Abstract: An oral care implement having conductive protrusions. In one embodiment, the oral care implement includes a handle and a head coupled to the handle. Furthermore, the oral care implement includes a power source. A plurality of conductive protrusions may be electrically coupled to the power source. The plurality of conductive protrusions may include a base proximate the head and a distal end spaced from the head. Furthermore, at least one of the conductive protrusions may taper from the base to the distal end.

Abstract: An oral implement and a method of forming an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a head having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface. In one embodiment, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements may include three different types of tooth cleaning elements, each type of tooth cleaning element being formed of a different material. In one embodiment each of the materials has a different hardness and thus the oral care implement includes three different types of tooth cleaning elements each having a different hardness. In another embodiment, the oral care implement may include bristles and a molded cleaning element that may function as an interdental cleaner. Such a molded cleaning element may include a body and tines extending therefrom.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head at a distal end of the handle comprising a bristle plate, a hole extending through the bristle plate, a plurality of bristles at least partially disposed in the hole and extending from the hole in a direction away from the head, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the hole. Fluid in the reservoir enters the tuft holes and is wicked out of the head of the toothbrushes by capillaries formed between the bristles.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head at a distal end of the handle comprising a bristle plate, a hole extending through the bristle plate, a plurality of bristles at least partially disposed in the hole and extending from the hole in a direction away from the head, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the hole. Fluid in the reservoir enters the tuft holes and is wicked out of the head of the toothbrushes by capillaries formed between the bristles.

Abstract: An oral implement and a method of forming an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a head having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface. In one embodiment, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements may include three different types of tooth cleaning elements, each type of tooth cleaning element being formed of a different material. In one embodiment each of the materials has a different hardness and thus the oral care implement includes three different types of tooth cleaning elements each having a different hardness. In another embodiment, the oral care implement may include bristles and a molded cleaning element that may function as an interdental cleaner. Such a molded cleaning element may include a body and tines extending therefrom.

Abstract: An oral care implement having conductive protrusions. In one embodiment, the oral care implement includes a handle and a head coupled to the handle. Furthermore, the oral care implement includes a power source. A plurality of conductive protrusions may be electrically coupled to the power source. The plurality of conductive protrusions may include a base proximate the head and a distal end spaced from the head. Furthermore, at least one of the conductive protrusions may taper from the base to the distal end.

Abstract: An oral care device such as an oral care implement or a toothbrush. The oral care device may include a handle and a head. The head may have a plurality of cleaning elements extending therefrom. The head may comprise a channel and a plurality of electrodes may be located within the channel. The electrodes may be coupled to a power source. The electrodes may be used to generate a chemical agent via the application of an electrical potential across the electrodes when in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine hypochlorite, ions, peroxides, and/or other chemical agents.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a head having a face with a tuft hole therein. A plurality of bristles are disposed within the tuft hole and arranged in a bristle tuft that extends from the face of the head. The bristle tuft includes a first subset of the bristles and a second subset of the bristles. Each of the bristles has a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis, the major axes of the bristles being longer than the minor axes of the bristles. The major axes of the bristles of the first subset may be non-parallel to the major axes of the bristles of the second subset.

Abstract: In some embodiments an oral care implement herein may be embodied as a toothbrush having a head disposed at a distal end of a handle. The head may include a fixed bristle support and at least two movable bristle supports, movable relative to the fixed bristle support and relative to each other. An actuator is disposed to actuate the movable bristle supports between a brushing position in which bristles on the fixed bristle support and the movable bristle supports are substantially parallel and an interdental cleaning position in which the movable bristle supports are moved relative to each other such that the bristles on the movable bristle supports are angled toward each other. In the interdental cleaning position, the bristles may form a point or similar bristle tip, which may be useful for interdental cleaning.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprising a bristle having a cross-sectional profile with a major axis and a minor axis. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head; a handle; and at least one bristle extending from a face of the head, the bristle having a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis, the major axis being longer than the minor axis.

Abstract: An oral care implement having movable and fixed tooth cleaning elements. The oral care implement may include a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head may include a base that is coupled to the handle and a resilient bridge coupled to the base. The resilient bridge may be flexible between a normal state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is spaced from the base by a gap and a flexed state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is moved toward the base. Tooth cleaning elements may be coupled to the resilient bridge. Furthermore, the resilient bridge may include one or more apertures through which tooth cleaning elements that are fixed to the base may extend.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle, a head, and at least one movable cleaning element coupled to the head. The movable cleaning element may be used as an interdental cleaner. The movable cleaning element may be positioned within a loop formed by fixed cleaning elements on the head. The movable cleaning element may be coupled to an actuator that moves the movable cleaning element between a first position wherein a distal tip of the movable cleaning element is spaced a first distance from a front surface of the head and a second position wherein the distal tip of the movable cleaning element is spaced a second distance from the front surface of the head, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The movable cleaning element may maintain the first and second positions until subsequent actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: An oral care implement in one embodiment includes an elongated body comprising a head portion supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a handle portion. The tooth cleaning elements are disposed on longitudinally extending bristle carrier sections hingedly coupled together about a common pivot axis. The axis may be formed by a flexible web. A slidable actuator mounted in the handle portion is mechanically coupled to the bristle carrier assembly by an elongated operating rod. Moving the actuator in opposing rearward and forward directions opens or folds the bristles on the carriers outwards or inwards respectively about the common pivot axis. In the folded position, the bristles are configured for interdental cleaning of the teeth. In the open or extended position, the bristles are configured for general purpose cleaning of the teeth.

Abstract: Described herein is an oral care implement comprising a body having a head portion, a gripping portion, and a neck portion located between the head and gripping portions, a plurality of tooth engaging elements extending from the head portion, the body comprising a first component formed of a first hard plastic having a first ductility; and a second component formed of a second hard plastic having a second ductility that is greater than the first ductility.

Abstract: An oral care implement sanitization system that includes an oral care implement and a case for storing the oral care implement and activating a sanitization or sterilization procedure. The oral care implement may include tooth cleaning elements, a light source, and a first electrical coupling element operably coupled to the light source. The case may include a housing having a cavity for holding the oral care implement, a power source, and a second electrical coupling element operably coupled to the power source. When the oral care implement is positioned within the cavity of the housing of the case, the first and second electrical coupling elements are operably coupled together. Operable coupling of the first and second electrical coupling elements initiates, either immediately or upon the occurrence of some additional action, activation of the light source for sanitizing or sterilizing the tooth cleaning elements.

Abstract: A package for an oral care implement. The package may have an exposed outer surface, a package portion forming a first portion of the exposed outer surface, and a reusable cap forming a second portion of the exposed outer surface. The package portion may define a first cavity and the reusable cap may define a second cavity. The package portion may be formed by a backer panel and a cover panel that are coupled together to define the first cavity. The reusable cap may have a flange that is sandwiched between the backer panel and the cover panel to secure the reusable cap to the package portion. A personal care implement may be disposed within the package so that a first portion of personal care implement is located within the first cavity and a second portion of the personal care implement is located within the second cavity.