1

Product analysis

TOOTH BRUSH

2

P.M.WICKRAMARACHCHI

102252 N

2ND YEAR

DEPARTEMENT OF INTEGRATED DESIGN

3

Context

1. Introduction

1.1Evolution of toothbrush

1.2Why People Need Toothbrush?

1.3Assessment of needs met by stakeholders

2. Function analysis

2.1. Human factors psychologically

2.2 Different types of toothbrushes in markets

2.3 Do everyone brush their teeth using a tooth brush (Sri Lanka)?

2.4 Brushing teeth

2.5. Bad toothbrush design and its failure

2.6 What is ergonomics?

2.6.1 The Right product with right ergonomics

Size.

Shape.

Bristles

Handle.

2.7. Degree of functionality

2.7.1 Frequency of brush

4

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1Evolution of toothbrush

Archeologists have documented oral hygiene tool use, dating back over 5000

years to the Egyptians. During excavations, they uncovered toothpicks, chew

sticks, tree twigs, linen strips, birds’ feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills, all

of which are hypothesized to have been used for cleaning teeth. In Muslim

societies, people maintained their teeth with twigs or roots that had antiseptic

qualities. In the seventeenth century, Europeans used rags or sponges dipped in

sulfur oil or a salt solution to rub their teeth clean. Currently, some 10 million

people in the Middle East and other parts of the world use toothpicks daily as their

primary tooth-cleaning mechanism.

The first mass-produced toothbrush is credited to William Addis, an Englishman,

in 1780. H.N. Wadsworth, an American, was granted the first toothbrush patent in

1850, but mass production was delayed until 1885.The first mass produced

toothbrush was comprised of a bone handle with holes drilled in it to accommodate

the Siberian Boar hair bristles. Unfortunately, boar hair wasn’t an ideal material. It

retained bacteria, didn’t release moisture quickly, and wouldn’t stay fixed in the

brush head.

Daily brushing didn’t become commonplace until after soldiers returned from

World War II. During the war, American soldiers had been required to brush their

teeth daily, a habi they retained when they returned home. In 1938, natural bristles

were replaced by DuPont nylon, still the bristle material of choice today.

5

At the very beginning the bristles were at the top of handling part .because they use

a rod to brush teeth.

6

History

The toothbrush as we know it today was not invented until 1938. However, early

forms of the toothbrush have been in existence since 3000 BC. Ancient civilizations

used a "chew stick," which was a thin twig with a frayed end. These 'chew sticks'

were rubbed against the teeth.

The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 in

China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a

hog's neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo.

Boar bristles were used until 1938, when nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont

de Nemours. The first nylon toothbrush was called Doctor West's Miracle

Toothbrush. Later, Americans were influenced by the disciplined hygiene habits of

soldiers from World War II. They became increasingly concerned with the practice

of good oral hygiene and quickly adopted the nylon toothbrush.

Some other interesting toothbrush facts:

The first mass-produced toothbrush was made by William Addis of

Clerkenwald, England, around 1780.

The first American to patent a toothbrush was H. N. Wadsworth, (patent

number 18,653,) on Nov. 7, 1857.

Mass production of toothbrushes began in America around 1885.

One of the first electric toothbrushes to hit the American market was in

1960. It was marketed by the Squibb company under the name

Broxodent.

7

1.2 Why People Need Toothbrush?

The toothbrush fills human’s concerns at many levels. Their needs are vary from

one person to another.

Dental health has a bearing on the health of the entire body and the better the

brush, the better the teeth and gums. But people’s oral problems are not satisfied

with the toothbrushes in the current market. So, designers have identified that the

current market has a need that can be fulfilled by them.

Self-actualization

Self-esteem Feel good about oneself

and be respected by others via appearance

Love / Belonging Be accepted, loved, and

belong(Brushing infrequently results in bad breath.)

Safety / Security Secure about overall health and that of one’s unborn

baby (Oral bacteria associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, birth of pre-term low birth

weight babies)

PhysiologicalEat without pain, be protected from microbial aggression (plaque

bacteria), maintain overall health

8

1.3Assessment of needs met by stakeholders

In order for the most useful of product to be manufactured, it must address the

needsof many stakeholders. In this case, the interested parties Creator /Designer,

Buyer, User

and recyclers/ reusers.

Need

Types

Creator

/Design

er

Buyer

User

Recover

er /

Reuser

Societ

al

-Visually

appealing

-Visually appealing

-Adds in maintaining

good oral hygiene

and overall health

-helps one feel good

about self and

respected by others

-Ads in maintaining good

oral hygiene and overall

health

-helps one feel good about

self and respected by

others

Enviro

nment

al

-Can

repurposed for

household or

automotive

cleaning,

extending its

usable life

Econo

mic

-Less

expensive

(copied

design,

-Typically receive

free

brush after semi

annual dental exam

-Helps avoid costly

dental procedures to

repair damage or

decay

-Can

repurpose

toothbrush

rather than

9

so have

shorter

development

process)

-Can be sold

for less or

parity, with

increased

margins

buying new

mini

scrub brush

2.FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

2.1. Human factors psychologically

Human factors psychology is a branch of experimental psychology often

associated with industrial/organizational psychology because it concentrates on

the interaction of people and product. Good human factors designers can design

a product convenient and easy to use, rather than frustrating and confusing.

