EP2028969B1 - Toothbrush and toothbrush head and a tooth cleaning bristle for same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a toothbrush bristle, which is formed as a monofilament and has a lateral surface with a preferably longitudinally annular patterned profiling, which has alternately projections and depressions in the circumferential direction. The invention further relates to a toothbrush head with a bristle carrier to which at least one such toothbrush bristle is attached, and finally a preferably electric toothbrush with such a toothbrush head.

Conventionally, for the bristle tufts of a toothbrush substantially cylindrical Zahnputzborsten used, in particular circular cylindrical bristles, but also cylinder shapes are known with deviating from the circular base areas. In addition to cylindrical toothbrush bristles with triangular, quadrangular or polygonal cross-sections, toothbrush bristles with more complicated profilings have been proposed on the lateral surface in recent times, such. B. toothbrush bristles with star-shaped or cross-shaped cross-sections. Such on the outer surface profiled toothbrush bristles have been proposed from various perspectives.

That's how it shows US 3,302,230 a toothbrush with bristles tapering in the longitudinal direction, which should be triangular, star-shaped or rhombic in cross-section, in order to achieve a scraping effect with the lateral surface-side contour edges and to achieve improved adhesion of the toothpaste over circular cross-sections. Also the JP 6-233709 A proposes such edged cross-sectional profiles for the toothbrush bristles of a toothbrush in order to bring about a better removal of plaque by the shell-side edges and their scraping action. The DE 195 33 815 A1 On the other hand, proposes a toothbrush whose bristles on its outer surface should have a single or multi-start helix profile, in order to achieve an increased massage effect. However, such helically twisted profiles have the disadvantage that the bristles can easily get caught between each other and also the penetration into interdental spaces is difficult because this would have to twist the bristles.

From the DE 198 18 345 A1 are multilayer toothbrush bristles with an inhomogeneous material cross-section known in which a comparatively hard plastic core to be covered with a rubber elastic plastic layer, which is profiled by embossing against the core, profiled as distributed over the circumference longitudinal ribs, the bristle a total approximately flower-shaped cross-section give, or hole-shaped Recesses in the lateral surface are proposed. However, such multilayer bristles are complicated to manufacture and correspondingly expensive, and moreover, they are only suitable to a limited extent for being fixed in the so-called anchor-plug process. In order to increase the bending stiffness even of long, very slender bristles, the beats DE 1 997 717 to build a bristle of multiple filaments, which are welded together along their longitudinally extending contact surfaces, wherein the manner of a flower tuft on the lateral surface convexly curved longitudinal ribs arise. This results in between the filaments forming the bristles storage pockets in which moisture collects. It is understood that these, welded together from several filaments bristle is expensive to manufacture. In the US 5,533,227 Furthermore, a toothbrush is described whose bristles are sharpened at the ends of the bristles. Apart from these tipping, however, the bristles are circular-cylindrical.

Other bristles with shell-side profiles for other applications, however, show the writings EP 0 329 505 B1 . DE 11 40 901 . US 5,725,954 . US 2,434,533 and GB 1,137,407 ,

The previously proposed toothbrush bristles with shell-side profiles can meet the requirements for toothbrushes and teeth cleaning, sometimes diametrically divergent requirements so far only insufficient. Although toothbrush bristles with cross-shaped or star-shaped cross sections can effect a good plaque removal by the scraping effect of their lateral surface-side edges, they nevertheless have a rather special, direction-dependent flexural rigidity. In addition, bristles combined with a tuft of such a cross-section can easily become entangled. Also, such profiled toothbrush bristles are difficult to attach to the bristle carrier of the toothbrush head. In particular, the toothbrush bristles can not be handled without further U-shape, so that attachment in the Ankerstopfverfahren is difficult. On the other hand, it is disadvantageous with regard to the reception of toothpaste on the lateral surface of the bristles with regard to toothbrush bristles which are easier to handle and have polygonal, in particular square or hexagonal cross-sections without concaves on the lateral surface. The same applies to cylindrical toothbrush bristles with entirely unprofiled lateral surfaces, which are also less advantageous in terms of Beborstungsdichte. When the toothbrush bristles are too round, space is always given away between the individual bristles in a bristle tuft so that only a limited number of bristles can be provided for a given size of the bristle carrier and a predetermined number of drilled holes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved toothbrush bristle, an improved toothbrush head and a correspondingly improved toothbrush, which avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and further develop the latter in an advantageous manner. In particular toothbrush bristles are to be created, which can be summarized in terms of production technology simply in the anchor plug process to a bristle tufts with high bristle density and still have a high cleaning performance.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a toothbrush bristle according to claim 1, a toothbrush head according to claim 17 and finally a toothbrush according to claim 20. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

