HK1058752B - Motor-driven toothbrush and brush head for the same - Google Patents

Description

Motor-driven toothbrush and brush head used by same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a toothbrush having a motor for rotating, translating or otherwise moving the brush head. The invention also relates to a brush head for such a toothbrush, which brush head has a multiplicity of bristles and a bristle support on which the bristles are mounted. Wherein the bristle carrier is substantially plate-shaped and comprises a movement or rotation axis about which the bristle carrier can be driven, and a connecting device for connecting to the toothbrush motor.

Background

It is known that in simple manually operated toothbrushes without an electric motor, both the brush handle and the brush head with bristles are constructed to be soft and pliable in order to achieve a better fit between the working surface defined by the bristles and the tooth profile. The brush head is divided into sections which are interconnected by means of cross-tooth bridges made of elastic rubber, so that these sections can be subjected to mutual torsional deflection (cf. DE19831412A1, WO98/27846, WO 96/02165). The torsional deflection of the head when the bristles are pressed against the teeth may cause the concave working surface defined by the free end of the head in the initial state to become a substantially planar working surface.

However, in a common brush head for a motor-driven toothbrush, the majority are disk-shaped rigid bristle holders, and the bristle bundles are rigidly mounted on the bristle holders. In contrast to manual toothbrushes, the brush head can be moved continuously or in an oscillating manner in a rotary motion about an axis of rotation which is substantially perpendicular to the bristle carrier plate. In order to improve the fit between the working surface and the tooth profile and to improve the interdental cleaning, a different approach is used for the brush head of the motor-driven toothbrush. For example, it has been proposed to tilt a bundle of bristles towards the direction of rotation at an angle, which bundle of bristles can enter the interdental space (compare example EP 0765642). Furthermore, it has been proposed to arrange the bristle tufts of a rotatable brush device parallel to the axis of rotation, the bristle length of which is adapted to form an overall approximately conical working surface which facilitates cleaning of interdental spaces (cf. US 5862559).

It has also been proposed to drive the bristle bundles relatively. US5500970 shows an unusual brush head for a toothbrush. The brush head includes an arm arranged in a V-shape, on which a bundle of bristles is mounted. The bristle tufts are directed toward each other to encircle the teeth in a manner similar to pliers. A corresponding drive moves the arms toward and away from each other so that the bristle tufts perform a corresponding cleaning motion on the tooth surfaces located between the arms. However, the tooth-like arrangement of the bristle tufts hinders the rotational drive movement of the bristles. Accordingly, with this known toothbrush the cleaning of the chewing surface of the teeth is unsatisfactory.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improved base cleaning and interdental cleaning in a typical motor driven toothbrush head having a rotary drive. In particular, improvements are made in the overall cleaning of all dental areas including molars, premolars and incisors.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved toothbrush of the type mentioned in the introduction; providing an improved head for the toothbrush; the defects of the prior art are avoided; and to make advantageous improvements to the prior art. In particular, a brush head for a motor-driven toothbrush having a rotary drive device is improved to achieve thorough tooth base cleaning and interdental cleaning.

The invention relates to a brush head for a toothbrush, comprising a drive for the rotational movement of the brush head, comprising a plurality of bristles and a bristle support for holding the bristles, wherein the bristle support is essentially plate-shaped or disk-shaped and comprises a movement axis or a rotational axis, about which the bristle support can be driven, wherein the bristle support is divided into bristle support sections which can be moved relative to one another, characterized in that the bristle support further comprises a connecting device for connection to the drive of the toothbrush, wherein at least one bristle support section is located on a shaft via a bearing section, which shaft is supported on a bristle support base which can be connected to the drive of the toothbrush.

In addition, the invention also discloses a toothbrush, which comprises a motor driving device and the toothbrush head according to the above.

The brush head therefore comprises a bristle holder which is divided into several parts, so that the parts can be moved relative to each other. In contrast to the rigid bristle carrier plates known to date, the device according to the invention makes it possible to improve the fit between the tooth contour and the working surface of the free ends of the bristles, and to improve the cleaning of the entire tooth area, in particular of the abutment area and the interdental area. At least one bristle carrier part has a further axis of motion which is different from the entire bristle carrier axis of rotation, in other words at least one bristle carrier part is movable relative to the bristle carrier base.

In particular, the bristle support comprises several bristle support sections which can be tilted relative to one another about at least one tilting axis. Thus, generally, the bristle mount portions are co-rotatable about the brush head axis of rotation. In addition, they can be tilted relative to each other. The respective tilting axis preferably extends transversely to the axis of movement or rotation of the brush head, preferably perpendicularly thereto.

A further development of the invention consists in providing a pretensioning device, in particular a spring device, for tensioning the bristle carrier parts relative to one another in a basic position. The movable bristle mount portion and the bristles mounted thereon follow the tooth profile independently of the applied force. In this way, an improvement in cleaning is achieved. Furthermore, if the force applied is too great, the bristles can bend back against the pre-tensioning force to prevent damage to the teeth, particularly the gums. Furthermore, the free ends of the bristles can have a component of movement transverse to the direction of rotation when the individual bristle seat portions are tilted away from each other. As a result, the outer bristles can be better inserted into and cleaned from gaps between teeth.