Human Factors psychologists helped to identify problems in a design. They

attempted to designs that were clear and easy to use for humans.

How are Human Factors considerations relevant to manufacturers?

Good design can help the sales of any manufactured product, while poor design

can kill repeat sales and doom a product

10

2.2 Different types of toothbrushes in markets

There are many verities of tooth brush in the market with lots of brands, signal, oral

b, Clogard in srilanka

2.3 Do everyone brush their teeth using a tooth brush

In Srilankan context usually it is about less than 75% people who use a tooth brush

for brushing teeth. As a developing country we are not totally urbanized.in many

villages people use “ Dahati ”such as munamalpothu, bobu as well as organic

materials such as charcoal and many herbal things directly.

11

2.4 Brushing teeth

Here I have done a survey on hundred people taking randomly in my home town

area,Kotikawaththa (different age) and asked a question with answers. Here I have

chosen about 10 to 15 families. My question was

,

Why they brush teeth?

As a habit

It is not important to me.

It makes uncomfortable if I doesn’t brush

I always forgot it

To maintain a good health

Others are forcing me to do it (family)

When I analyze the answers, the summary is below,

When I go through this most of the people brush their teeth as a habbit. Most of the

people who said to maintain good health they are having tooth diseases and

brushing teeth

As a habit

It is not important to me

It makes uncomfortable if I doesn’t brush

I always forgot it

To maintain a good health

Others are forcing me to do it (family)

12

suffering from tooth ache. Children below year 7 most of them told mother is forcing

me to brush teeth..2 play full boy in age 11and a boy who study for A/L this year

said that I always forgot it. School children and working people do this mostly as a

habbit. Through this survey I realized that brushing teeth have a psychological

aspect more than physical aspects. This is really interesting because their answer

they given has a direct relationship with their psychology and behaviour.

Here I have asked other question, are you selecting specific brand/brands when

you select your tooth brush your own?

89 % said NO

11 % said YES

Still many people are not branding wise selecting the tooth brush; they are using it

as a product. and also people who go to brands they are really concern about the

oral care and they want to be look good. Still in Srilankan society it doesn’t use

tooth brush to so represent their social class. That’s why they don’t go for brands.

But the world wide the situation is really different.

using brands in toothbrush

no yes

13

2.5. Bad toothbrush design and its failure

Michael J. Darnell's web site, www.baddesigns.com. Visitors to the site are

invited to submit examples of bad product design.

In each case, a product would be more convenient if the designer had taken into

account the possibility or confusion or misunderstanding or inconvenience on the

part of the customer. For example, consider the "ergonomic toothbrush." A

correspondent wrote to the web site about it:

“This toothbrush comes in both right-handed and left-handed versions. It is

contoured to fit the hand and has a depression for the thumb. The idea is that

since you probably hold your toothbrush with the preferred hand, why not contour

it to make it comfortable to hold?

The problem with using this toothbrush is in holding it only one way. Ordinarily,

people will re-position the toothbrush in their hand as they change from brushing

one side of their mouth to the other, or in order to reach all the surfaces of their

teeth. The user of this toothbrush faces a dilemma: do I rotate my grip on the

handle and go against how the handle is shaped? For example, if the right-

handed toothbrush is held as intended, it is difficult to brush the right side of the

mouth. The wrist must be held at an awkward angle. If the handle is rotated in

the hand, it no longer conforms to the contour of hand."

14

References: ("Michael J. Darnell's web site, www.baddesigns.com, Ergonomic

toothbrush?", May 10, 1999)

This article said that how much it important to consider about ergonomics in a

product.

2.6 What is ergonomics?

It is the right size of the product, relating to a potential user. How much it makes

the user comfortable.

If you thought all toothbrushes were the same – think again. Over the past few

decades, the toothbrush has evolved into a complex dental care object. No

longer just a slim, straight stick with stiff nylon bristles – every component of the

toothbrush filling the slot atop your bathroom vanity has been carefully thought

out.

The quest to build a better toothbrush has manufacturers looking to ergonomics.

An ergonomic toothbrush is one that incorporates various angles, bristle shapes,

specialized grips and other features into a standard toothbrush design to make it

more comfortable and efficient. “Toothbrushes today are highly patented

because manufacturers keep working on design.

It makes sense that a toothbrush sporting fancy handles and oddly angled brush

heads could take the doldrums out of brushing. The abundance of toothbrush

choices means there’s probably a model to fit most any need.

2.6.1 The Right product with right ergonomics

There are tooth brushes like lollypop- array of colorful lining the dental care aisles in

drugstores and supermarkets that enough to make our head spin. But as designers

the goal is to improve dental health and encourage better brushing habits, have to

15

design a toothbrush that fits mouth and is comfortable to hold makes it more likely

user will brush better and longer.

