KR20100042267A - Toothbrush with long tapered bristles and short non-tapered bristles - Google Patents

Abstract

Toothbrush heads with bristle tufts comprised of longer tapered bristles and shorter non-tapered bristles in respective embodiments comprising tufts which include both tapered and non-tapered bristles, and comprising an outer ring of tufts of non-tapered bristles round an inner region of tufts of longer tapered bristles.

Description

Toothbrush with long tapered bristles and short bristles with non-tapered shapes {TOOTHBRUSH WITH LONG TAPERED BRISTLES AND SHORT NON-TAPERED BRISTLES}

The present invention relates to a bristle configuration of a toothbrush, in particular a toothbrush. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved bristle bristle configuration that includes tapered bristle filaments.

Toothbrushes are generally well known articles that include a head for insertion into a user's mouth and a grip handle held during use, often with a neck region between them. The bristle head generally has a surface, referred to herein as a “brush brim surface”, and the bristles from the surface extend from the lower end closest to the bristle surface toward the upper end located away from the bristle surface. Brush heads, which include filaments of stiff but flexible material, generally disposed in a plurality of filament tufts extending from the bristle surface, are also well known articles. Polyamide nylon is very often used as bristle material.

In most toothbrushes, bristle filaments are also known to use tapered bristles having the same cross-section along their entire length from their lower end to their upper end, but with reduced cross-section toward their upper end. . The tapered bristles, which become thinner at their upper ends, have different bending forces and flexible features than untaped filaments. In particular, tapered bristles are known for their efficacy in reaching into the spaces between the teeth, the so-called "interproximal". For example, the bristles are particularly EP-A-1 234 525, EP-A-1 415 572, US-A-6,546,586, WO-A-97 / 42853, WO-A-97 / 42854, WO-A- 01/32053, WO-A-82741, EP-A-0 596 633 and the like.

Certain relative placement of tapered bristles relative to the bristle surface is also known. For example, US-A-6,546,586 discloses a plurality of bristle filaments in which each bristle bundle is made of polybutylene terephthalate in the form of shorter filaments of uniform cross section and longer filaments tapered towards their upper ends. Disclosed is a bristle head including a. Combining long bristle filaments and short bristle filaments in a bundle is also known from other disclosures, for example US-A-3,103,679, WO-A-96 / 16571 and DE-A-35 28 596.

In general, there are two ways to make the tapered bristles. One is to chemically corrode the ends of the bristle filaments, and the other is to mechanically grind such ends to be tapered. Accurate mechanical polishing of bristle filaments on the toothbrush heads in the field has been found to be difficult. Known toothbrushes of the type disclosed in WO-A-96 / 16571 are known to have not been commercially successful because of poor oral feel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved toothbrush head incorporating tapered bristle filaments which provides tooth cleaning, for example in the interdental space, at the gum edges, in the subgum passages and also has manufacturing advantages. . Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a toothbrush head having a bristle surface, from which the tufts comprising a plurality of bristles extend in the bristle direction, each tuft from its lower end thereof. Shorter bristles having a cross section not tapered towards the upper end, and longer bristles tapered from their lower end toward their upper end, wherein the tapered shape of the longer bristles starts over the upper end of the shorter bristles; The length of the longer bristles on the upper end of the shorter bristles is 4 mm to 7 mm or less.

Toothbrush heads of 4 mm to 7 mm in length of tapered longer bristles, which are bristles on the upper end of the shorter bristles, are especially made of polyamides, for example nylon, in particular Tynex ^TM materials, where bristle filaments are preferred. When produced, it has been found to facilitate the preparation of the bristle head by mechanical polishing of the upper end of the longer bristle. This is due in particular to the current optimization of available machines that can polish the ends of bristle filaments into tapered profiles, and the properties of bristle filament materials such as Tynex ^™ .

Preferably the length of the longer bristles on the upper end of the shorter bristles is greater than 4 mm and no more than 7 mm. Typically the length of the shorter bristles extending from the bristle surface is 9 ± 1 mm and the length of the longer bristles extending from the bristle surface is 13 ± 1 mm.

