a body having a head portion. The head portion may have a cavity with an open end. There may be at least one opening extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the head portion. A dissolvable element that includes an oral care agent may be positioned in the cavity. Furthermore, a supporting member may be positioned in the cavity. The supporting member may include a first coupling feature that couples the supporting member to the dissolvable element. Finally, an oral cleaning member may be coupled to the head portion to close the open end of the cavity.

Abstract: An oral cavity treatment device including a power component and a tray component that are detachably coupled together. The power component may include a housing having a cavity and a power source located therein. The tray component may include a tooth receiving channel and may have a first electrode and a second electrode located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel. The tray component may be detachably coupled to the power component in: (1) a first configuration whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to a positive terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to a negative terminal of the power source; and (2) a second configuration whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source.

Abstract: An oral care implement that dispenses an oral care agent during use and a method of assembling such an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a body having a head portion. The head portion may have a cavity with an open end. There may be at least one opening extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the head portion. A dissolvable element that includes an oral care agent may be positioned in the cavity. Furthermore, a supporting member may be positioned in the cavity. The supporting member may include a first coupling feature that couples the supporting member to the dissolvable element. Finally, an oral cleaning member may be coupled to the head portion to close the open end of the cavity.

Abstract: A method of sanitizing a toothbrush. The method may include delivering a sanitizing fluid from a reservoir of a toothbrush that comprises a store of the sanitizing fluid to bristle tufts of the toothbrush solely via capillary action, wherein each of the bristle tufts comprises a plurality of bristle filaments so that the sanitizing fluid wicks upwardly along the bristle tufts within spaces between the bristle filaments to sanitize the bristle filaments.

Abstract: An oral care implement for dispensing an oral care agent includes a housing, reservoir therein containing an oral care fluid, and an electrical circuit comprising first and second electrodes connected to an onboard power source. Each electrode is in contact with the oral care fluid in the housing. An actuator, operably coupled to the power source, is configured to both selectively energize the circuit and activate dispensing of the oral care fluid. An electrical charge is applied to the oral care fluid by activating the actuator when dispensing the oral care fluid. When the fluid comprises a peroxide based tooth whitening agent, the dispensed fluid pH is increased by the electrical charge which improves the efficacy of the whitener. In one embodiment, the implement is a modular system including a powered base unit and one or more interchangeable cartridges each having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid.

Abstract: An oral care implement for dispensing an oral care agent includes a housing, reservoir therein containing an oral care fluid, and an electrical circuit comprising first and second electrodes connected to an onboard power source. Each electrode is in contact with the oral care fluid in the housing. An actuator, operably coupled to the power source, is configured to both selectively energize the circuit and activate dispensing of the oral care fluid. An electrical charge is applied to the oral care fluid by activating the actuator when dispensing the oral care fluid. When the fluid comprises a peroxide based tooth whitening agent, the dispensed fluid pH is increased by the electrical charge which improves the efficacy of the whitener. In one embodiment, the implement is a modular system including a powered base unit and one or more interchangeable cartridges each having a reservoir containing an oral care fluid.