To be able to meet the requirements of a toothbrush bristle which are diverging from one another, the present invention provides a special profiling of the lateral surface of the toothbrush bristles, which makes it possible to easily pot the bristle carrier with a high bristle density, prevents hooking of the bristles combined into a tuft and nevertheless ensures an intensive coat surface cleaning effect. By profiling the circumferential length of the toothbrush bristle is in a certain ratio to the cross-sectional area of the bristle. According to the invention, the toothbrush bristle, which is in the form of a monofilament, has a lateral surface-side profiling, which is designed such that the ratio of the circumferential length of the lateral surface to the cross-sectional area of the dentifrice bristle is in the range from 32 mm ^-1 to 36 mm ^-1 . As a result, the lateral surface of the toothbrush bristle is significantly increased compared to a circular-cylindrical bristle with a comparable cross-sectional area, so that the coat surface-side cleaning effect is improved accordingly and toothpaste adheres better to the toothbrush bristle on the lateral surface side and is dispensed. Toothpastes can be picked up in the mantle surface side depressions of the profiling and be dispensed directly in the case of plaster contact with the tooth flanks, whereby a greater polishing effect is achieved, which is particularly desirable in the removal of tooth color. By despite small cross-sectional area in comparison to round bristles enlarged lateral surface is more cleaning surface with the teeth to be cleaned into engagement, which brings an increased cleaning performance with it. In addition, such a profiled profiling of the toothbrush bristle shell surface allows a high bristle density in a continuous bristle arrangement in a tuft, without giving away space between the bristles. Nevertheless, the toothbrush bristle remains despite the shell surface side profiling suitable to be attached to a corresponding bristle carrier in Ankerstopfverfahren. In this case, a plurality of toothbrush bristles with a substantially double tuft length U-shaped beaten into a tuft and anchored by means of an overlying the diffraction of the bristles anchor in a Tuftaufnahmeausnehmung in the bristle carrier. An anchorless stuffing over, for example, the so-called AFT or IAP method are also conceivable with these bristles.

The cross-sectional area is in the range between 0.015 mm ² to 0.020 mm ² . Due to the small cross-sectional area of the individual toothbrush bristles, a high packing density can be achieved with many bristles per area of the bristle carrier. In addition, the toothbrush bristles can be easily turned in the desired manner U-shaped to be attached to the bristle carrier in Ankerstopfverfahren.

The depressions and projections of the profiling can basically be designed and arranged differently. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the projections and depressions are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the lateral surface of the toothbrush bristle. The arrangement of the depressions and projections can be made in particular such that of the wells an inner envelope and the projections of an outer envelope is defined, ie the radially lowest points of the wells are on a circle as well as the radially outermost points of the projections lie in a circle. In principle, oval, elliptical or generally deviating from the circular shape envelopes come into consideration. Preferably, however, is the aforementioned training with enveloping circles defining arrangement of the valleys and projections, with which the above-mentioned divergent demands on the nature of a Zahnputzborstenbüschels are best fulfilled.

In a further development of the invention, the depth of the depressions or the height of the projections is selected such that the ratio of the diameter of the outer envelope circle defined by the projections to the diameter of the inner envelope circle defined by the depressions is in the range of 1.1 to 1.6 Depending on the geometry of the depressions or projections different values for the diameter ratio are preferred.

