AUTOMATED DENTAL CLEANER

摘要

An automated dental cleaner (320) comprises a subassembly (324) having a pair of pivotally supported spaced tines (336) for supporting a movable floss span (338) therebetween. A pair of capstans (346, 352) are provided for drivingly reciprocating the floss span. Floss supply and take-up spools (340, 342) are arranged for continuously replacing the span. A main assembly (322) includes a housing containing a motor-driven multi-function transmission for driving the capstans and take-up spool, and for reciprocating the tines vertically. The main assembly and the subassembly are detachably connectable to each other for expedient replacement of the subassembly by a user. An additional feature on each tine includes a bracing pad (424) shaped for bracing the fork on teeth and gums. Further included is a flosser head (516), detachably connectable to a motorized toothbrush driver (512). A fork portion (520) of the head includes a pair of spaced tines (524) for supporting a movable floss span (522) therebetween. Floss supply and take-up spools (530, 532) are rotatably mounted to the head for replacing the span. A bite device for dental flossers includes a bite member (710) having a bite surface (721) on one side and a stop guard (724) on an opposite side. The bite member is movably supported between the fork tines such that the member and the fork can move up and down relative to each other. The member is connected to the fork such that a user biting on the bite surface can drive the floss span through a tight interdental gap wherein the stop guard engages a user tooth adjacent the floss span to prevent over-travel of the span thereby preventing floss impact against user gums.