US20110162155A1

US20110162155A1 - Germicidal UV-C Toothbrush Method and Apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20110162155A1
Application number: US12/651,449
Authority: US
Inventors: King C. Wai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-01
Filing date: 2010-01-01
Publication date: 2011-07-07

Abstract

A toothbrush for providing germicidal UV-C radiation to a users mouth. The tooth brush has a main body portion arranged along a longitudinally aligned axis. The main body portion includes a power source, a controller board, a power switch mechanism; and is interoperability attached to a longitudinally aligned neck/head portion. The longitudinally aligned neck/head portion has a replaceable/detachable brush head and a medial neck portion. The neck/head portion further includes a neck cavity for operably receiving a germicidal UV-C lamp. The germicidal UV-C lamp is arranged along a longitudinally aligned axis to provide ultraviolet radiation in 360° radiating illumination about the longitudinally aligned axis. The germicidal UV-C lamp provides ultraviolet radiation between the range of about just less than 100 nm to about just greater than 280 nm. The replaceable/detachable brush head includes a transparent base and a plurality of vertically aligned bristles. The germicidal UV-C lamp receives power from the power source and radiates the ultraviolet radiation through the transparent base of the brush head to provide germicidal disinfection of the replaceable/detachable brush head, and to provide whitening of the users teeth and germicidal disinfection of the users mouth.