The number of distributed over the circumference depressions and projections of the shell surface side profiling can basically be chosen differently, with at least four depressions and four projections are distributed over the circumference in order to achieve a sufficient Umfangslängenvergrößerung without too deep cross-sectional cuts. In a further development of the invention, at least six depressions and at least six projections are provided on the lateral surface of the toothbrush bristle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toothbrush bristle formed as a monofilament may be provided with a cross-section which is substantially flower-shaped or has the shape of a clover leaf. The projections may have an arcuate, in particular circular arc-shaped contour seen in cross-section, while the wells, also considered in cross-section, may have a V-shaped or sharp contour, which is formed by the converging side edges of two adjacent projections. The depressions are formed so to speak, bottomless in the form of converging columns, the side edges of the adjacent projections run pointed or rounded together only with a small radius. Depending on the strength of the crowning of the projections, the side flanks in the depressions can converge at different angles, wherein preferably the contour is formed such that the side flanks of two adjacent projections converge at an acute angle, advantageously at an angle of less than 60 °.

In particular, in such a design of the shell surface side profiling with acute inwardly converging depressions, the aforementioned diameter ratio of outer enveloping circle to inner enveloping circle in the range of 1.4 to 1.6 and be about 1.5 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

In such a total bloom- or cloverleaf-shaped formation of Zahnputzborstenquerschnitts it proves to be particularly advantageous if six projections and six depressions are provided on the lateral surface, which extend in the form of longitudinal ribs or longitudinal depressions advantageously parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush bristle.

By the longitudinal ribs with arcuate edge contour efficient and nonetheless gentle tooth cleaning can also be achieved with the outer surfaces of the toothbrush bristles.

In order to achieve a stronger abrasive effect with the outer surface of the toothbrush bristles, the toothbrush bristle according to an alternative, also preferred embodiment of the invention may have a total approximately profile-like cross-section, in which on the lateral surface of the toothbrush bristle in the circumferential direction crenellated projections with approximately U-shaped depressions or Nuts alternate. The crenellated contour of the projections can advantageously have slightly inclined side edges, so that the crenellated projections taper slightly radially outward. The preferably straight side flanks connecting connecting portion of the crenellated contour may be formed basically flat, but is slightly convex curved in development of the invention, wherein advantageously an edged transition of the top forming connecting portion is provided in the side edges. The recesses provided between the crenellated projections are bounded by said side flanks of the crenellated contours, which, however, in contrast to the above-described embodiment are spaced apart, so that forms a blunt bottom surface between the side flanks and the sink receives a total of a U-shaped cross-section. In particular, the profiling can be designed such that the lateral surface of the toothbrush bristle corresponds to a circular cylindrical shaft, in the circumference of which longitudinal grooves are milled.

In such - roughly speaking - a total profiled shaft-like design of the toothbrush bristles with U-shaped depressions said depressions are advantageously formed quite flat. In a further development of the invention, the diameter ratio of the aforementioned outer enveloping circle to the inner enveloping circle is about 1.1 to 1.2. Preferably, eight projections are provided on the lateral surface, which alternate with eight U-shaped depressions.

The toothbrush bristles preferably have a cross-section which is essentially constant over the length of the toothbrush bristles, so that the projections and depressions of the profiling have a strident course and extend essentially over the entire length of the bristle. Optionally, the toothbrush bristle may be rounded towards its bristle end or otherwise taper, so that in this bristle end no uniform cross section is given more.

In a further development of the invention, the profiling of the lateral surface is not twisted in itself. Apart from a bristle end section, the toothbrush bristle, in particular in the area of the profiled lateral surface, may in turn be designed to be generally cylindrical, wherein the base surface is of course not circular in shape, but profiled accordingly, due to the profiling.

Fig. 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer elektrischen Zahnbürste nach einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung, die einen Bürstenkopf mit einem rotatorisch antreibbaren Borstenfeld aufweist,

Fig. 2:

eine schematische Darstellung eines aus U-förmig umgeschlagenen Filamenten bestehenden Borstenbüschels, der in einer Büschelaufnahmeausnehmung aufgenommen und mit einem über der Beugung der Filamente liegenden Anker befestigt ist,

Fig. 3:

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung einer Zahnputzborste der Zahnbürste aus Fig. 1 nach einer ersten bevorzugten Ausführung,

Fig. 4:

einen Querschnitt durch die Zahnputzborste aus Fig. 3, und

Fig. 5:

einen Querschnitt durch eine Zahnputzborste nach einer alternativen Ausführung der Erfindung.