Typically the filaments may be circular in cross section, typically at most 0.1 to 0.25 mm, for example 0.15 to 0.20 mm. This is a typical standard dimension for bristle filaments of a toothbrush. Typically longer bristles may be tapered over their entire length above the shorter bristles top end.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a toothbrush head having a bristle surface, from which the tufts comprising a plurality of bristles extend in the bristle direction, each tuft from its lower end thereof. Shorter bristles having a cross section not tapered towards the upper end, and longer bristles tapered from their lower end toward their upper end, wherein the tapered shape of the longer bristles starts over the upper end of the shorter bristles; Each bundle is set in a tuft socket having a minimum length across the longitudinal direction of the bristle filament, in the range of 1.7 to 2.4 mm.

It has been found that using bundle sockets in this dimensional range, typically circular and having a diameter within the range, is advantageous for combining shorter bristles and longer bristles in the bundle. This is because the dimensions allow for a packing density where shorter bristles can support longer bristles for an advantageous tooth cleaning effect, and longer filaments are more flexible than shorter filaments for equally applied forces. It is considered to be.

Typically, the toothbrush bundle socket has a standard depth of 3.4 to 3.8 mm. A bundle socket depth of 3.6 mm was found to be suitable for the toothbrush head bundle of the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a toothbrush head having a bristle surface, from which the tufts comprising a plurality of bristles extend in the bristle direction, each tuft from its lower end thereof. Shorter bristles having a cross section not tapered towards the upper end, and longer bristles tapered from their lower end toward their upper end, wherein the tapered shape of the longer bristles starts over the upper end of the shorter bristles; Each bundle includes two to twelve longer filaments extending from the bristle surface. Preferably there are 20 to 30 shorter bristle filaments and 2 to 12 longer filaments extending from the bristle surface.

It has been found that this range of number of bristle filaments in the bundle may be advantageous to provide an acceptable oral feel and allow longer bristles to enter between the teeth. Too few long bristle filaments may result in the user not feeling comfortable, and too many longer bristle filaments may not be easy to allow multiple longer filaments to enter between the teeth.

It has been found that 5 to 7 longer filaments, preferably 26 to 28 shorter filaments, and 5 to 7 longer filaments are suitable numbers for the optimized effect.

In conclusion, in a fourth aspect of the invention, the features according to the first and third aspects described above appear in combination in the toothbrush head, according to this fourth aspect, a toothbrush head having a bristle surface is provided, and the bristles A bundle comprising a plurality of bristles from the surface extends in the bristle direction, wherein each tuft has shorter bristles having a cross section which does not taper from their lower ends to their upper ends, and their upper ends from their lower ends. Comprising a longer bristle tapered towards the distal end, the tapered shape of the longer bristle starting over the upper end of the shorter bristles, the length of the longer bristle above the upper end of the shorter bristle being 4 mm to 7 mm, Each bundle comprising 2 to 12 longer filaments extending from the bristle surface do.

In this fourth aspect, there are preferably 20 to 30 shorter bristle filaments and 2 to 12 longer filaments extending from the bristle surface.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, all three of the above aspects are combined in a toothbrush.

Thus, according to this fifth aspect, there is provided a toothbrush head having a bristle surface, from which the tufts comprising a plurality of bristles extend in the bristle direction, each tuft from its lower end thereof. Shorter bristles having a cross section not tapered towards the upper end, and longer bristles tapered from their lower end toward their upper end, wherein the tapered shape of the longer bristles starts over the upper end of the shorter bristles; The length of the longer bristles on the upper end of the shorter bristles is less than or equal to 4 mm and 7 mm, each of the bundles being set in a bundle socket having a minimum dimension in the range of 1.7 to 2.4 mm, wherein each of the bundles is 20 to 30 shorter bristle filaments and 2 to 1, extending from the bristle surface Contains two longer filaments.

Within the bristle bundles, shorter bristle filaments and longer bristle filaments can be arranged in various ways. For example, longer bundles may be disorderly placed in shorter bristle filaments. Alternatively, the longer bristles can be disposed about the central upper-lower axis of the bundle, for example as a central region comprising the longer bristles mainly or wholly.

