Gum massaging oral brush

Abstract

An oral brush is provided that includes an elongated body, a head portion extending from the body, and a plurality of bristles, formed of particular thermoplastic elastomers, extending from the body. In various embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer has a Shore A hardness of at least 30; the thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyetheramides, polyesters, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethanes, polyolefin elastomers, and mixtures thereof; and the thermoplastic elastomer has a flexural modulus of at least 5 MPa.

1 - 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . An oral brush comprising 
 an elongated handle;    a head portion, sized for insertion into the human mouth, extending from an end of said handle; and    a brush portion comprising    (a) one or more elastomeric element(s) extending from said head portion to a radiused terminal end to contact one or more teeth, said elastomeric element(s) comprising a thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore A hardness of  30  or greater which is a styrenic block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a polyolefin elastomer, or a mixture of any two or more of said elastomers, and    (b) a plurality of bristles extending from said head portion comprising a non-elastomeric material,    wherein said elastomeric element(s) extend(s) upwardly from said head portion in substantially the same direction as at least some of the non-elastomeric bristles.    
   
   
       46 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficiently soft so as to avoid gum irritation during gum massage.  
   
   
       47 . The oral brush  claim 45 , wherein said bristles are a polyamide.  
   
   
       48 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein said bristles are a polymeric material including an abrasive.  
   
   
       49 . The oral brush  claim 45 , wherein said bristles have a diameter of from about 5 to about 10 mils.  
   
   
       50 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein the oral brush is an electric brush.  
   
   
       51 . An oral brush comprising 
 an elongated handle;    a head portion, sized for insertion into the human mouth, extending from an end of said handle; and    a brush portion comprising    (a) one or more elastomeric element(s) extending from said head portion to contact one or more teeth, said elastomeric element(s) comprising a plasticized thermoplastic elastomer which is selected from the group consisting of a styrenic block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a polyolefin elastomer, and mixtures thereof, and    (b) a plurality of bristles extending from said head portion comprising a non-elastomeric material.    
   
   
       52 . The oral brush of  claim 51 , wherein the a plasticized thermoplastic elastomer is plasticized with an oil.  
   
   
       53 . The oral brush of  claim 51 , wherein the a plasticized thermoplastic elastomer is plasticized with a wax.  
   
   
       54 . The oral brush of  claim 51 , wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is sufficiently soft so as to avoid gum irritation during gum massage.  
   
   
       55 . The oral brush  claim 51 , wherein said bristles are a polyamide.  
   
   
       56 . The oral brush of  claim 51 , wherein said bristles are a polymeric material including an abrasive.  
   
   
       57 . The oral brush  claim 51 , wherein said bristles have a diameter of from about  5  to about 10 mils.  
   
   
       58 . The oral brush of  claim 51 , wherein the oral brush is an electric brush.