Other objects, advantages, features and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features alone or in any meaningful combination or sub-combination form the subject matter of the present invention, also independent of their summary in the claims or their relationships. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

a perspective view of an electric toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which has a brush head with a rotationally drivable bristle field,

Fig. 2:

a schematic representation of a bundled from U-shaped filaments bristle tufts, which is received in a tuft-receiving recess and secured with an overlying the diffraction of the filaments anchor,

3:

a schematic, perspective view of a toothbrush bristle toothbrush from Fig. 1 according to a first preferred embodiment,

4:

a cross section through the toothbrush bristle Fig. 3 , and

Fig. 5:

a cross section through a toothbrush bristle according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

In the FIG. 1 Toothbrush 13 shown comprises a handpiece 14 and a toothbrush head 2, which sits on a brush tube 25 which forms an end face of the handpiece 14 and is connected thereto. The handpiece 14 is formed by a toothbrush housing 26 in which a battery receiving compartment and a drive motor 27 are arranged axially one after the other in a manner known per se. By means of a switch 18, the drive motor 27 can be switched on and off. Comprehensive with a drivetrain not specifically shown a gear and a transformer extending through the brush tube 25, the disk-shaped bristle carrier 3 of the toothbrush head 2 can be rotationally driven in an oscillating manner. In the illustrated embodiment sits on the bristle carrier 3 is a substantially circular cylindrical trained bristle field 19, which may consist of a plurality of bristle tufts 4, as it FIG. 2 shows.

This in FIG. 2 shown bristle tufts 4 is advantageously attached to the bristle carrier 3 in the so-called Ankerstopfverfahren. The bristle carrier 3 has for this purpose a substantially cylindrical, blind hole-shaped tufts receiving recess 12, in which the bristle tufts 4 is driven. The bristle tufts 4 consists of a plurality of U-shaped turned over toothbrush bristles 1, which have substantially twice the length of the bristle tufts 4, so that each toothbrush bristle 1 loop-shaped in the receiving recess 12 sits and with its two legs in fact two bristles in the bristle tufts 4th forms. As FIG. 2 shows, is placed on the diffraction of the folded toothbrush bristles 1, an anchor 11, by means of which the bristle tufts 4 is anchored in the tufts receiving recess 12. The armature 11 extends transversely across the receiving recess 12 away and can be taken in the wall.

The toothbrush bristles 1 have according to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention advantageously in the FIG. 3 shown contour. Each toothbrush bristle 1 is designed as a monofilament and made of a polymer material, in particular polyamide, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or a thermoplastic elastomer, in principle, other materials are used. Due to the monofilament formation, the toothbrush bristle 1 has a substantially homogeneous material cross-section.

As FIG. 3 shows, the toothbrush bristle 1 advantageously has an overall cylindrical shape, wherein in the illustrated embodiment over the length of the toothbrush bristle 1 constant cross-section is provided. On the lateral surface 5 of the toothbrush bristle 1, a profiling 6 is provided, which has an axis-parallel course to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush bristle 1 in the illustrated embodiment.

As the Figures 3 and 4 show together, the profiling 6 of the lateral surface 5 substantially corresponds to a spline profile, which is achtnutig formed in the illustrated embodiment. In the circumferential direction alternate tooth or crenellated projections 7 with a cross-sectionally U-shaped depressions 8, the wells 8 form a total of axially parallel grooves in the lateral surface 5 and the projections 7 axially parallel ribs.

As FIG. 4 The crenellated protrusions 7 are bounded laterally by straight side flanks 13, while the raised top of the protrusions 7 forming a connecting portion 14 between the side flanks 13 of the respective protrusion 7 , is slightly convex. The above-mentioned upper sides of the projections 7 each have a circular cylinder segment shape and lie on a common outer enveloping circle 10 or an outer enveloping cylinder whose diameter is in FIG. 3 is denoted by the reference character D. The measures provided for between the projections 7 8 form in cross-section U-shaped, axially parallel grooves with a flat or alternatively slightly convex bottom 15, wherein the bottoms 15 of all wells 8 together on an inner enveloping circle 9 and an inner enveloping cylinder, the diameter in FIG. 4 marked with the letter d.

