Abstract: An oral care implement includes a head having a front surface that defines a basin having a floor and a sidewall. A head plate is coupled to the head within the basin. The head plate has a plurality of tuft holes. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements are coupled to the head, each extending from a melt matte that is located between the head plate and the floor of the basin through one of the tuft holes in the head plate and protruding from the front surface of the head, The plurality of tooth cleaning elements includes a conical tuft having a cavity and a central cleaning element located within the cavity. The central cleaning element may be spaced apart from the conical tuft from the melt matte to a distal end of the central cleaning element.

Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.

Abstract: An oral care implement having tooth cleaning elements and an elastomeric soft tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the oral care implement has a handle and a head coupled to the handle, an elastomeric soft tissue cleanser having a plurality of protuberances extending from a rear surface of the head, and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a front surface of the head. The protuberances of the elastomeric soft tissue cleanser collectively define a convex longitudinal side profile and comprise at least one convex transverse top profile. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements collectively define a concave longitudinal side profile and comprise at least one concave transverse top profile.

Abstract: An oral care implement having tooth cleaning elements and an elastomeric soft tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the oral care implement has a handle and a head (110) coupled to the handle, an elastomeric soft tissue cleanser having a plurality of protuberances (152) extending from a rear surface of the head (110), and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements (115) extending from a front surface of the head. The protuberances (152) of the elastomeric soft tissue cleanser collectively define a convex longitudinal side profile and comprise at least one convex transverse top profile. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements (115) collectively define a concave longitudinal side profile and comprise at least one concave transverse top profile.

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 method of forming an oral care implement. The method may include providing a body having a base and a bridge extending from a distal end of the base, the bridge terminating in a free end, mounting a plurality of tooth cleaning elements to the bridge, bending the bridge toward a proximal end of the base, and coupling the free end of the bridge to a proximal end of the base, thereby forming a head of an oral care implement.

Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a tuft hole with inclined walls. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head having a front surface and a rear surface; a tuft hole in the front surface of the head, the tuft hole extending along a central axis, the tuft hole comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, each of the first and second sidewalls comprising an inclined section that converges toward a central plane that comprises the central axis with decreasing distance from the front surface; and a bristle tuft formed by a plurality of bristles, each of the plurality of bristles having a first portion disposed within the tuft hole and a second portion protruding from the front surface of the head, the second portions of the plurality of bristles converging toward the central plane.

Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a handle and a head with a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements may 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 and bristle tuft portions. The elastomeric sleeve portions may be formed as a part of an integrally formed elastomeric component.

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 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 an arrangement of different types of cleaning elements. Specifically, in one embodiment the oral care implement includes a head and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements. The tooth cleaning elements include a plurality of inclined bristle tufts that are circumferentially arranged about a reference ring. The inclined bristle tufts extend from the head so as to converge towards a reference axis with increasing distance from the head. The tooth cleaning elements also include an elastomeric member extending from the head within the reference ring. The elastomeric member may be conical in shape and have an inclined outer surface. In some embodiments the elastomeric member may include two components that are separated by a gap, and a central cleaning element may be located within the gap.

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 method of forming an oral care implement. The method may include providing a body having a base and a bridge extending from a distal end of the base, the bridge terminating in a free end, mounting a plurality of tooth cleaning elements to the bridge, bending the bridge toward a proximal end of the base, and coupling the free end of the bridge to a proximal end of the base, thereby forming a head of an oral care implement.

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 head with a soft tissue cleanser thereon. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement including a handle and a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front surface; a rear surface opposite the front surface; a peripheral surface extending between the rear surface and the front surface; a first elastomeric soft tissue cleanser comprising a bumper portion that extends along the peripheral surface, the bumper portion comprising an undulating upper edge that includes a plurality of high points protruding above the rear surface and a plurality of low points located at or below the rear surface; and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface.

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.