In the toothbrush head of the present invention, the bundle can be placed on the bristle surface otherwise in a generally customary pattern.

However, in a preferred embodiment, the bristles have shorter bristles having a cross section not tapered from the lower end to the upper end, and longer bristles tapered from the lower end to the upper end, wherein the tapered shape of the longer bristles is shorter. The bundle starting above the upper end of can be disposed on the bristles surface in a pattern comprising the inner clusters of the bundles contacting on each longitudinal surface by the bundle consisting of only the shorter bristle filaments. Moreover, in the pattern, the inner cluster of the bundle may be surrounded by a bundle consisting of only the shorter bristle filaments on all sides.

On the bristle surface of the toothbrush head of the present invention, there may additionally be a conventional type of bristle bundles made of known materials such as nylon, for example Tynex ^™ . There may also be a tooth or gum hygiene member extending from the bristle surface, for example an elastomeric member of known type.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides additionally constructed tapered and non-tapered bristle filaments.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a toothbrush head having a bristle surface, from which the tufts comprising a plurality of bristles extend in the bristle direction, each tuft on the bristle surface, each bundle Disposed in a pattern comprising a relatively inwardly located cluster of a plurality of bundles containing relatively longer bristles tapered from the lower end to the upper end, and a plurality of relatively outwardly located clusters of relatively shorter bristles do.

The bundles in the relatively inner clusters may be composed entirely of tapered relatively longer bristles.

The plurality of relatively externally located bundles described above may be disposed as an outer circumferential bundle along two or more outer faces of the bundle pattern. For example, a plurality of relatively outwardly located bundles may be arranged as outer bundles along two transversely facing surfaces of the bundle pattern. For example, the outer bundle may be arranged in a ring-shaped circumferential bundle around all sides of the bundle located relatively inside. At the end of the bundle pattern located farthest from the toothbrush handle, which is the "tip end", the upper end of the outer bundle may lie in one surface, for example in one plane, with the longitudinal distance from the handle. As the distance increases, the distance from the bristle surface increases. For example, the tip end of the head may be a cluster of outer bundles, for example the polygon of the outer bundle whose upper end is within the surface.

The plurality of relatively externally located bundles may comprise bristles of uniform cross-section that are not tapered along the bottom-top length. The plurality of relatively externally located bundles may be composed entirely of bundles consisting of bristles of uniform cross section along the lower-upper length.

The distance difference between the relatively longer bristles and the relatively shorter bristles each extending from the bristle surface may be 2-7 mm, typically 2-4 mm. Typically shorter outer bundles may be 9-11 mm in length. All bristle filaments on the toothbrush head according to this fifth aspect of the invention may be made of polyamide, for example nylon, in particular Tynex ^TM material.

Handles and other portions of the toothbrush provided with the head of the present invention may be otherwise conventional, and may be made of conventional materials such as the known polypropylene materials used for the toothbrush.

A toothbrush head may be provided which is integrally attached to the toothbrush handle, for example by means of an intermediate unitary neck, or the toothbrush head may be replaceably attached to the toothbrush handle. The toothbrush head of the present invention may be provided for a manual or powered toothbrush.

The toothbrush head of the present invention extends over the upper end of the shorter bristles while the upper bristles of the longer bristles extend over the shorter bristles while the shorter bristles and longer bristles are inserted into the bundle socket holes in the toothbrush head without tapering. It can be produced by a process in which the upper end is mechanically polished into a tapered form. Machines capable of performing such mechanical polishing are known in the toothbrush manufacturing art.

Alternatively, bristle filaments can be purchased in an already tapered form. Tapered bristles in the marketed form as described above are mainly present in two types.

