Abstract: A monofilament bristle (200) is disclosed that comprises coextruded core (210) and sheath components (220). The sheath component (220) has an outer surface (218) and surrounds a first portion (215) of the core component (210). A second portion (216) of the core component (210) protrudes from a top terminal end (203) of the sheath component (220) to form an exposed tip portion (203). In one embodiment, the exposed tip portion (203) of the core component (210) has an outer surface (217) that includes friction-enhancing features. In another embodiment, the exposed tip portion (203) is tapered and has an outer surface (217) with a first roughness and the outer surface (218) of the sheath component (220) has a second roughness, the second roughness being greater than the first roughness In a further embodiment, the core component (210) has an outer surface (217) configured to have higher coefficient of friction than the outer surface (218) of the sheath component (220).

Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle and a head. The head may include a support structure formed of a rigid material and a monolithic cleaning block formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. The support structure may have a front surface and a recess formed therein, the recess extending partially through the support structure and terminating in a floor. The monolithic cleaning block may include an anchor portion disposed within the recess of the support structure, a base portion having a bottom surface overlying at least a portion of the front surface of the support structure, and a plurality of cleaning elements extending from a top surface of the base portion.

Abstract: A method of determining the viability of a gum for use in making a product has been achieved by (a) mixing a sample of the gum in a solvent comprising one or more hydroxy moiety containing solvent compound to form a solution with the gum; (b) measuring the viscosity of the solution and comparing against a predetermined target viscosity for a product; and (c) comparing the viscosity of the solution and the predetermined target viscosity and discarding gum which is outside the predetermined target viscosity; and (d) using the gum which has a viscosity within the predetermined target to prepare a product; wherein another hydroxy moiety containing solvent is used if water is used as a solvent. Also described are compositions comprising the gum and solvent comprising one or more hydroxy moiety.

Abstract: A pearling agent including a combination of low HLB surfactants and high HLB surfactants.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a multi-component handle. The oral care implement may include a head and a handle. The handle may include a transparent component and an opaque component. The transparent component may have a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, a first lateral surface, and a second lateral surface opposite the first lateral surface. The opaque component may at least partially cover the front and rear surfaces of the transparent component while leaving the first and second lateral surfaces of the transparent component exposed. Thus, the transparent component may form a window through the lateral surfaces of the handle.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a cover member. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head, the head comprising a coupling element; a store of oral care material located within the body; an outlet located on the head and in fluid communication with the store; a cover member comprising a cap portion, a mounting portion, and a coupling element; and wherein the cover member is detachably coupled to the head via cooperation between the coupling element of the cover member and the coupling element of the head, and the mounting portion is configured to mount the oral care implement to a vertical surface.

Abstract: A package (100) for an oral care implement such as one or more toothbrushes can include a transparent or translucent front panel (102) having a flat surface at a consumer-facing side of the package. The package can further include a transparent or translucent back panel (104) attached to the front panel, the back panel having a contoured surface, as well as text and/or graphics (116) on the front panel, wherein the package is configured to be displayed with the front panel of the package facing a viewing location. The front panel can further include an opening tab (120) defined by a tab line (122), a flap (126) defined, at least in part, by the tab line, and an opening cavity (124) in the back panel that is positioned behind the flap.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush that detects plaque on the teeth, ensures accurate plaque detection, and performs cleaning of plaque. The electric toothbrush may include a body having a gripping part and a stem with a brush unit detachably coupled to the body. The electric toothbrush may include a light emitting element for emitting light onto the tooth and a light receiving element for receiving light that reflects off of the tooth. A controller may be included to determine an amount of plaque on the tooth based on the amount of reflected light detected. The electric toothbrush may also include a fluid dispensing system that dispenses fluid based on the amount of reflected light detected. In some aspects, the electric toothbrush may operate in multiple oscillation modes, and it may only dispense fluid in some of the modes but not all of the modes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dual phase mouthwash comprising a hydrophilic phase, a hydrophobic phase, and a hydrotrope, wherein the hydrophilic phase comprises an effective amount of a preservative selected from potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, benzyl alcohol, and a combination thereof, and CPC and a monovalent acid, as well as to methods of using and of making such compositions.

Abstract: Described herein are whitening compositions comprised of a peroxide component, and an adhesion system, which effectively provide whitening using a remarkably low level of peroxide. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described herein.

Abstract: An antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition, including a carrier, an antiperspirant and/or deodorant active, one or two surfactants, and a preservative. The composition may optionally include a fragrance and/or an emollient, and may have a pearlescent appearance.

Abstract: A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviating weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage conditions.

Abstract: An oral care composition comprising zinc phosphate, stannous fluoride, arginine or lysine and an organic acid buffer system, as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: A personal care implement with a fluid dispensing system includes a fluid applicator, a fluid dispensing assembly including main and overflow reservoirs, and a capillary member in fluid communication with the reservoirs and the applicator for dispensing personal care fluid stored in the reservoirs via capillary action. An air venting system in one arrangement allows ambient air to be drawn into the main reservoir through the overflow reservoir for alleviating vacuum formed in the main reservoir by the capillary action fluid dispensing process. The venting system may include an external vent to atmosphere from the overflow reservoir and an internal vent between the reservoirs. In the event air trapped within the main reservoir expands due to changes in altitude or temperature, fluid in the main reservoir is expelled into the overflow reservoir via the internal vent. In one implementation, the personal care implement may be an oral care implement.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus with leakage protection. The apparatus includes a housing defining a storage cavity having a total volume including a liquid portion and a gas portion. The storage cavity extends along a cavity axis. A capillary member is fluidly coupled with the liquid to transport the liquid to the external atmosphere. The apparatus includes a plurality of vents that prevent liquid from flowing therethrough while permitting air to pass therethrough. A hub component is mounted within the storage cavity and it includes a plurality of radial vent passageways extending between the storage cavity and a primary vent passageway, which in turn forms a pathway to the external atmosphere. The vents may be located and arranged such that irrespective of inclination and rotational orientation of the housing relative to a gravitational vector at least one of the vents is in spatial communication with the gas.

Abstract: A fluid supply apparatus with leakage protection. The apparatus includes a housing defining a storage cavity having a total volume including a fluid portion and a gas portion. The storage cavity extends along a cavity axis from a first end to a second end. A capillary member is fluidly coupled with the fluid. A plurality of vent apertures are formed into the housing, each forming a passageway between the storage cavity and an external atmosphere and each configured such that the fluid cannot flow through the vent apertures at ambient temperature and pressure equilibrium between the storage cavity and the external atmosphere. The vent apertures may be located and arranged on the housing such that irrespective of vertical and angular orientation of the housing relative to a gravitational vector at least one of the vent apertures is in spatial communication with the gas.

Abstract: An oral care composition comprising zinc phosphate, stannous fluoride, arginine or lysine and an organic acid buffer system, as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: An oral care composition comprising zinc phosphate, stannous fluoride, an anionic polymer, and a basic amino acid, as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: This invention relates to oral care compositions comprising zinc phosphate, a first source of stannous (e.g., stannous fluoride); and a second source of stannous, wherein the second source of stannous comprises stannous pyrophosphate, as well as to methods of using and of making these compositions.