A head for an oral care implement has a longitudinal length extension extending between a proximal end and a distal end, an outer rim and an inner portion. The head comprises at least two tooth cleaning elements of a first type and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements of a second type, the tooth cleaning elements of the first type being arranged at the inner portion of the head, and the plurality of tooth cleaning elements of the second type being arranged at the outer rim of the head, thereby surrounding the tooth cleaning elements of the first type. The tooth cleaning elements of the first type are tufts of a first type comprising a plurality of filaments. The tufts of the first type are arranged substantially parallel to each other. Each tuft has a substantially rectangular or oval cross-sectional shape with a longer length extension from about 4 mm to about 8 mm and a shorter width extension from about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm, wherein the longer length extension defines an angle α with respect to the longitudinal length extension of the head of about 25° to about 60°.

To improve the brush-making field, a tuft-picking device (4) is provided, which includes the tuft picker (8) that is movable in relation to the material box (2) of the brush-making machine (1) and, on its front side (11), which in the operating position faces the bristle supply (3) held in the material box (2), includes at least one tuft-picking notch (12). The tuft-picking notch (12) has two opposing knife edges (14, 15), which delimit the notch opening (13) of the tuft-picking notch (12) and are oriented transverse to the direction of movement of the tuft picker (8). Another part of the tuft-picking device (4) is the counter piece (9), which is provided with the separating edge (17) facing the tuft picker (8). In order to allow bristle filaments (16) to be removed from the bristle supply (4) as gently as possible, at least one of the two knife edges (14, 15) and/or the separating edge (17) is rounded.

To improve the brush-making field, a tuft-picking device (4) is provided, which includes the tuft picker (8) that is movable in relation to the material box (2) of the brush-making machine (1) and, on its front side (11), which in the operating position faces the bristle supply (3) held in the material box (2), includes at least one tuft-picking notch (12). The tuft-picking notch (12) has two opposing knife edges (14, 15), which delimit the notch opening (13) of the tuft-picking notch (12) and are oriented transverse to the direction of movement of the tuft picker (8). Another part of the tuft-picking device (4) is the counter piece (9), which is provided with the separating edge (17) facing the tuft picker (8). In order to allow bristle filaments (16) to be removed from the bristle supply (4) as gently as possible, at least one of the two knife edges (14, 15) and/or the separating edge (17) is rounded.

A method of making a brush includes providing a plurality of first filaments, each having a first end and a second end; bringing the plurality of first filaments into a first predetermined shape such that the first ends are arranged side by side on a common contour; fixedly connecting the first ends so that a first pre-tuft having the first predetermined shape and a connected first end is formed; bringing a second tuft element having a first end and a second end together with the first pre-tuft into a second predetermined shape such that the first end of the second tuft element and the connected first end of the first pre-tuft are arranged side by side on a common contour; fixedly connecting the connected first end of the first pre-tuft and the first end of the at least second tuft element so that a final tuft having the second predetermined shape and a connected end is formed; and attaching the final tuft to a brush body by overmolding the final tuft's connected end with a plastic material.

A method of making a brush includes providing a plurality of first filaments, each having a first end and a second end; bringing the plurality of first filaments into a first predetermined shape such that the first ends are arranged side by side on a common contour; fixedly connecting the first ends so that a first pre-tuft having the first predetermined shape and a connected first end is formed; bringing a second tuft element having a first end and a second end together with the first pre-tuft into a second predetermined shape such that the first end of the second tuft element and the connected first end of the first pre-tuft are arranged side by side on a common contour; fixedly connecting the connected first end of the first pre-tuft and the first end of the at least second tuft element so that a final tuft having the second predetermined shape and a connected end is formed; and attaching the final tuft to a brush body by overmolding the final tuft's connected end with a plastic material.

A method of forming a bristle field for an oral care implement. The method includes providing a bundle of bristles and aligning the bundle of bristles with an insertion opening in a guide member. Upon insertion into the guide member, the guide member divides the bundle of bristles into a plurality of bristle tufts. The guide member can be aligned with tuft holes on a head or head plate of an oral care implement so that the bundle of bristles can be inserted through the guide member and into the tuft holes. As a result, a single bundle of bristles can be used to mount a plurality of bristle tufts to the head or head plate.

A method of forming a bristle field for an oral care implement. The method includes providing a bundle of bristles and aligning the bundle of bristles with an insertion opening in a guide member. Upon insertion into the guide member, the guide member divides the bundle of bristles into a plurality of bristle tufts. The guide member can be aligned with tuft holes on a head or head plate of an oral care implement so that the bundle of bristles can be inserted through the guide member and into the tuft holes. As a result, a single bundle of bristles can be used to mount a plurality of bristle tufts to the head or head plate.

An oral care implement including at least one multi-component bristle. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement having a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one multi-component bristle comprising first and second components. The first component may include a first plastic and a first oral care additive and the second component may include a second plastic and a second oral care additive such that the first oral care additive is different than the second oral care additive.

A method of producing a brush as well as a brush (1), in particular a toothbrush, which has at least one bristle bundle (3) which includes at least one bristle filament having a curved and/or kinked profile.

A head for an oral care implement comprises at least one tooth cleaning element of a first type and at least one tooth cleaning element of a second type. The at least one tooth cleaning element of the first type has a length extension along a longitudinal axis being about 1 mm to about 2 mm longer than the length extension of the at least one tooth cleaning element of the second type along its longitudinal axis. The at least one tooth cleaning element of the first type is a tuft of a first type comprising a plurality of filaments. Each filament has a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-shaped cross-sectional area has four projections and four channels, the projections and channels being arranged in an alternating manner. The at least one tuft of the first type has a packing factor within a range from about 40% to about 55%, preferably from about 45% to about 50%.