Description

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,270 discloses a light emitting toothbrush for oral phototherapy where oral phototherapy applicators are disclosed that are sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user's mouth with a plurality of bristles of elongated shape coupled to an apparatus body. The applicators can be adapted to brush the user's teeth and further include at least one radiation admitter coupled to the body to provide photo therapeutic radiation to a portion of the oral cavity other than tissue in contact with the bristles.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,122 discloses a reciprocating germicidal toothbrush and system which includes a head with perpendicularly aligned bristles made of optical fiber capable of transmitting germicidal ultraviolet light. The toothbrush includes a main optical fiber that extends longitudinally inside a handle and terminates inside a brush head cavity. The distal end of the main optical fiber includes a sloped surface so that coherent ultraviolet light may be emitted at a critical angle so that it enters the ends of the bristles and then travels longitudinally therein to the surrounding teeth and gum surfaces. The ends of the bristles are coupled to a metal bar that connects to connecting rod. The connecting rod is coupled to an internal electric motor that causes the bristles to reciprocate back and forth on the head.
As can be seen in column 2 around line 54 “located inside the headpieces is a longitudinally aligned main optical fiber that extends from one end of the hand piece and terminates inside the cavity formed in the head. The distal end of the main optical fiber is positioned inside the cavity and is sloped so that the ultraviolet and near infrared light emitted from the distal end (of the optical fiber) at a critical angle capable of entering the flat, perpendicularly aligned proximal ends of the bristles that extends into the cavity.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,961 discloses a light emitting toothbrush which includes three light emitting diodes, each having a different primary color. The batteries provide a power source, and a control circuit is used to control the diodes. Thy control circuit is configured to sequentially or simultaneously power some or all the diodes, and it can be configured to vary the power to each diode, thereby providing an almost infinite spectrum of colors of light. A package is provided that allows a potential purchaser to apply a force to the toothbrush head and activate the lights while the toothbrush is still in the package. Referring to column 6 around line 31 “the light sources which comprise three light emitting diodes are disposed adjacent to each other. The LEDs are integrated into the control circuit which has power leads to connect to the battery. Although three LEDs are used in this embodiment, fewer than three or more than three may be used as desired.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,397 discloses an enhanced dental hygiene system with direct UVA photo excitation, where the device delivers UVA light to the mouth in which a photocatalytic agent is distributed in the mouth and a UVA light source is located contiguously to the head of the device so that the photocatalytic agent is distributed in the mouth, is efficiently activated by UVA light produced by the device. The UVA light delivery device of the invention may be, inter alia, toothbrush, tongue scraper, and interdental toothbrush, denture brush . . . referring to the summary the invention section in column 2 around line 28 “the UVA light source is located contiguous to the head of the device which makes it possible to move the source of the UVA light into close proximity with or to the location to which the UV light is intended to be applied, the photo catalyst deposited on the teeth, guns, tongue, and other structures found in mouth. This delivery of the UVA light directly to the photo catalyst avoids the atinuation experienced in delivering UVA light in directly as by way of an optical fiber associated with a remote UVA light source.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,771 discloses a toothbrush head with means to direct and collect radiation. The toothbrush head is suitable to direct incident radiation toward a surface of a tooth and collect emitted radiation from the surface of the tooth, being made at least in past of a material which is transparent to the incident and/or emitted radiation. Referring to column 2 around line 22 “the material is transparent to the incident and/or emitted radiation should be transparent to incident radiation of the wavelength range of 400 to 520 nm, . . . and to emitted radiation in the wavelength range above circa 520 nm . . . suitable transparent materials include transparent plastic materials, such as PMMA, PA, polycarbonates (PC) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) . . . and other known transparent plastics.”
Further in column 2 around line 46 “generally it is preferred to locate the means to generate incident radiation and/or the means to associate this emitted radiation with the presence of biological deposits on the tooth within the handle of the toothbrush. These means will generally comprise electrical systems e.g., a light emitter and detector and associated electronics. Such a location in the handle is also convenient if the toothbrush is an electrical toothbrush, i.e. having electrical drive means to move the cleaning bristles in a tooth cleaning operation. Generally if the means to generate incident radiation is located in the handle of the toothbrush, this incident radiation will initially be directed through the head in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,272 discloses a light emitting toothbrush and method of whitening teeth which has a head with a plurality of bristles affixed to the head and a handle attachably affixed to the second side of the head. A light guide has a first end disposed within the head and a second end disposed within the handle, and the light source is optically coupled to the second end of the light guide. The light source emits light having a spectrum range from about 350 nm to about 700 nm. Light from the light source entering the light guide is guided to the first end of the light guide and out the first side of the head.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,400 discloses a cleaning system using ultraviolet radiation and photoactivitable semi conductor material where the cleaning system has a cleaning tool with a working region and a UV light source, where UV radiation emerges from the tool in the working region, and a cleaning agent which contains a photoactivitable semiconductor material. The UV radiation is fed directly into the photoactivitable semi conductor material in the working region via a light guide device. Referring to column 4 around line 9 “the toothbrush has a handle in which a UV light source is arranged. The UV light source generates UV radiation with a wavelength in the range of 320 to 400 nm. This UV radiation is guided to the brush head via a light guide device arranged in the stem. A reflector is additionally provided which directs the UV radiation into the entrance of the light guide device.
The UV light source can be activated via a switch. The switch is arranged in a current path between the UV light source and batteries which are likewise located in handle of the toothbrush. The light guide device has number of light guiding fibers which may be used at the same time as a bristle material. A suitable plastic for this purpose is for example polyacromolide. This plastic, on the one hand, is capable of guiding UV light in the specified wavelength range. On the other hand, however, it is also sufficiently stable to be capable of functioning as toothbrush bristle.”
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,173 discloses an illuminated brush device which has a head, a handle associated with the head, a light source in the handle, and a source for energizing the light source. The brush device also includes a plurality of plastic filaments each having one end position disposed in the handle and adjacent the light source and the other end position disposed in and through the head so that the light from the light source is transmitted through the plurality of plastic filaments and lights the other end of each filament. There may also be provided a magnification member which directs the beam of light into one end portion of the plurality of plastic filaments, as it intensifies the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the toothbrush;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional elevational view of the toothbrush;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the toothbrush system;

