US 2004O175334A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0175334 A1 MacKinnon (43) Pub. Date: Sep. 9, 2004

(54) ENCAPSULATED DENTIFRICE AND (52) U.S. Cl...... 424/58; 433/217.1 METHOD OF USE (76) Inventor: Carol L. MacKinnon, Woodland, CA (US) (57) ABSTRACT

Correspondence Address: X - 0 DANIEL P. MAGUIRE A Single use capsule containing dentifrice is disclosed. It 423 EST. includes toothpaste or other dentifrice enclosed in a shell or DAVIS, CA 95616 (US) coating. The dentifrice may include miswak fibers, which acts as a natural brush, therefore obviating the need for a (21) Appl. No.: 10/382,779 traditional brush. The coating may include choline and (22) Filed: Mar. 6, 2003 albumin. In use, a capsule is placed in the mouth, burst with the teeth, and then distributed throughout the mouth with the Publication Classification tongue. The teeth can then be brushed with a traditional brush, or the tongue can rub the miswak fibers over the teeth (51) Int. Cl." ...... A61K 7/16; A61K 7/26 in lieu of using a brush. Patent Application Publication Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 1 of 2 US 2004/0175334 A1

Patent Application Publication Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 2 of 2 US 2004/0175334 A1

US 2004/0175334 A1 Sep. 9, 2004

ENCAPSULATED DENTIFRICE AND METHOD OF 0013 FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an encapsulated den USE tifrice according to the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FG, 2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0014 FIG. 4 shows a rotating top dispenser holding 0001) 1. Field of the Invention encapsulated dentifrice units according to an embodiment of the present invention. 0002 This invention relates to products for promoting oral hygiene. 0015 FIG. 5 is a top view of the rotating top container of FIG. 4. 0003 2. General Background 0016 FIG. 6 shows a flip-top container holding encap 0004 Proper tooth brushing is essential for good dental Sulated dentifrice units according to an embodiment of the health, but traditional tooth brushing techniques and prod present invention. ucts make if difficult to effectively clean the teeth. 0017 FIG. 7 shows a spring-loaded dispenser holding 0005 First, many people do not spend enough time encapsulated dentifrice units according to an embodiment of cleaning their teeth. Most dentists Suggest brushing for two the present invention. to four minutes, but Studies indicate that many people only brush for 30 seconds or less. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 0006 Additionally, the traditional method of toothpaste 0018. The present invention is dentifrice or toothpaste 10 application-placing the toothpaste on a brush and then encapsulated in a non-toxic Shell or coating 20 to form a putting the brush on the teeth-often results in uneven capsule 30. See FIGS. 1-3. The dentifrice 10 may be any distribution of toothpaste around the mouth. The first area to toothpaste or other Standard dentifrice. It may include a be brushed typically gets too much toothpaste, and areas foaming agent, gelatin to help Solidify the paste, whitening brushed later get too little. The portions that get too much agents, baking Soda, as well as traditional detergents. It also toothpaste often experience unhealthy enamel wear, while may include Sweetening and flavoring agents, including the portions that receive too little are not effectively cleaned. honey and cinnamon powder. Additionally, it may include 0007 Also, traditional toothpaste containers are poten fluoride. tially wasteful, in that significant amounts of plastic and 0019. The dentifrice 10 may also include miswak fibers. other materials must be used to hold a relatively small Miswak is the root of the arak tree, which grows in Saudi amount of toothpaste. Additionally, children are often reluc Arabia, Sudan, Southern Egypt, Chad, and parts of India. tant to brush their teeth, and it would be desirable to make Miswak has natural antiseptics, and it contains tannic acid, tooth brushing more entertaining for them. which has astringent qualities that protect the gums from 0008 Finally, toothbrushing obviously requires a brush, disease. but travelers and others often forget or misplace their 0020. The miswak fibers also can act as a type of brush, brushes, resulting in the vain attempt to brush the teeth with rubbing and cleaning the teeth. The fibers can be circulated one's finger. throughout the mouth by the tongue, with the tiny miswak 0009. Therefore, there is a need for a dentifrice and fibers replacing a traditional brush. The miswak fibers also dentifrice delivery method that makes it easier to brush can help freshen the breath and whiten the teeth. one's teething for a Sufficient amount of time, that facilities 0021. The dentifrice 10 is covered with a thin coating or uniform application of toothpaste throughout the mouth, and shell 20 to form a capsule 30. See FIG. 3. The shell 20 can that can be used with or without a toothbrush. be made of any number of nontoxic, biocompatible Sub stances. In one embodiment, the coating or shell 20 would SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION include choline, which also has nutritional benefits. The shell also may include egg whites, which contain the nutri 0.010 The present invention comprises a pre-measured tious protein albumin. The egg whites form a colloidal amount of toothpaste encapsulated in a thin coating. The Solution when mixed with water, and therefore can be coating will dissolve or break in the user's mouth, thereby dispersed throughout the shell 20. Thus, in addition to releasing the toothpaste for distribution throughout the encapsulating the toothpaste, the shell 20 can also provide mouth by the tongue or a toothbrush. The toothpaste may nutritional benefits through the incorporation of choline and contain finely ground fibers of miswak, and these fibers, albumin. The shell 20 could also include gelatin, or a when circulated throughout the mouth by the tongue, will act number of other conventional coatings that can be burst with as tiny brushes. Therefore, the product can be used without the teeth or be dissolved with the saliva. a toothbrush. 0022. The capsules 30 can take a number of shapes and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS size, and in one embodiment it can be oval-shaped. See FIG. 2. The capsules should be sized to be large enough to contain 0.011 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a human subject a sufficient amount of toothpaste 10, but small enough to be biting into an encapsulated dentifrice according to an easily inserted in the mouth. In one embodiment, each embodiment of the present invention. capsule would have a diameter of approximately, but not 0012 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an encapsulated greater than, 0.5 inch. dentifrice according to an embodiment of the present inven 0023 The capsules 30 can be dispensed from a number of tion. different types of containers. In one container, as shown in US 2004/0175334 A1 Sep. 9, 2004

