Abstract: An ergonomically designed toothbrush having an oversized handle, a shapeable stem, interchangeable, flexible heads of different sizes, bristles arrangements, and geometrical configurations. The handle is generally cylindrical in shape so as to readily fit in the palm of ones hand while having a flattened portion against which the thumb and fingertips may be rested. The handle has attached thereto a rotation means which may be selectively set in a variety of positions about the longitudinal axis of the handle. When a stem with a flexible toothbrush head is attached to the rotation means, the user of the toothbrush may bend the head and set the orientation of the bristles on the head such that they are at a 45.degree.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed toothbrush having an oversized handle, a shapeable stem, interchangeable heads of different sizes, bristle arrangements, and geometrical configurations. The handle is generally cylindrical in shape so as to readily fit in the palm of one's hand while having a flattened portion against which the thumb and fingertips may be rested. The stem is attached to the handle in such a manner as to allow rotation of the stem in a variety of positions about the longitudinal axis of the handle. The use of the toothbrush may set the orientation of the bristles on the heads such that they are at a 45.degree. inclination relative to the surface of the teeth while the flat portion of the handle is generally parallel to the surface of the teeth so that the Bass technique may be implemented white moving the toothbrush back and forth in short strokes in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A dental oral hygiene device for extending the useful lifetime of a toothbrush having a handle and a plurality of longitudinal bristles, the bristles having a defined length and being attached generally normal to the handle and forming a generally rectilinear array, each of the bristles having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end forming a tip, the device including a structure for applying pressure to the bristles at at least two points along the bristle length, preferably approximately at the bristle tip and at a point between the bristle tip and the proximal end of the bristle, a receptacle structure supporting the structure for applying pressure and for containing at least a portion of the toothbrush including the bristles, wherein the bristles are forced generally inwardly such that the rectilinear array is generally maintained and the bristles are prevented from splaying outwardly relative to each other.