As FIG. 4 shows, the valleys 8 slightly widen radially outward. The depressions 8 laterally delimiting side edges 13 of the projections 7 are each slightly inclined at an acute angle, preferably at an angle 16a of about 10 ° to 30 °, preferably about 15 °. While the angle 16a describes the "opening angle" directly between the inner cross points of the side flank 13 and the generatrix of the sink, the larger angle 16b (= about 20 °) indicates the opening angle between the outer cross points of the side flank and the generatrix of the projections.

The angle α (= 16a) in Fig. 4 in any case, is smaller than the angle β, which describes the angular range of the angular extent of the protrusions. Preferably, α to β in the ratio 1 to 2.

The depth of the wells 8 is selected in the illustrated embodiment such that the ratio of the aforementioned diameter D of the outer enveloping circle 10 to the diameter d of the inner enveloping circle 9 in the illustrated embodiment is about 1.15.

In the illustrated embodiment, eight depressions 8 and eight projections 7 are provided, the depressions 8 and the projections 7 are each distributed uniformly over the circumference of the lateral surface 5 at a pitch angle of 45 °.

Concretely, the diameter D of the outer envelope 10 in the illustrated embodiment is about 6.25 mil, which is about 0.1587 mm, while the diameter d of the inner envelope 9 is 5.5 mil, which is about 0.1397 mm.

This results in the illustrated embodiment, a circumferential length of about 0.60 mm to 0.65 mm and a cross-sectional area of about 0.015 mm ² to 0.20 mm ² , so that the ratio of the circumferential length to the cross-sectional area about 34 mm ^-1 to 35 mm ^-1 .

Alternatively to the in FIG. 4 shown cross-sectional surface, the toothbrush bristles may also have a total of approximately flower-shaped cross-section or a cross-section which corresponds approximately to the contour of a clover leaf, as this FIG. 5 shows. The also axially parallel projections 7 have in cross-section a circular arc-shaped outer contour, which is dimensioned and arranged such that a total of approximately each semicircular arc sections are placed around each other around the circumference, see. FIG. 5 , The depressions 8 are formed in this embodiment of the tapered side edges 13, so that the wells 8 - roughly speaking - have an approximately V-shaped contour, the flanks, however, have a curvature. In the illustrated embodiment, the side edges 13 of two adjacent projections 7 meet at an angle of approximately 45 ° to each other.

As FIG. 5 shows, six such circular cross-section projections 7 are distributed over the circumference evenly at a pitch angle of 60 °, wherein the projections 7 are arranged evenly in the radial direction, so that they define with their respective maximum radial extent an outer envelope 10 whose Diameter in FIG. 5 is again denoted by the reference character D. The depressions 8 define the inner enveloping circle 9, whose diameter is in FIG. 5 denoted by the reference numeral d.

The circular contour in cross-section rounded outer contour of the projections 7 is rounded with a radius of curvature of about 0.02 mm to 0.03 mm, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, a rounding radius 16 is provided by about 0.026 mm. Together with the uniform distribution of the total of 6 projections 7, this results in a diameter D of the outer enveloping circle 10 of about 6.58 mil, which corresponds to about 0.167 mm. The diameter d of the inner enveloping circle 9 defined by the depressions 8 in the illustrated embodiment is about 4.34 mils, corresponding to about 0.11 mm. The minimum outer diameter 17, which is determined by a measurement after the in FIG. 5 shown type is about 5.5 mils to 6.5 mils, more preferably about 6 mils, which is about 0.152 +/- 0.013 mm.

The diameter ratio of the outer enveloping circle 10 to the inner enveloping circle 9 is about 1.5 in the illustrated embodiment.

