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 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle;    a head attached to the handle, the head comprising a plurality of non-elastomeric bristles and a plurality of upstanding elastomeric elements, wherein the plurality of upstanding elastomeric elements are disposed along a perimeter of the head; and    an elastomeric portion attached to the head and formed in a recess therein, wherein the plurality of upstanding elastomeric elements and the elastomeric portion are molded as a unit so that the elastomeric upstanding elements are integrally joined to the elastomeric portion.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric portion has a top surface that is substantially contiguous with a surface of the head.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the upstanding elastomeric elements are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore A hardness of at least about 30.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polyacrylates, polybutadienes, polyetheramides, polyesters, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, polyurethanes, polyolefin elastomers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has a Shore A hardness between about 35 and about 55.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has a flexural stiffness of at least about 5 MPa.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has a flexural modulus between about 5 and about 100 MPa.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of non-elastomeric bristles are alternatingly arranged with the plurality of upstanding elastomeric elements.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the upstanding elastomeric elements are configured to massage gums of an oral cavity.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of non-elastomeric bristles are inserted into a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of non-elastomeric bristles attached to the head by stapling.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a first side surface and a second side surface and between about 4 and about 7 upstanding elastomeric elements are arranged adjacent the first and second side surfaces.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush is an electric toothbrush.  
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric elements comprise an abrasive.  
   
   
       15 . A method for forming a toothbrush having a handle and a head attached to the handle, comprising: 
 molding an elastomeric portion in a recess of the head and molding a plurality of upstanding elastomeric elements, wherein the elastomeric portion and the plurality of upstanding elastomeric elements are molded as a unit so that the upstanding elastomeric elements are integrally joined to the elastomeric portion and wherein the elastomeric portion has a top surface that is substantially contiguous with a surface of the head; and    attaching a plurality of non-elastomeric bristles to the head, wherein the plurality of non-elastomeric bristles are inserted into a plurality of holes.