Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a head having tooth cleaning elements including at least one conical tuft of bristles. The conical tuft of bristles defines a cavity that has a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the head. The tooth cleaning elements may also include one or more arcuate cleaning elements that at least partially surround the conical tuft. The tooth cleaning elements may also include multi-height bristle tufts along lateral sides of the head. Furthermore, the head may have two conical tufts such that one of the conical tufts is oriented at a smaller acute angle relative to the head than the other conical tuft and/or one of the conical tufts is taller than the other conical tuft.

Abstract: An oral care implement including an elastomeric component that includes a bumper portion that forms a distal-most section of the peripheral surface and a wall portion located along a distal-most section of the perimeter edge and protruding above the front surface. The wall portion may include a first ramped portion, an apex portion, and a second ramped portion. The wall portion may include a plurality of spaced-apart ridges protruding from an outer surface of the bumper portion and an outer surface of the wall portion. An oral care implement is disclosed that includes a soft tissue cleanser having a plurality of protuberances of differing heights.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a conical tuft of bristles. In one embodiment, the invention is an oral care implement that includes a handle and a head coupled to the handle, the head having a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface of the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft that has a bristle wall having an inner surface defining a cavity, the cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head. Furthermore, in some embodiments the bristle wall terminates in an annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface of the head. In some embodiments, the head includes more than one of the conical tufts, such as two of the conical tufts or four of the conical tufts.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a handle (120) and a head (100) with a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface. In one embodiment the plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft (130) that is formed by a wall of bristles. The tooth cleaning elements may also include first and/or second sets of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the head. The peripheral tooth cleaning elements may include elastomeric sleeve portions (144, 154) and bristle tuft portions (145, 155). The elastomeric sleeve portions may be formed as a part of an integrally formed elastomeric component (170).

Abstract: An oral care implement having a multi-component handle is disclosed. In one aspect, the oral care implement comprises: a handle extending along a longitudinal axis; a head coupled to the handle; at least one tooth cleaning element extending from the head; the handle comprising: a first component constructed of a first material, the first component comprising a first component aperture; a second component constructed of a second material, the second component comprising the head and an anchor, the anchor located within the first component aperture and comprising a second component aperture; and a third component disposed within the second component aperture.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a multi-component handle is disclosed. In one aspect, the oral care implement comprises: a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one tooth cleaning element extending from the head; the handle comprising: a first component constructed of a first hard material; and a second component constructed of a second hard material, the second component comprising a plurality of strips that collectively form a strap network that wraps around the first component.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a multi-component handle is disclosed. In one aspect, the oral care implement comprises: a handle comprising a first component constructed of a first material and a second component constructed of a second material; the first component comprising: first, second and third depressions formed into an outer surface of the first component; and a first through-hole extending from a floor of the second depression to a floor of the third depression, the first through-hole extending through sidewalls of the first depression; and the second component comprising: a first portion disposed within the first depression, a second portion disposed within the second depression, and a third portion disposed within the first depression; and the first, second and third portions connected together to form an integral mass of the second material.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle and a head mounted to the handle. In one aspect, the head may extend from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the head having a base portion formed of a rigid plastic material and a flexible portion formed of an elastomeric material, a first longitudinal section of the flexible portion spaced apart from the base portion by a gap. The flexible portion of the head may have an upper surface and an opposing lower surface such that within the first longitudinal section of the flexible portion the upper surface and the lower surface are substantially planar and parallel to one another.

Abstract: An oral care system that includes an oral care implement and a dispenser, an oral care method, and a method of applying an oral care agent to an oral surface. In one embodiment, the invention may be an oral care system including a toothbrush having a handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cantilevered top portion. The system may also include a dispenser having a longitudinally elongated housing having a distal end with an applicator thereon and an opposite proximal end. There may be a reservoir disposed in the housing for holding an oral care agent. The reservoir can be in fluid communication with the applicator. The dispenser may be removably attached to the cantilevered top portion of the handle of the toothbrush.

