An electric toothbrush device having bristle movement in three dimensions includes an elongate body comprising a neck extending between a handle and a head. A drive shaft engaged to a motor in the handle extends into the head. A plate is engaged to a transfer shaft, which extends perpendicularly from the drive shaft through a planar face of the head and which is operationally engaged to the drive shaft. The plate is external to the head and parallel to the planar face. Bristles are engaged to a second face of the plate. First and second protuberances are engaged to the planar face and the plate, respectively. Movement of the plate parallel to the planar face induced by the transfer shaft brings the second protuberance into contact with the first protuberance to induce repetitive movement of the plate and the bristles in a direction perpendicular to the planar face.

A method and apparatus permitting arbitrary, relative motions of a distal end of a toothbrush or flosser with respect to a handle with real-time selectable motions. The toothbrush has a handle and a post, with a mechanism mechanically coupling the handle to the post permitting relative translational movement of the post with respect to the handle.

An indexed drive system (10) for mechanised tools, in particular an electric toothbrush, for selectively imparting various drive modes to a pair of concentrically-arranged drive shafts (12, 14) thereby imparting various brushing modes to the head (H) of the mechanised tool, in particular an electric toothbrush.

An electric toothbrush includes a toothbrush body. The toothbrush body includes a toothbrush head. The toothbrush head includes a handle part, a first platy body disposed below the handle part, and a first brushing sheet and a second brushing sheet disposed side by side and below the first platy body. The lower surface of the first platy body is provided with a first brush bristle, the rear side surface of the first brushing sheet is provided with a second brush bristle, and the front side surface of the second brushing sheet is provided with a third brush bristle.

A brush head for an electric toothbrush includes a support part supporting upper and lower lateral brush elements and transverse brush elements for the combined brushing of the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth, and an oscillating device intended to impart an oscillating movement to the support part. The support part is elastically deformable such that it can fit snugly against the upper and lower dental arches during brushing. The oscillating device includes a movable part on which the support part is mounted, and a drive shaft coupled to the movable part in order to move the movable part and the support part in an oscillating manner. The movable part extends between the upper lateral brush elements and the lower lateral brush elements.

An oral care appliance having a housing, the housing including a tip and a body. The body is pivotably, rotationally, or translationally secured to the tip and further includes a sensor. The body also includes a control unit arranged to receive at least one input signal from the sensor and switch the oral care appliance from a first mode to a second mode in response to the at least one input signal from the sensor. The at least one input signal corresponding the tip being pivoted, rotated, or translated from a first position to a second position.

An electric toothbrush that detects plaque on the teeth, ensures accurate plaque detection, and performs cleaning of plaque. The electric toothbrush may include a body having a gripping part and a stem with a brush unit detachably coupled to the body. The electric toothbrush may include a light emitting element for emitting light onto the tooth and a light receiving element for receiving light that reflects off of the tooth. A controller may be included to determine an amount of plaque on the tooth based on the amount of reflected light detected. The electric toothbrush may also include a fluid dispensing system that dispenses fluid based on the amount of reflected light detected. In some aspects, the electric toothbrush may operate in multiple oscillation modes, and it may only dispense fluid in some of the modes but not all of the modes.

An electric toothbrush that detects plaque on the teeth, ensures accurate plaque detection, and performs cleaning of plaque. The electric toothbrush may include a body having a gripping part and a stem with a brush unit detachably coupled to the body. The electric toothbrush may include a light emitting element for emitting light onto the tooth and a light receiving element for receiving light that reflects off of the tooth. A controller may be included to determine an amount of plaque on the tooth based on the amount of reflected light detected. The electric toothbrush may also include a fluid dispensing system that dispenses fluid based on the amount of reflected light detected. In some aspects, the electric toothbrush may operate in multiple oscillation modes, and it may only dispense fluid in some of the modes but not all of the modes.

A method and apparatus which permits arbitrary, relative motions of a distal end of a toothbrush and/or flosser with respect to a handle. Said motions are selectable by a user in real time by a selection switch. The toothbrush herein includes an elongated body used as a handle, and smaller elongated member serving as the toothbrush post. A mechanism mechanically couples said handle to said toothbrush post member permitting relative translational movement of said toothbrush post with respect to said handle.

A brush head for an electric toothbrush includes a support part supporting upper and lower lateral brush elements and transverse brush elements for the combined brushing of the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth, and an oscillating device intended to impart an oscillating movement to the support part. The support part is elastically deformable such that it can fit snugly against the upper and lower dental arches during brushing. The oscillating device includes a movable part on which the support part is mounted, and a drive shaft coupled to the movable part in order to move the movable part and the support part in an oscillating manner. The movable part extends between the upper lateral brush elements and the lower lateral brush elements.