Application and/or carrying devices for oral care compositions

1 . A swab tube for use with an oral care composition for oral use; the swab tube unit including:

a swab having an elongated stick with an applicator/brush element at one end thereof;

and an elongated hollow sleeve assembled with said swab disposed therein, the hollow sleeve having a handle portion at one end, a receptacle portion at the other end, and a transition portion therebetween, said handle portion of the sleeve holding said stick, said receptacle portion being of substantially larger cross section than said handle portion and adapted to receive an oral care composition therein, and the adjacent components of said receptacle and transition portions at the intersection therebetween cooperatively constituting means for creating a break open means in said sleeve to provide access to said swab for use in one of application of an oral care composition.

2 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein one of an oral care composition and no oral care composition is pre-sealed therewithin.

3 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is one of a cotton swab and a foam tip.

4 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of a polymeric type.

5 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of an open cell type.

6 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of a type with a strong inner layer.

7 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of a type with a softer outer layer.

8 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of a type with an abrasive layer.

9 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of a type with a tapering tip.

10 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a foam tip of a type with one of undulations, ribs or one or more other projections on the surface.

11 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein an oral care composition is pre-sealed therewithin and the oral care composition is one of fluid, powder or dried-on.

12 . A swab tube according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve is integrally formed as a single piece from a relatively rigid plastic material that is manually compressible and severable in thin sections.

13 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . A swab tube unit for use with one of an oral enhancing and an oral rinse composition for oral use in one of in advance of application of a tooth whitening composition and for use post application of a tooth whitening composition, the oral enhancing composition comprising:

a solvent; and

a base compound dissolved in the solvent to form an alkaline solution;

the enhancing composition comprising

a solvent, and

an acid compound dissolved in the solvent to form an acidic solution;

and the swab tube unit including:

a swab having an elongated stick with an applicator element at one end thereof;

and an elongated hollow sleeve assembled with said swab disposed therein, the hollow sleeve having a handle portion at one end, a receptacle portion at the other end, and a transition portion therebetween, said handle portion of the sleeve holding said stick, said receptacle portion being of substantially larger cross section than said handle portion and disposed to receive an oral care composition, and the adjacent components of said receptacle and transition portions at the intersection therebetween cooperatively constituting means for creating a break open means in said sleeve to provide access to said swab for use in application of the oral care composition.

21 - 34 . (canceled)

35 . A method of using the swab tube unit of claim 20 for oral use as a pre-treatment of a tooth whitening composition, the method comprising

applying the enhancing compound to a user's dentition; and

applying the tooth whitening composition.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the step of applying further comprises rinsing the enhancing compound within an oral cavity containing the user's dentition.

37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the step of applying further comprises using the applicator to one of swab, agitate and brush the enhancing compound on the user's dentition.

38 . A method of using a foam-tipped oral care device on a user's oral feature, the method comprising:

grasping a pre-sealed swab tube having a foam-tipped oral care device pre-disposed therein;

breaking open the pre-sealed swab tube;

removing the foam-tipped device from the swab tube;

applying the foam-tipped device to the oral feature.

39 . A method according to claim 38 wherein the foam-tipped device has an oral care composition thereon or absorbed therein, and the applying step includes applying the oral care composition to the oral feature.

40 . A method according to claim 39 wherein the oral feature is one of a tooth or teeth.

41 . A method according to claim 38 wherein the oral care composition is a tooth whitening agent.

42 . (canceled)