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of the toothbrush neck/head portion;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart view of the method to provide germicidal UV radiation through a toothbrush.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Generally speaking what is provided is a germicidal UV toothbrush. The germicidal UV toothbrush provides for disinfecting of the brush head of the toothbrush as well as disinfecting of the oral cavity of the individual using the toothbrush.
The germicidal UV-C toothbrush 10 as can be seen in FIG. 1, is configured to provide power through a controller to a germicidal UV lamp or tube located within the neck portion of the brush. The germicidal UV-C tube emits ultraviolet radiation within the 100 nm to the 280 nm range. The ultraviolet radiation travels through a transparent mirror as well as the brush head and into the oral cavity of the individual using it.
A more detailed discussion of the main components of the germicidal UV-C toothbrush 10 will now be provided. The toothbrush 10 is arranged along a longitudinal axis 104, which is part of a axial system 100 and includes a transverse axis 106 and a vertical axis 102. The toothbrush 10 includes a housing 12 which is a semi-cylindrical main body housing and has in the aft end 50 a power source 28 which includes in this particular embodiment two Triple-A alkaline batteries. A base portion 32 acts as a battery cover which has a seal O-ring 30 for preventing entrainment of fluids or liquids into the power source area. The power source is engaged through the use of on/off button's 34 which actuate a switch 26. The switch 26 interoperates with a programmable control board and rack 24 housed within the main cylindrical body 12. As previously discussed, the germicidal UV tube 14 is designed in one embodiment to be maintained within the neck and head portion 15 of the brush 10. The germicidal UV-C lamp 14 is arranged along the longitudinally aligned axis 104 and provides ultraviolet radiation in 360° radiating illumination about the longitudinally aligned axis. The neck and head portion 15 is composed of a brush neck 18 portion which interoperates with the distal end 19 of the main housing 12 by being insertable into a cylindrical opening 21.
The neck and head portion 15 also has a brush housing 16 which has an inner recess 17 which is substantially in one embodiment elliptically shaped to receive a transparent mirror 20 which also in one embodiment is a matching elliptical shape. A brush head 22 which in this particular embodiment is a replaceable brush head seats on to the brush housing 16. The transparent mirror may act as a dispersion lens to disperse the UV radiation into the user mouth. Alternatively, the transparent mirror may act as a focus lens to focus the UV radiation onto a target area in the user mouth.
Referring to FIG. 2, a detailed discussion of the overall proportions and components as assembled together in the germicidal UV toothbrush will now be discussed. In one embodiment, the body length 46 of the germicidal UV toothbrush ranges from approximately 200 mm to approximately 220 mm with a present embodiment of 213 mm. The power source 28 sits within a battery housing 48. While two AAA alkaline batteries are used as power source, it is easily conceived that its power source may be a rechargeable power source, one where the toothbrush receives a current from an outside source, such as a wall plug or base stand, or other type of power source to provide the power to illuminate the ultraviolet lamp 14. When seated, the power source 28 provides power to the PCB control board and rack 24. The PCB control board and rack provides the proper amplified power to the lamp leads 27 which interoperate with the control board terminals 25.
The neck and head portion 15 has a neck/head length 40 which ranges from approximately 60 mm to approximately 70 mm. In general, the neck/head length 40 is approximately one third of the overall length 46 of the toothbrush. The medial neck portion 56 which is essentially the midpoint of the brush neck 18 provides a neck cavity 54 through which the germicidal micro UV lamp 14 rests. The present embodiment includes a germicidal micro UV lamp 14 with a UV lamp length 42 ranging from about 25 mm to about 60 mm in length. The current preferred embodiment has the UV lamp length 42 and approximately about 50 mm. At the shortest length, the UC lamp length 42 may be about 25 mm. This would seat the germicidal UV lamp 14 nearly completely within the brush housing 16. In such a configuration, the lamp leads 27 or the control board terminals 25 would be extended through the medial neck portion 56 of the brush neck 18.
In the present embodiment, the UV lamp 14 illuminates ultraviolet radiation throughout the entire lamp length 42 of the brush neck 18 as well as brush housing 16. In one embodiment, the material used to construct the brush neck 18 is an opaque plastic type material such as a polyvinyl chloride. In another embodiment, the material is a transparent or translucent type material constructed of (PET) or the like for irradiation along the entire length of the brush neck 18. Additionally, the entire main body housing may be constructed of similar materials.
In one embodiment, the ultraviolet radiation 31 emanates from the fore end of the germicidal micro UV tube 14 only. In the germicidal micro UV tube 14 provides ultraviolet radiation within the 100 nm to 280 nm range. This is more commonly referred to as UC-C ultraviolet radiation. This particular wavelength of ultraviolet light destroys the DNA of the bacteria and viruses present within the oral cavity as well as the bacteria present on the brush head 22.