The double ended bristle filaments are tapered at both ends, and the bristle filaments fold these filaments in the center in the form of "U" and the folded middle portion in the form of "U" as a conventional "locker". anchor) to normally place within the bristle surface by setting it in a socket hole in the bristle surface. In the toothbrush head of the present invention, tapered bristle filaments and non-tapered bristle filaments are typically folded into a "U" shape with a band of "U" inserted into the socket hole and held therein by a conventional metal anchor. It may comprise a filament having two ends described above. In one such configuration, each length of the "U" shaped filament provides two bristles extending from the bristle surface.

Single-ended bristle filaments are tapered at only one end, and the "fastener" is a conventional "locker" that has a tapered filament adjacent to the non-tapered end in a "J" shape and a folded "J" shape. It is normally placed in the bristle surface by setting it in a socket hole in the bristle surface using a.

Alternatively, the bristle bundle of the toothbrush head of the present invention is a known " ancholess, in which a bristle portion to be set in the head is enclosed in the injection mold portion and the plastic material of the head is injected into the mold to plant the bristle filaments in the head. (anchorless) or "inmould" process can be used to place the brush head surface.

Tapered bundles can be placed in the toothbrush head of the present invention in this conventional manner.

In the toothbrush head of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the filament having one end described above is preferable because it provides the desired bristle density in longer bundles.

1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush head of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a toothbrush head of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view through the bristle bundle of the head of FIG. 2 taken along line AA of FIG. 2 seen in the direction of the arrow.
4 is a side view of another toothbrush head of the present invention.
5 is a side view of another toothbrush head of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bristle surface of the head with the toothbrush of FIG. 5. FIG.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is a bristle surface (generally) comprising a plurality of bristle filaments 12 having a bristle surface 11 extending in the bristle direction 'B' which is generally perpendicular to the bristle surface. One full toothbrush head 10 is shown. The bristle filaments are made of Tynex ^™ , a nylon material. The lower end of each of the bundles 12 is adjacent the bristle surface; The opposite upper end is located far from the bristle surface.

Each bundle 12 includes shorter bristles 13 having cross sections that do not taper from their lower end to the upper end, and longer bristles 14 tapered from the lower end to the upper end. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the longer bristles 14 are tapered generally conically towards their lower ends, and the tapered shape of the longer bristles 14 begins above the upper ends of the shorter bristles 13. . The length “d” shown in FIG. 2, the length of the longer bristle 14 extending over the upper end of the shorter bristle 13, is about 6 mm. The shorter bristles 13 extend about 9 mm from the bristle surface and the longer bristle 14 extend about 13 mm from the bristle surface. Shorter bristle filaments 13, and longer bristle filaments 14 above these lengths below the upper ends of the shorter bristles are circular in cross section and 0.15 to 0.20 mm in diameter, which is a typical standard for bristle filaments of a toothbrush. Dimension.

Each of the bundles 12 is placed in each bundle socket 15 having a minimum dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bristles, in the range of 1.7 to 2.4 mm. The total depth of the socket holes 15 is 3.6 mm, where the cylinder is up to 3.3 mm deep and shallow conical below. This is the standard depth and profile.

Each bundle 12 includes a bristle filament having two ends folded in a "U" shape, wherein the "U" shaped fold is inserted into the bundle socket 15 and the metal "used commonly in toothbrush configurations". By means of a fixing device 16 ". In this configuration, each bristle filament folded in the "U" shape provides two bristle filaments 13, 14 which extend from the bristle surface 11 as a result.

Each bundle 12 includes 20 to 30 shorter bristle filaments and 2 to 12 longer filaments, extending from the bristle surface 11. In the bundle 12 shown in FIGS. 1-3, the longer bristles 14 are arranged around the upper-lower axis of the center of the bundle 12, for example disorderly, or as shown in FIG. 3. Longer bristles 14 are mainly arranged in the central region, surrounded by a sheath of shorter bristles 13.

Toothbrush head 10 of the present invention is formed integrally with the neck 17, by which the toothbrush head is integrally connected to the grip handle (not shown). Between the neck 17 and the head 10 is a flexible connection 18 of known construction that includes a thinly formed area of the neck 17 surrounded by the elastomeric spheres.

