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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
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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.
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At the very beginning the bristles were at the top of handling part .because they use
a rod to brush teeth.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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)
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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
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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."
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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