To provide for additional irradiation, a transparent mirror 20 is seated within the inner recess 17 of the brush housing 16. In other words, a one way radiation path provides for the UV radiation 31 to exit the brush housing 16 through the transparent mirror 20. When reflected back towards the brush head 22, say for example by reflection off of the tooth surface of the user, the transparent mirror 20 will reflect back the dispersed UV radiation.
The brush head 22 itself has a head length 44 which ranges to approximately 30 mm in length. The brush head 22 can be seated over the transparent mirror 20 and operably locked onto the brush housing 16 for temporary use.
Referring to FIG. 4 a more detailed discussion of the brush head 22 in operation with the transparent mirror 20 and the brush housing 16 will now be provided.
The neck/head portion 15 as previously discussed includes the following main components, the germicidal micro UV tube 14 which is encased within the head/neck portion 15, the brush neck 18 which has a longitudinally aligned lower end 17, this lower end has a longitudinally aligned cylindrical wall with a locking notch 19 for insertion into the cylindrical opening 21 of the main body section 12. The brush neck 18 tapers at the longitudinally aligned upper portion 21 to meet the brush housing 16 cylindrical outer wall 80. The brush housing cylindrical outer wall 80 in this particular embodiment is shaped as a elliptical cylinder, but other designs and variations of the brush housing shape such as a rectangular, trapezoidial, or square housing cylinders are easily conceived. The brush housing outer wall 80 has two transversely aligned inset wing clip cavities 74 a and 74 b or connector locations which are in the outer longitudinally lengthened portions of the brush housing outer wall 80. As previously discussed, a transparent mirror 20 is shaped in this particular embodiment as a elliptical/oval shape to match the inner wall surface of the brush housing 16. As previously discussed, in one embodiment the transparent mirror 20 sits on an elliptical mirror seat 76 within the confines of the brush housing 16. The transparent mirror 20 has a reflective mirror surface 72 which is on the vertically upper surface of the transparent mirror, as well as a transparent mirror surface 72 which is located on the vertically lower surface of the transparent mirror 20. The germicidal UV radiation travels through the transparent mirror surface 72 and the reflective mirror surface 70.
During use, the bristles or brush head bristles 66 of the brush head 22 and the brush head itself may wear and become opaque through continued use. Therefore, the brush head 22 has been designed to be replaceable. The brush head 22 has a brush head base 64 which is constructed of a translucent or transparent material and in this particular embodiment matches the shape of the brush housing 16 as an elliptical/oval shape. As previously discussed the brush head 22 can also be of varying shapes depending on the particular design/brushing requirements such as a rectilinear shape, and trapezoidal shape, square shaped, or other desired shapes as designed by the oral care manufacturer. The brush head base 64 has two transversely aligned mirror image wing clips 68 a&b (or brush head connectors), the wing clips 68 a&b are constructed to operably attach and detach from the brush housing 16 by seating into the wing clip cavities 74 a and 74 b respectively.
The brush head 22 it as previously mentioned has a plurality of brush head bristles 66 which are vertically aligned and attached at the distal end to the brush head base 64 either being mechanically attached, or by being cast or fused together with the brush head base 64.
The brush neck 18 in this particular embodiment is a cylindrical oval outer casing with a medial neck portion 56 which may have a circular outer diameter or an elliptical outer diameter. This particular embodiment, the medial neck portion at its narrowest has a vertical neck outer diameter 60 which in one embodiment is 9 mm, but may range from 5 mm to 15 mm depending upon design. In this particular embodiment, the vertical neck inner diameter 61 may be preferably 7 mm in distance. Likewise, the transverse neck outer diameter 62 has a distance of approximately 7.5 mm in the present embodiment, but also may range from between 5 mm and 15 mm as optionally specified. The transverse neck inner diameter 63 in this particular embodiment has an inner diameter distance of approximately 5.5 mm.
By providing a gap distance 23 (FIG. 2) between the inner diameter wall of the brush neck 18 and the outer surface of the germicidal micro UV tube 14 potential cracking and wear on the uv tube is controlled. This distance is in the present embodiment approximately at least 0.3 mm in distance (but may vary depending upon the flexural characteristics, and other performance characteristics of the uv tube and neck.) If and when the neck/head portion 15 flexes during brushing use due to a moment about the longitudinally aligned lower end 17 or in other words the base 17 of the neck/head portion 15, the flexural gap distance 23 (FIG. 2) provides for flexural deflection due to different stiffnesses between the glass or quartz casing of the UV tube 14 and the lower modulus of elasticity material of the neck/head portion 15 such as a plastic material as discussed above. This flexural “give” provides for preservation of the UV tube during “extreme” localized force applications during brushing. In other words, the UV tube will be preserved and not crack if the head/neck portion is forced to bend and flex within tolerances.