 The toothbrush according to FIGS. 1 to 3 described above was evaluated experimentally in comparison to two commercial toothbrushes with the non-tapered bristles described below.

Exam 1: Interdental  Access efficacy, IAE

Way

Three toothbrush product, also a toothbrush equipped with a toothbrush head of 1 to 3, the current "Dr. Best cheubi swenjjan (Dr Best Zwischenzahn) ^TM" toothbrush toothbrushes on the market with (herein referred to as "test toothbrush"), and Oral-B Cross Action ^40TM ("Toothbrush A" herein) and Oral-B Indicator ^35TM toothbrush ("Toothbrush B" herein) with two different toothbrushes, medium texture bristles, were evaluated in this test. . All of the test toothbrushes were provided by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Health Care GmbH and Koh Cage, Shack, Germany. Each product group, namely a test toothbrush, and six toothbrushes from toothbrushes A and B, were tested four times for a total of 24 tests for each toothbrush design. Toothbrushes were stored in the laboratory at a temperature of 67-70 ° F. for more than 48 hours before testing. The laboratory equipment used was made with the designs of Nygaard Ostby, Edvardsen and Spydevold. The brushing technique included an independent evaluation of each toothbrush in the vertical and horizontal brushing movements, the tooth shape proposing anterior and posterior teeth, and a toothbrush weight of 250 g. The brushing device was set to brush for 15 seconds in two strokes with 50 mm stroke per second. The maximum width (interdental access efficacy, IAE) of the removed artificial plaques was recorded in cm using vernier califers. The same investigator performed all evaluations. Variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed on the average score for each toothbrush product. Two sample t-tests were used to identify significant differences between the toothbrushes.

assignment

As the main method used in the laboratory, during the brushing process with the toothbrush, the ability of the toothbrush's bristles to penetrate between tooth models and the ability to remove artificial plaques, i.e., interdental access efficacy (IAE), was evaluated. Both vertical and horizontal brushing movements were assessed for pretended anterior and posterior tooth morphology. The results were then combined to determine the overall efficacy of the evaluated toothbrush product. Overall efficacy in IAE evaluation was correlated with clinical plaque removal rate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate test toothbrushes and toothbrushes A and B for efficacy in the IAE process.

The interdental access efficacy for the anterior or posterior shaped teeth using horizontal brushing is shown in Table 1 below. The mean IAE was significantly higher for the test toothbrush than for toothbrushes A or B (p <0.001).

TABLE 1

result

The interdental access efficacy for the anterior or posterior shaped teeth using vertical brushing is shown in Table 2 below. For both anterior and posterior tooth forms using vertical brushing, the mean IAE was significantly higher for the test toothbrush than for the toothbrushes A and B (p <0.001).

TABLE 2

The overall performance average of all brushing exercises and tooth shapes combined is shown in Table 3 below. The overall IAE mean for the test toothbrush was statistically higher than the overall mean value for toothbrushes A and B (p <0.001).

TABLE 3

In all IAE evaluations performed, the test toothbrush was significantly better than toothbrushes A and B (p <0.001). The test toothbrush was expected to be more efficient for clinical interdental plaque removal than toothbrushes A and B.

Test 2: Gum Edge Cleaning

Two laboratory methods were developed to assess the tooth edge and subgum action of the toothbrush in this area of analysis. The Gum Edge Cleaning Method (GMC) used a wet plaque-covered pressure-sensitive paper located above the anterior tooth model to compare toothbrush products for their ability to remove artificial plaque at the junction of the gum tissue model. The sub gum access efficacy (SAE) of the second method is an artificial plaque covered pressure sensitive substrate to assess the ability of the bristles to penetrate under the gum tissue model around the anterior tooth form and to remove artificial plaque under wet brushing conditions. Was used. The maximum depth of plaque deposits removed is defined as the sube gum access efficacy (SAE).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate test toothbrushes and toothbrushes A and B for gum edge cleaning and subgum accessibility.