FIGS. 4 and 5, the top can rotate to reveal an opening large 0032. Seventh, the present invention reduces the time enough to dispense a Single dentifrice unit. In another needed for tooth cleaning, which makes it valuable for embodiment, the container could have a flip-top (see FIG. 6) time-Starved consumers. Not only does the present invention for dispensing the capsules 30. In still another embodiment, increase the Speed at which all busy individuals can com the capsules 30 could be dispensed one at a time from a plete the “chore” of tooth brushing, but on those occasions “Pez' type spring loaded dispenser. See FIG. 7. when time is limited for traditional brushing, the miswak 0024. In use, a capsule 30 could be taken from a dis fibers of the present invention can continue the cleaning penser, and put into the mouth. The coating 20 would then process after the traditional brushing has ended. be broken with the teeth (see FIG. 1), and the toothpaste 10 0033) One skilled in the art will appreciate that the could be distributed throughout the mouth using the tongue present invention can be practiced by other than the pre or a toothbrush. It would be preferable to distribute the ferred embodiments, which are presented for purposes of toothpaste 10 throughout the mouth before brushing begins, illustration and not of limitation. to achieve uniform distribution. I claim: 0.025 If no toothbrush is available, the tongue and mis 1) A capsule, comprising: wak fibers can act as a brush. a non-toxic Shell defining a Volume; and 0026. The present invention has a number of advantages dentifrice inside Said Volume, Said dentifrice comprising over the prior art. First, it is easier to use than the very basic miswak fibers. traditional method, which requires the user to unscrew or 2) The capsule according to claim 1, wherein Said shell open the toothpaste tube, put the toothpaste on the brush, put comprises choline. the brush in the mouth, and then rescrew the tube. By 3) The capsule according to claim 1, wherein Said shell contrast, with the present invention, the user only needs to comprises gelatin pop the capsule in his/her mouth. This feature of the present 4) A method of cleaning teeth, comprising: invention makes it especially valuable for children, the disabled, and/or older individuals who may have difficulty providing a capsule comprising unscrewing a toothpaste tube or putting toothpaste on the a non-toxic shell defining a volume, and brush. dentifrice inside Said volume, Said dentifrice compris 0.027 Second, the present invention helps avoid unnec ing miswak fibers, essary waste, Since the "packaging for the toothpaste can Simply be the coating. placing Said capsule in the mouth; releasing the dentifrice from Said capsule; 0028. Third, the present invention is convenient for trav elers and others who may only need a Small amount of distributing the dentifrice around Said teeth; toothpaste. Instead of taking an entire tube, a user can simply cleaning the teeth with Said dentifrice. take the number of capsules that he/she will need. 5) The method of claim 4, wherein said cleaning is 0029. Fourth, the present invention should make it easier accomplished using a toothbrush. to achieve uniform distribution of toothpaste, because the 6) The method of claim 4, wherein said cleaning is toothpaste can be distributed before the actual brushing accomplished without using a toothbrush. begins. Indeed, Since most people Start brushing with the 7) The method of claim 4, wherein said releasing the front of their mouth, those teeth get the most (and Sometimes dentifrice comprises bursting the capsule with the teeth. too much) toothpaste, while the back teeth get too little. With 8) A dentifrice container, comprising: the present invention, the back teeth will get Sufficient a container; toothpaste, Since most people will burst the capsule with their back teeth. a capsule inside Said container, Said capsule comprising a non-toxic shell defining a volume, and 0030 Fifth, the present invention may encourage indi viduals to brush longer, Since they will need to spend leSS dentifrice inside Said volume, Said dentifrice compris time getting ready to brush and therefore will have more ing miswak fibers. time for actual brushing. 9) The container according to claim 8, wherein said container has flip-top opening for dispensing Said capsules. 0.031 Sixth, the present invention may make toothbrush 10) The container according to claim 9, wherein said ing more enjoyable for children, because of the novelty and container can hold capsules in a Stack, Said Stack having a fun in popping a capsule in one's mouth and bursting it. Of bottom, and wherein Said container comprises a Spring course, appropriate flavoring and novel marketing tools can mechanism at the bottom of Said Stack. be used to create Specialized encapsulated toothpaste for Small children. k k k k k