Size.

When designing a tooth brush it should consider the toothbrush head that fits

comfortably in mouth and can adequately reach all areas including the back molars.

Most adults can comfortably accommodate a larger head, but children or adults with

small mouths may want to consider a compact head.so it should to design different

sizes for babies, children and adults. Adults who have small mouth shoul go for

children design. Because the size goes with the size of mouth.

Head needs,Different sizes and types suitable for the preferences of different

consumers (age, Oral problems) A supportive form for the arrangement of the

bristles, brushing techniques and reaching all the surfaces of the teeth A supportive

angle to support brushing techniques “oscillating-rotating”

Shape.

It is important to consider on shape of the tooth brush. Diamond shaped heads that

are narrower at the top allow easier access to back teeth. An angled head makes it

easier to clean along the gum line and prevents having to hold the toothbrush at an

awkward tilt.

16

Different forms tested to be the best form in touching all the tooth’s surfaces and

arrangement of bristles

Bristles

.it is good for using a soft-bristled brush to remove plaque. Soft bristles are just as

effective at removing plaque as harder bristles and are kinder to teeth and gums.

We should design unique shapes and patterns to conform to the alignment of user’s

teeth.

17

Bristles need, to be grouped in different angles in the same surface, moderate

lengths, a strong and smooth form for the tip, to signal the over usage by fading

Suitable designs

-Bristles in different length s and angles as to touch all the surfaces of a tooth

-Extra long bristles in the front and the middle to brush the sloped middle part of

a tooth and the gap between two teeth

- Smooth end-round bristles for the safety of gums and enamel

This is how the ORAL B toothbrush BRISTLES work more efficiency in brushing.

It is a good design with a high design value which can be considered in the current

market. They have used three types of bristles to get the maximum satisfaction and

efficiency people who more consider about their oral health.

1. “Crisscross” bristles

Proprietary, the unique “Crisscross” bristles are positioned in a perfect angle of 16°

to attack plaque from the right angle which is designed to attack plaque from the

perfect angle. In opposing directions and are designed to removes more plaque

once and sweep away the lifted. Flex and then straighten, actively penetrating

brush between the teeth where plaque builds up easily and along the gum line

to lift out and sweep away plaque. Removes up to 90% of plaque with perfectly

angled “CrissCross” bristles.

18

2.“Power Tip” bristles

Specially designed “Power Tip” bristles are Multi-section elevated extra long to help

clean hard-to-reach places Positioned at the front of the brush head wrap around

teeth and help to brush hard-to-reach areas.

3.”Indicator” bristles

Blue in colour

fade halfway to signal that it is time to replace the brush head.It’s placed between

two long group of bristles on the sides of the brush where it’s been functioned in

every time while brushing.

19

4.Carefully polished end-round bristles

Are gentle on enamel and gums to prevent bleeding after brushing and to protect

the enamel gets cracked on hard pressure

Handle.

Handle should be long enough to reach all areas of consumer’s mouth and feels

comfortable in their hand. Children and those who have difficulty with fine motor

movement may find toothbrushes with larger handles easier to use. Other features

available on ergonomic models include thumb and fore finger grips, rubber ridges

and contours in the handle that make it easier to both grip and control. Handle is

the most important part of the tooth brush. There we put the whole weight or force

from our body to brush. And it is the part we use to store the tooth brush.

20

Handle needs,

-A perfect form suiting for the human palm and fingers and supports the handling

styles of a brush

-A supportive form of suiting current toothbrush storing methods

-A flexible form and it should support the forces created while brushing

-An angle easy to reach all the teeth

-A grip.

Flexible and angled forms suitable for reaching all tooth surfaces

A wide, ergonomically designed handle by a designer should

fits comfortably in the hand

Fulfills angles and techniques of brushing

Ergonomically some are designed rubber grip of the handle, features front and back

thumb stops for firmer grip and extra control offering a secure grip to maneuver the

brush with precision.

21

Handling styles and grips

Storing

How to brush teeth

22

2.7. Degree of functionality

2.7.1 Frequency of brush

When I asked ask this question that how many times do you need to brush out

teeth. It should be individualized on basis of

Rate of plaque formation

Caries risk

Gum diseases

But the common answer was brushing twice a day, once at bed time and once in

the morning is recommended.

relative to how often teeth are brushed each day

Less than ones a day 1%

Once a day 30%

Twice a day 64%

More than twice a day 5%

Frequency in using a tooth brush for a day

23

Most people brush for only about time of two minutes and usually people use one

brush about two or three months. It depends on people.some people change their

brush when it become like situation anyhow they can’t use them.

Brushing teeth is one of the speed activities we are doing. Some time we are

brushing 50-100 times for minutes. This depends with the situation, age,

consideration on health. This activity also takes the human attention in a high

amount when brushing teeth in conscious. And the energy release is comparatively

high comparing other activies.

0 6 12 18 24

use

age

time

number of usage

24

25