Method and substance

The products tested in this evaluation were the test toothbrushes identified above, and toothbrushes A and B. Six products from each group were tested four times in each individual evaluation for a total of 24 evaluations. Laboratory equipment was made with the design of Nigard-Ostby, Edvardsen and Spidebold. Gum models were made from self-curing dental acrylics. Edge analysis was developed using dental textbook guidelines. The space between the acrylic gum and toothbrush form was 0.2 mm. The brushing technique was a horizontal brushing movement of the anterior tooth model at an applied brushing weight of 500 g.

Gum edge cleaning

Tooth brushing techniques included an independent assessment of the horizontal brushing movement of each toothbrush, the tooth morphology of the anterior tooth, and the brushing weight of 500 g. The toothbrush to be tested was aligned with a small papillae on the edge of the gum and the brushing device was set to brush for 60 seconds at 2 strokes with 15 mm stroke per second. For cleaning at the gum edges (GMC), the length of the removed artificial plaque deposits was recorded at the junction of the gum model and the pressure sensitive paper. One investigator measured readings in mm at 3x magnification. Assuming that the variances are different, the data were analyzed using the t-test for statistical significance between the three groups.

Under the gums  accessibility

Each toothbrush to be tested was aligned with a small protrusion at the edge of the gum and the brushing device was set to brush for 30 seconds in two strokes with 15 mm strokes per second. The maximum depth of removed plaque deposits (SAEs) was recorded on an artificial plaque-covered substrate placed below the gum model and around the anterior shaped teeth. Readings were measured in millimeters at 3x magnification by one investigator. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were calculated for the toothbrushes tested. Comparison of mean SAEs was performed using two sample t-tests assuming that the variances are not equal.

result

Test toothbrushes were found to be statistically superior to toothbrushes A and B in GMC and SAE as shown in Tables 4 and 5 below (p <0.001).

Table 4

Table 5

conclusion

This laboratory study was performed to evaluate the artificial plaque removal depth and cleaning efficacy at the gum edge (GMC) between the toothbrush and three toothbrush products of the present invention. In this laboratory study, Dr. Best Zubiquizne ^TM toothbrush was found to be significantly (p <0.001) more effective for gum edge cleansing and subgingival access area compared to toothbrushes A and B.

4, 5 and 6, the entirety of another toothbrush head 20 is shown having a bristle surface 21 in which the bundle 22 extends (generally) in the bristle direction “B”. The head 20 extends integrally in the longitudinal direction as a neck region 23 connecting the head to the grip handle 24. The head 20, neck portion 23 and handle 24 are made of a plastic material together with the rubberized grip pad 25. The toothbrushes shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 are manual toothbrushes.

A bundle 22 comprising a relatively inner cluster of a plurality of bundles 26 and a plurality of relatively outer bundles of relatively shorter bristles 27 is arranged in a pattern, wherein the plurality of bundles ( Each of 26) includes relatively longer bristles tapered from their lower end to their upper end. The bundle 26 consists entirely of relatively longer bristles of tapered shape. A plurality of relatively externally located bundles 27 are arranged around the outer periphery of the ring shape around all sides of the relatively internally located bundle 26. The plurality of relatively externally located bundles 27 generally consist of bristles of uniform cross-section along their lower-top lengths.

The shorter outer bundles 27 are about 10 mm long and the longer inner bundles 26 are about 13 mm long. The bristle filaments of the bundles 26, 27 are typically made of polyamide material nylon, sold under the tradename Tynex ^™ , and typically 0.1 to 0.25 mm in diameter.

The longer tapered bristle filaments 26 are tapered filaments having a single end.

5 shows the tip end of the bundle pattern located farthest from the toothbrush handle 24, which is the "tip end", with the upper end of the outer bundle 28 lying in one plane, the longitudinal distance being away from the handle 24. The toothbrush head shows a greater distance from the bristle surface 21. This bundle 28 is disposed within the polygon of the outer bundle 28.