Abstract: An oral care system that includes an oral care implement and a dispenser, an oral care method, and a method of applying an oral care agent to an oral surface. In one embodiment, the invention may be a method of applying an oral care agent to an oral surface that includes: providing a kit comprising a toothbrush and a dispenser containing an oral care agent; removing the dispenser from kit; and applying the oral care agent to an oral surface using the dispenser.

Abstract: An oral care implement (100) in one embodiment includes an elongated body (101) comprising a head portion (110) supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements (111) and a handle portion (120) defining an outer surface (127). A grip control component (130) is disposed on the handle portion (120) and includes a pair of transversely spaced apart control surfaces (132) separated by a longitudinally extending channel (133). The control surfaces (132) are elevated above the outer surface (127) of the handle portion (120) and positioned to engage a user's thumb. The control component (130) is operable to tilt the head portion (110) at an upward or downward angle relative to a vertical plane of a user's teeth when the control component (130) is grasped between the user's thumb and forefinger for producing a proper brushing angle at the gum line.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleanser. The oral care implement may include a handle and a head, the head having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A first cleanser may be fixed to the first surface of the head such that the first cleanser has a hole through which a portion of the first surface of the head is exposed. Furthermore, a second cleanser may be fixed to the portion of the first surface of the head that is exposed through the hole of the first cleanser.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle and a head mounted to the handle. In one aspect, the head may extend from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the head having a base portion formed of a rigid plastic material and a flexible portion formed of an elastomeric material, a first longitudinal section of the flexible portion spaced apart from the base portion by a gap. The flexible portion of the head may have an upper surface and an opposing lower surface such that within the first longitudinal section of the flexible portion the upper surface and the lower surface are substantially planar and parallel to one another. Furthermore, tooth cleaning elements may be secured to the flexible portion of the head by in-molded technology to extend from the upper surface of the flexible portion.

Abstract: A toothbrush that enhances cleaning and user comfort while brushing. In one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises a cleaning element support member, or base member, that permits a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user's mouth. In an embodiment, the support member comprises a head support having an overhanging portion and a portion free of an overhang.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleaner. The inventive oral care implement comprises different kinds of soft tissue cleaners that offer expanded in-mouth cleaning. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head having a structural body having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a basin formed into the rear surface of the structural body, the structural body comprising a protuberance extending upward from a recessed floor of the basin, the basin surrounding the protuberance; a first cleaner formed of a resilient material for cleansing soft oral tissue located within the basin, the protuberance of the structural body extending through a central hole of the first cleaner; and a second cleaner formed of a resilient material for cleansing soft oral tissue, the second cleaner located on the protuberance of the structural body.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a tissue cleaning pad. In one aspect, the oral care implement includes a head having a front surface and an opposite rear surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface of the head. A tissue cleaning pad is positioned on the rear surface of the head. The tissue cleaning pad has a planar top surface bounded by a perimetric edge and a plurality of protrusions extending from the planar top surface. The perimetric edge of the planar top surface of the tissue cleaning pad has a first portion that is flush with the rear surface of the head and a second portion that is raised relative to the rear surface of the head.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided, in one embodiment, with a plurality of spaced-apart tissue cleaning pads (400) radially arranged around a central axis (450) to form a grouping, each pad having an inner region (420, 430) close to the central axis and an outer region spaced away from the central axis, the inner region (420, 430) being raised relative to the outer region and having scraping surfaces along certain edge regions for improved cleaning of the soft tissue in an oral cavity Each pad further preferably includes one or more protrusions (920, 930) along an upper surface thereof.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided, in one embodiment, with a plurality of spaced-apart tissue cleaning pads (400) radially arranged around a central axis (450) to form a grouping on one side of the head. A bridge (465) is positioned between each pad (400). Each pad (400) further preferably includes one or more protrusions (980) along an upper surface thereof. There also is provided a plurality of cleaning elements (150) extending from an opposite side of the head of the oral care implement and connected to the cleaning pads through the head.