Oral irrigator with occlusal surface sensing

A method for determining whether an oral irrigation system is on the occlusal surface of a tooth, the method comprising:

• determining the displacement of a nozzle of the oral irrigation system;
• determining whether the nozzle is in an interdental space;
• and
• determining that the nozzle is moving along the occlusal surface of a tooth by:
• determining that the displacement of the nozzle is larger than a critical distance and that the nozzle has not been located at an interdental space during the displacement of the nozzle.

A handle of an oral irrigation system, wherein the handle comprises:

• an interface for connecting the handle to an oral irrigation head having a nozzle;
• a fluid delivery tube for delivering fluid to the oral irrigation head;
• a pump configured to pump fluids to the fluid delivery tube based on a pump configuration;
• and
• a processor which controls the pump and determines the displacement of a nozzle of the oral irrigation system;
• determines whether the nozzle is in an interdental space;
• and
• determines that the nozzle is moving along the occlusal surface of a tooth by determining that the displacement of the nozzle is larger than a critical distance and that the nozzle has not been located at an interdental space during the displacement of the nozzle.