Claims (15)

A toothbrush head having a bristle surface, wherein from the bristle surface a bundle comprising a plurality of bristles extends in the bristle direction, each bundle being non-tapered from its lower end towards its upper end. For a toothbrush head comprising a shorter bristles having a cross section, and longer bristles tapered from their lower ends to their upper ends, the tapered shape of the longer bristles starting over the upper ends of the shorter bristles ,
Toothbrush head, characterized in that the length of the longer bristles on the upper end of the shorter bristles is 4 mm to 7 mm or less. The toothbrush head of claim 1, wherein the length of the shorter bristles extends from the bristle surface of 9 ± 1 mm and the length of the longer bristles of the bristle surface of 13 ± 1 mm. A toothbrush head having a bristle surface, wherein from the bristle surface a bundle comprising a plurality of bristles extends in the bristle direction, each shorter having a cross section that does not taper from its lower end toward its upper end. Bristles, and longer bristles tapered from their lower ends to their upper ends, the tapered shape of the longer bristles starting over the upper ends of the shorter bristles, each bundle ranging from 1.7 to 2.4 mm. Toothbrush head set in the bundle socket having a minimum dimension across the longitudinal direction of the bristle filament. A toothbrush head having a bristle surface, wherein from the bristle surface a bundle comprising a plurality of bristles extends in the bristle direction, each shorter having a cross section that does not taper from its lower end toward its upper end. Bristles, and longer bristles tapered from their lower ends to their upper ends, the tapered shape of the longer bristles starting over the upper ends of the shorter bristles, each tuft extending from the bristle surface. A toothbrush head comprising from twelve longer filaments. 5. The toothbrush head of claim 4, wherein there are 20 to 30 shorter bristle filaments and 2 to 12 longer filaments extending from the bristle surface. 6. A toothbrush head according to claim 4 or 5, wherein there are five to seven longer filaments. A toothbrush head having a bristle surface, wherein from the bristle surface a bundle comprising a plurality of bristles extends in the bristle direction, each shorter having a cross section that does not taper from its lower end toward its upper end. For a toothbrush head comprising bristles, and longer bristles tapered from their lower ends to their upper ends, the tapered shape of the longer bristles starting over the upper ends of the shorter bristles,
Longer bristles on the upper end of the shorter bristles are 4 mm to 7 mm or less in length, each tuft comprising 2 to 12 longer filaments extending from the bristle surface. 8. The toothbrush head of claim 7, wherein there are 20 to 30 shorter bristle filaments and 2 to 12 longer filaments extending from the bristle surface. A toothbrush head having a bristle surface, wherein from the bristle surface a bundle comprising a plurality of bristles extends in the bristle direction, each shorter having a cross section that does not taper from its lower end toward its upper end. Bristles, and longer bristles tapered from their lower ends to their upper ends, the tapered shape of the longer bristles starting over the upper ends of the shorter bristles and over the upper ends of the shorter bristles 20-30 short bristle filaments having a length of 4 mm to 7 mm or less, each bundle being set in a bundle socket having a minimum dimension in the range of 1.7 to 2.2 mm, each bundle extending from the bristle surface; and Toothbrush head comprising 2 to 12 longer filaments. A toothbrush head having a bristle surface, wherein from the bristle surface a bundle comprising a plurality of bristles extends in the bristle direction, wherein the bundle has a relatively longer bristle with each tuft tapered from its lower end toward its upper end. A toothbrush head disposed on the bristle surface in a pattern comprising a plurality of bundles of relatively internally located clusters, and a plurality of relatively externally located bundles of relatively shorter bristles. 12. The toothbrush of claim 10, wherein the bundles in said relatively located clusters comprise relatively longer bristles of generally tapered shape. 12. The toothbrush of claim 10 or 11, wherein the plurality of relatively externally located bundles are disposed as outer circumferential bundles along two or more outer faces of the bundle pattern. 13. The toothbrush of claim 12, wherein the plurality of relatively outer bundles are disposed as annular circumferential bundles around all sides of the relatively inner bundles. 14. A toothbrush head according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein each of the relatively longer bristles and the relatively shorter bristles has a difference in length extending from the bristle side of 2-7 mm. 15. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the relatively longer bristle and relatively shorter bristles each have a difference in length of 2 to 4 mm extending from the bristle side.

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