Abstract: A monofilament bristle (211) including: a body portion (215); a tip portion (217) extending from the body portion (215) and comprising a multi-lobed transverse cross-section (221), the monofilament bristle (211) extending along a longitudinal axis (219); co-extruded first and second components, the first component being a first color and forming a first lobe (223a) of the multi-lobed transverse cross-section (221), the second component being a second color, which is different from the first color, and forming a second lobe (223b) of the multi-lobed transverse cross-section (221); and each of the first and second components forming a longitudinal section of the body portion (215), with an interface between the first and second components extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (219).

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: A method of manufacturing an oral care implement comprising: (a) providing a body comprising a handle portion and a head portion, the head portion having a hole extending there through from a first side to a second side; (b) providing a layer of first material on the handle portion and the head portion to form a subassembly comprising a handle section, comprising the handle portion and a first portion of the layer of first material, and a head section, comprising the head portion and a second portion of the layer of first material; and (c) then injection molding a second material onto the head section to form one or more oral care elements of the second material on the head section and a member of the second material in the hole, which member is unitary with the one or more oral care elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush is provided that includes a base component having a gripping region and an oral engaging region defining a longitudinal axis along a length of the oral engaging region and a transverse axis along a width of the oral engaging region. The oral engaging region has bilateral symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis and can comprise wherein the oral engaging region has bilateral symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis and comprises a first distal region having an approximately concave contour tapering to a second middle region having an approximately convex contour and widening to a third proximal region having an approximately concave contour. The oral engaging region can support a plurality of cleaning elements along a front side and a plurality of soft cleaning elements along a second side opposite the first.

Abstract: An oral care implement including at least one multi-component bristle. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement having a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one multi-component bristle comprising first and second components. The first component may include a first plastic and a first oral care additive and the second component may include a second plastic and a second oral care additive such that the first oral care additive is different than the second oral care additive.

Abstract: A toothbrush (100) having a combination of tapered and non-tapered cleaning elements (50) for enhanced cleaning effects and having a plurality of tapered bristle tufts of differing tuft configurations including, a first tapered bristle tuft (500) having a dome-shaped bristle tip profile (520) toward one end (210) of the head (200), a second tapered bristle tuft (602) having an arcuate-shaped bristle configuration (622) toward an opposite end (222) of the head (200), and a plurality of laterally-extending third tapered bristle tufts (600) arranged in an alternating fashion with non-tapered bristle tufts (630) and disposed between the first and second tapered bristle tufts (500, 602).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an oral care implement comprising: (a) providing a body comprising a handle portion and a head portion, the head portion having a hole extending there through from a first side to a second side; (b) providing a layer of first material on the handle portion and the head portion to form a subassembly comprising a handle section, comprising the handle portion and a first portion of the layer of first material, and a head section, comprising the head portion and a second portion of the layer of first material; and (c) then injection molding a second material onto the head section to form one or more oral care elements of the second material on the head section and a member of the second material in the hole, which member is unitary with the one or more oral care elements.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an oral care system includes a toothbrush and a smart device removably retained in the toothbrush and having a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions of the oral cavity. The sensors may include sensors that obtain information while the smart device is retained in the toothbrush and sensors that obtain information while the smart device is separated from the toothbrush.

Abstract: An oral care implement including at least one spiral bristle. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement having a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one spiral bristle comprising coextruded first and second strand components that are intertwined together to form the at least one spiral bristle; the first strand component comprising a first plastic and a first oral care additive; and the second strand component comprising a second plastic and a second oral care additive, Tine rein the first oral care additive is different than the second oral care additive.

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.