Referring to FIG. 3, a brief discussion of the control architecture of the germicidal UV toothbrush 10 will now be provided. In this particular embodiment, the on switch 34 a and the off switch 34 b are located on the outer surface of the housing 12 and have interoperation with the PCB control board and rack 24. The switches 34 a&b send analog signals to the controller 112 indicating to the controller an on signal, and an off signal, or in an alternative embodiment, additional current low signals, current high signals, as well as timer signals for length of time to use the ultraviolet toothbrush.
A current amplifier 110 located on the control board 24 receives the current from the two AAA batteries 28 and provides the power current to the germicidal ultraviolet tube 14. For example the on switch may send a signal through the digital to analog or analog to digital converter 114 to send the current to the UV tube 14. In addition, the off switch may send an analog or digital signal through the converter 114 to the PCB 112 to switch off the amplified current. The user may be also able to set the time for using the ultraviolet light by indicating a time use signal through either the on or off switches which may be prebuilt into the PCB controller 112 to time when the amplifier current should be turned off. Furthermore, there may be additional current amplification levels depending upon the amount of irradiation to radiate from the UV tube 14. The levels also may be set from multiple combinations of analog signals sent from the various on or off switches to the PCB controller.
A brief discussion of the method to provide germicidal UV radiation through toothbrush 150 as seen in FIG. 5 will now be provided. In the present embodiment, the method to provide germicidal UV radiation through a toothbrush includes the following main steps: sending a power on signal to a control board at step 152; sending a power signal to power terminals from the control board at step 154; illuminating a germicidal UV light source located in the neck/head portion of a toothbrush at step 156; radiating germicidal UV radiation between 100 nm and 280 nm at step 158; irradiating germicidal UV radiation through a removable brush head at step 160; disinfecting the brush head with the germicidal UV radiation at step 162; whitening the user's teeth using the germicidal UV radiation at step 164.
When sending a power on signal to the control board at step 152, the user will utilize a switch to send the power on signal at step 166. the switch in this particular embodiment is the on switch 34 a as seen in FIG. 3. The user may then choose to utilize a switch to send the power off signal at step 168. In this particular embodiment, the switch is an off switch 34 b as seen in FIG. 3. Optionally, the UV toothbrush 10 may utilize a timing circuit or timer control to send a power off signal at step 170. This timer control or circuit is tied to the clock on the programmable control board controller 112 (FIG. 3).
In an alternative embodiment, the user may also wish to utilize a switch to send a low power on signal at step 172. This low power on signal may be actuated through the use of in this particular example, an on switch 34 a FIG. 3 pressed twice to signal the programmable control board 24 to adjust the amount of power sent to the UV lamp 14. Again, the user may wish to also utilize a switch to send a high power on signal at step 174 by utilizing in one particular embodiment in the on switch 34 n pressed three times to signal/cycle through to the high power on setting on the control board.
After the user has finished sending power signals to the control board, depending on the signals sent, the control board will send power signals to the terminals at step 154. In doing so, the control board will utilize two AAA batteries resident within the UV toothbrush to send power through the programmable control board at step 176 to the terminals. In doing so, the control board utilizes a power amplifier on the PCB at step 178 to properly attenuate the power from the 2-AAA batteries to the proper settings for the UV tube.
In one embodiment, the user may send as previously discussed, a high power switch signal to the control board, which will indicate to the control board to utilize a high power setting at step 182. Further optionally, the programmable control board may utilize a timer setting at step 184 to send to the power off signal and stop the power thus turning off the germicidal UV lamp 14.
After the power has been sent to the terminals on the control board, the germicidal UV light source is powered and is illuminated in the neck/head portion of the tooth brush at step 156. In doing so, the type of UV source is a germicidal micro UV lamps/tube utilized in the neck and head portions of the toothbrush at step 186. Optionally, the UV toothbrush may only utilize a germicidal micro UV lamp/tube in the head casing at step 188.
Whichever embodiment or in other words whichever tube configuration is used to provide the radiation at step 158, the germicidal UV radiation lamp will irradiate through the removable brush head at step 116, and in doing so will also irradiate through a transparent mirror which is located below the brush head at step 190. By doing so, the transparent mirror will reflect back dispersed UV radiation into the mouth cavity of the user thus intensifying the UV light on the target area in the oral location.
As previously discussed, disinfecting of the brush head with the germicidal UV radiation occurs at step 162, and as the user uses the brush, whitening of the user's teeth utilizing the germicidal UV radiation at step 164 will occur accomplishing the desired result.

