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, said elastomeric element(s) comprising a vulcanized polymer having a Shore A hardness of 90 or less, and  
 b) a plurality of bristles extending from said head portion comprising a non-elastomeric material.  
   
   
   
       46 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein the vulcanized polymer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, crosslinked polybutadiene, crosslinked polyacrylates, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       47 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein the vulcanized polymer includes an oil.  
   
   
       48 . The oral brush  claim 45 , wherein said bristles are a polyamide.  
   
   
       49 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein said non-elastomeric material includes an abrasive.  
   
   
       50 . The oral brush  claim 45 , wherein said bristles have a diameter of from about 5 to about 10 mils.  
   
   
       51 . The oral brush of  claim 45 , wherein the oral brush is an electric brush.