By the arcuate projections 7 of the profiling 6, the circumferential length compared to a circular cross-section with self-sectional area is significantly increased. For such a flower-shaped cross-sectional contour, the circumferential length is advantageously about 0.575 mm to 0.675 mm with a cross-sectional area of about 0.013 mm ² to 0.023 mm ² . Concretely, in the illustrated embodiment, a circumferential length of 0.625 mm results for a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.018 mm ² . Thus, the ratio of the circumferential length to the cross-sectional area is about 34 mm ^-1 to 35 mm ^-1 .

The toothbrush bristle can be used with manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes with sound drive, oscillation drive or with eccentric balancing drive.

Claims (21)

1. A teeth cleaning bristle that is formed as a monofilament and has a generated surface (5) with a profile (6) that is preferably structured in the shape of longitudinal furrows, which profile (6) has projections (7) and recesses (8) alternating in the circumferential direction, characterized in that the profile (6) is designed such that the ratio of a circumferential length of the generated surface (5) to a cross-sectional area of the teeth cleaning bristle (1) is in the range from 32 mm^-1 to 36 mm^-1, and wherein the cross-sectional area is in the range from 0.015 mm² to 0.02 mm².
2. The teeth cleaning bristle according to the preceding claim, wherein an inner enveloping circle (9) is defined by the recesses (8) and an outer enveloping circle (10) is defined by the projections (7), wherein a ratio of the diameter (D) of the outer enveloping circle (10) to the diameter (d) of the inner enveloping circle (9) is between 1.1 and 1.6.
3. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profile (6) has at least four recesses (8) and four projections (7) distributed over the circumference.
4. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profile (6) has at least six recesses (8) and six projections (7) distributed over the circumference.
5. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein projections (7) viewed in cross section have an arc-shaped (in particular circular arc-shaped) contour and/or the recesses (8) viewed in cross section have a V-shaped and/or acute contour formed by the converging side faces of two adjacent projections (7).
6. The teeth cleaning bristle according to the preceding claim dependent on claim 3, wherein the ratio of the diameter (D) of the outer envelope (10) to the diameter (d) of the inner envelope (9) is between 1.4 and 1.6, preferably approximately 1.5.
7. The teeth cleaning bristle according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein six projections (7) and six recesses (8) are provided on the generated surface (5).
8. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the claims 1 through 4, wherein the projections (7) as viewed in cross section have a crenellation-shaped contour, in particular with straight side faces (13), and a convexly curved top side (14) connecting the side faces, and/or the recesses (8) as viewed in cross section respectively have a U-shaped contour with a floor surface formed between two side faces (13), separated from one another, of two adjacent projections (7).
9. The teeth cleaning bristle according to the preceding claim, dependent on claim 2, wherein the ratio of the diameter (D) of the outer envelope (10) to the diameter (d) of the inner envelope (9) is between 1.1 and 1.2.
10. The teeth cleaning bristle according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein eight projections (7) and eight recesses (8) are provided on the generated surface (5).
11. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recesses (8) are formed identical to one another and/or the projections (7) are formed identical to one another.
12. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the teeth cleaning bristle has a uniform cross section in the region of the profile (6).
13. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recesses (8) and/or the projections (7) travel parallel to the longitudinal axis of the teeth cleaning bristle.
14. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the generated surface (5) with the profile (6) is cylindrically designed.
15. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is produced preferably from a thermoplastic polymer material.
16. The teeth cleaning bristle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it has a homogenous material cross section.
17. A toothbrush head with a bristle carrier (3) and at least one teeth cleaning bristle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims that is attached to the bristle carrier (3).
18. The toothbrush head according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one bristle tuft (4) comprising a plurality of teeth cleaning bristles (1) according to any one of the claims 1 through 16 is provided at the bristle carrier (3), wherein the teeth cleaning bristles (1) are combined in a U-shape into the bristle tuft (4) and are anchored in a tuft receptacle recess (12) in the bristle carrier (3) by means of an anchor (11) lying over the curve of the teeth cleaning bristles (1) combined into a U-shape.
19. The toothbrush head according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the toothbrush head (2) is designed as an exchangeable head that has detachable connecting means for connection with a toothbrush handle part.
20. A toothbrush with a toothbrush head (2) according to any of the preceding claims 17 through 19.
21. The toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein an electric actuator is provided for a preferably oscillating actuation of the bristle carrier (3).

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