Polyurethane bristles

Abstract

Oral brushes and bristles for oral brushes are provided. The bristles include a polyurethane and have a relatively high stiffness.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oral brush comprising: 
 a body comprising a head and a handle; and    a plurality of bristles extending from said head, said bristles comprising a polyurethane;    wherein the brush exhibits a stiffness grade of from about 2 to 9 cN/mm 2 .    
     
     
         2 . The oral brush of  claim 1 , wherein said bristles have a cross-sectional dimension no greater than about 0.007 inch.  
     
     
         3 . The oral brush of  claim 1 , wherein said bristles have a cross-sectional dimension of from about 0.004 inch to about 0.007 inch.  
     
     
         4 . The oral brush of  claim 1 , wherein the brush exhibits a stiffness grade of from about 2 to 6 cN/mm 2 .  
     
     
         5 . The oral brush of  claim 1 , wherein said bristles exhibit a bend recovery of at least about 80%.  
     
     
         6 . The oral brush of  claim 1 , wherein said bristles exhibit a tensile modulus of at least about 3000 MPa.  
     
     
         7 . The oral brush of  claim 1 , wherein said bristles comprise a core and a sheath surrounding said core.  
     
     
         8 . The oral brush of  claim 7 , wherein said core includes the polyurethane.  
     
     
         9 . The oral brush of  claim 7 , wherein said sheath includes the polyurethane.  
     
     
         10 . The oral brush of  claim 7 , wherein said sheath further comprises an abrasive.  
     
     
         11 . The oral brush of  claim 1  wherein said polyurethane comprises a rigid thermoplastic polyurethane.  
     
     
         12 . The oral brush of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of second bristles formed of a material other than said polyurethane.  
     
     
         13 . The oral brush of  claim 12  wherein said second bristles comprise nylon bristles.  
     
     
         14 . The oral brush of  claim 1  wherein said bristles have a toughness of at least about 40 MPa.  
     
     
         15 . The oral brush of  claim 14  wherein said bristles have a toughness of at least about 50 MPa.  
     
     
         16 . An oral brush comprising: 
 a body comprising a head and a handle; and    a plurality of bristles extending from said head, said bristles comprising a polyurethane and having an average diameter of no greater than about 0.007 in.    
     
     
         17 . The oral brush of  claim 16  wherein said bristles have a bend recovery of at least 80%.  
     
     
         18 . The oral brush of  claim 16  wherein said bristles have an average diameter of 0.006 in. or less.  
     
     
         19 . An oral brush comprising: 
 a head; and    a plurality of bristles extending from said head, said bristles comprising a polyurethane and having a bend recovery of at least 80%,    wherein said brush exhibits a stiffness grade of from about 2 to 9 cN/mm 2 .    
     
     
         20 . The brush of  claim 19 , wherein said brush exhibits a stiffness of from about 2 to 6 cN/mm 2 .  
     
     
         21 . The brush of  claim 19 , wherein said bristles have an average diameter no greater than about 0.007 inch.  
     
     
         22 . The bristle of  claim 21 , wherein the average diameter of said bristles is from about 0.004 inch to about 0.007 inch.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said polyurethane comprises a rigid thermoplastic polyurethane.  
     
     
         24 . A method of using the oral brush of  claim 1 , said method comprising brushing an oral cavity of a mammal with said brush.