Claims

1. A toothbrush for providing germicidal UV-C radiation, said toothbrush comprising:

a. a main body portion arranged along a longitudinally aligned axis and comprising: a power source, a controller board, a power switch mechanism; said main body portion interoperability attached to a longitudinally aligned neck/head portion;

b. said longitudinally aligned neck/head portion comprising a replaceable/detachable brush head and a medial neck portion and said neck/head portion further comprising a neck cavity for operably receiving a germicidal UV-C lamp;

c. said germicidal UV-C lamp arranged along said longitudinally aligned axis to provide ultraviolet radiation in 360° radiating illumination about said longitudinally aligned axis;

d. said germicidal UV-C lamp providing said ultraviolet radiation between the range of about just less than 100 nm to about just greater than 280 nm;

e. said replaceable/detachable brush head comprised of a transparent base and a plurality of vertically aligned bristles, said germicidal UV-C lamp receiving power from said power source and radiating said ultraviolet radiation through said transparent base providing germicidal disinfection of said replaceable/detachable brush head, and providing whitening of a users teeth and germicidal disinfection of said users mouth.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said main body portion further comprises: a battery housing to receive said power source, said power source comprising two AAA batteries; said battery housing encased by a battery cover arranged at an aft end of the main body portion.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said main body portion further comprises: said power switch mechanism comprising an on switch; said on switch operably configured to send an on signal to said programmable control board, said programmable control board sending said power from the power source to the germicidal UV-C lamp.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 3 wherein said main body portion further comprises: an off switch operably configured to send an off signal to said programmable control board to stop the power from the power source and turn off said germicidal UV-C lamp.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said neck/head portion further comprises a brush housing for operably receiving said replaceable/detachable brush head, said brush housing forming a portion of said neck cavity.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 5 wherein said brush housing further comprises a brush housing outer wall arranged cylindrically, said outer wall comprising two equal but opposite connection locations for operably receiving matching fixedly attached brush head connectors for operably attaching said brush head to said brush housing.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 5 wherein said germicidal UV-C lamp comprises a UV lamp length approximately equal to or just greater than a head length of said brush housing.

8. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said germicidal UV-C lamp further comprises: a UV lamp length approximately equal to or just greater than a neck head length of said neck/head portion.

9. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said germicidal UV-C lamp further comprises a UV lamp length ranging from just less than about 25 mm to just greater than about 60 mm.

10. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said germicidal UV-C lamp further comprises a UV lamp length approximately about 50 mm in longitudinal length.

11. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said neck/head portion comprises a medial neck portion comprising a neck outer diameter and a neck inner diameter, said neck outer diameter comprising a width to provide flexure, said neck inner diameter providing a flexure distance between an inner surface of said neck cavity and an outer surface of said germicidal UV-C lamp to provide flexural movement between said inner surface and said outer surface.

12. The toothbrush according to claim 5 wherein said neck/head portion further comprises a transparent mirror arranged within said brush housing, said transparent mirror configured to allow said ultraviolet radiation to radiate out of said brush housing, through said replaceable/detachable brush head and to prevent UV radiation from reentering into said brush housing.

13. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said neck/head portion further comprises a neck head length comprising approximately one third of a body length distance of said toothbrush.

14. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said transparent mirror acts as a dispersion lens to disperse said UV radiation into said user mouth.

15. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said transparent mirror acts as a focus lens to focus said UV radiation onto a target area in said user mouth.

16. A method to provide germicidal UV-C radiation through a toothbrush said method comprising:

a. sending a power on signal to a control board maintained within a main housing of said toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising said main housing and a neck/head portion;

b. sending power from a power source to terminals arranged on said control board;

c. illuminating a germicidal UV-C light source located within the next/head portion of said toothbrush, said germicidal UV-C light source interoperating with said terminals on said control board to receive said power;

d. radiating germicidal UV-C radiation from said germicidal UV-C light source between the range of just less than about 100 nm to just greater than about 280 nm;

e. irradiating said germicidal UV-C radiation through a removable brush head arranged upon said neck/head portion of said toothbrush;

f. disinfecting said removable brush head with said germicidal UV-C radiation;

g. whitening a users teeth by using said germicidal UV-C radiation radiating through said removable brush head and into a mouth of said user.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a switch arranged on said main housing of said toothbrush to send a power on signal to said control board sending said power from said power source to said germicidal UV-C light source.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a switch arranged on said main housing of said toothbrush to send a power off signal to said control board stopping said power from being sent from said power source to said germicidal UV-C light source.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a timer arranged within said control board to send a power off signal to said control board stopping said power from being sent from said power source to said germicidal UV-C light source.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein and said method further comprises: utilizing a switch arranged on said main housing to send a low power on signal to said control board sending a low power amount from said power source to said germicidal UV-C light source.

21. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a switch arranged on said main housing to send a high power on signal to said control board sending a high power amount from said power source to said germicidal UV-C light source.

22. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing two AAA batteries as said power source to provide said power to said control board.

23. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a power amplifier on said control board to amplify said power source.

24. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a germicidal micro-UV-C lamp in the neck/head portion of said toothbrush to illuminate said germicidal UV-C radiation within said neck/head portion.

25. The method according to claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: utilizing a germicidal micro-UV-C lamp in a head casing of said neck/head portion to illuminate said germicidal UV-C radiation within said neck/head portion.

26. The method according to the claim 16 wherein said method further comprises: irradiating said germicidal UV-C radiation through a transparent mirror arranged below said removable brush head.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said method further comprises: said transparent mirror focusing said germicidal UV-C radiation onto a target area within said users mouth.

28. The method according to claim 26 wherein said method further comprises: said transparent mirror dispersing said germicidal UV-C radiation into said users mouth.

29. A toothbrush to provide germicidal UV-C radiation to a users mouth said toothbrush comprising:

a. means for sending a power on signal to a control board maintained within a main housing of said toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising said main housing and a neck/head portion;

b. means for sending power from a power source to terminals arranged on said control board;

c. means for illuminating a germicidal UV-C light source located within the next/head portion of said toothbrush, said germicidal UV-C light source interoperating with said terminals on said control board to receive said power;

d. means for radiating germicidal UV-C radiation from said germicidal UV-C light source between the range of just less than about 100 nm to just greater than about 280 nm;

e. means for irradiating said germicidal UV-C radiation through a removable brush head arranged upon said neck/head portion of said toothbrush;

f. means for disinfecting said removable brush head with said germicidal UV-C radiation;

g. means for whitening a users teeth by using said germicidal UV-C radiation radiating through said removable brush head and into a mouth of said user.