It is preferred not to force the bristle carrier parts into mutual movement. The movable bristle carrier parts are freely movable relative to each other, i.e. against the pretensioning force, so that the tooth profile can be better followed. This is in contrast to the proposal of US 5500970. Although this state of the art allows free compensating movement of the entire brush head about its axis of rotation and driving the bristles relative to one another, the present invention provides for driving the entire brush head about its axis of rotation and allowing the bristles, i.e., the bristle carrier portions, to undergo compensating movement relative to one another.

A further development of the invention is that the pretensioning means and/or the movable bristle carrier part are designed to bring about a resonant oscillating movement of the movable bristle carrier part by means of the toothbrush drive. In particular, the pretensioning means and the movable bristle carrier part are tuned to the frequency of the toothbrush drive such that a resonant oscillation occurs along an additional axis of movement of the bristle carrier part. In this way, a double cleaning movement of the free ends of the bristles can be achieved, firstly a rotary drive movement about the axis of rotation and secondly a movement perpendicular to the first movement, said second movement being caused by self-resonance.

The mutual movement of the bristle carrier parts can be realized in various ways. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bristle carrier comprises two diametrically opposed tilting portions which are tiltable relative to each other about a common tilting axis. The two tilting portions are connected to and movable relative to a bristle holder base, which is connectable to a toothbrush drive. The common tilt axis is arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bristle holder. As a result, the bristles located centrally above the central tilting axis are stiffer than the bristles located peripherally on the bristle holder and thus at a distance from the tilting axis when the bristles are pressed against the teeth. When peripheral bristles, which are fixed to the bristle holder and thus spaced apart from the tilting axis, are pressed against teeth, they are bent by the hinging away of the bristle holder portion. The common central tilt axis allows the device to be compact, while having a small moment of inertia and a simple brush head design.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the bristle carrier can comprise two diametrically opposed tilting portions which can be tilted relative to one another about two mutually spaced and preferably mutually parallel tilting axes, respectively. In this embodiment, each tilting portion has its own tilting axis about which it can be tilted relative to the bristle holder base. Preferably, the tilting axis is arranged such that when pressure is applied to the central bristles, the bristle field closes up, surrounding the teeth in a V-shaped manner. As a result, the bristles disposed on the outer side can enter the gaps between the teeth. If the pressure is increased further, the inner bristle field will bend towards the outside and the bristle fields fold together. As a result, the resistance of the bristles to the teeth will be reduced, and the outer bristles can enter deeper into the gaps between the teeth. If pressure is applied to the incisors, the pressure is mainly provided by the outer bristles, while the bristle field becomes flat against the pretensioning force. Each of the two tilting axes is located below a bristle fixed on the bristle seat portion; in particular, the spacing between the tilt axis and the rotation axis may be approximately one and a half to one times the bristle holder radius.

The bristle mount may comprise only movable bristle mount portions, such that all of the bristle mount portions are movable relative to the axis of rotation of the bristle mount. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the bristle carrier may comprise at least one rigid bristle carrier part which does not have any axis of movement other than the axis of rotation and which is rigidly connected to the bristle carrier base. Thus, the rigid bristle mount portion is only rotatable about the axis of rotation. In particular, the two diametrically opposed bristle seat portions may be rigid, on either side of the oppositely disposed two tilting portions. The bristle tufts may be fixed to the movable bristle seat portion with the bristle tufts projecting relative to the bristles fixed to the rigid portion. The movable part can be pushed back under the action of the tiltable support means.

A further development of the invention consists in that the bristles fixed to the movable bristle carrier part are inclined relative to one another when the bristle carrier parts are in their pre-tensioned basic position. When the bristle mount portion is tilted back, it is preferred that the bristles be parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush head.

A further improvement of the invention is that the bristles can be arranged so that their longitudinal axes are at an angle of less than 30 degrees, preferably less than 15 degrees, relative to a median plane containing the axis of rotation of the head. In particular, in the pre-tensioned basic position of the respective bristle support portion, the bristles on the movable bristle support portion are inclined relative to the axis of rotation or the above-mentioned middle plane by an acute angle of preferably less than 15 degrees, in particular by an angle of approximately between 4 and 8 degrees.

A tilting range of the bristle holder portion may be defined. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is sufficient that the bristles on the movable bristle carrier part can be tilted in a range of less than 15 degrees.

A further development of the invention provides that the bristles in the radially outer region of the head have a greater rigidity than the bristles in the radially inner region of the head. This may be achieved by means of various parameters. In particular, the flexural modulus and/or diameter of the bristles disposed on the outer side may be different than the head disposed on the inner side. The difference in bristle stiffness can also be achieved by selecting appropriate materials, different absorption forces and/or selecting appropriate bristle configurations. For example, the bristles in the outer region may have a straight design, while the bristles in the inner region are curved. Double-strand bristles may also be used.

Preferably, the free ends of the bristles in the radially outer region are higher than the free ends of the bristles in the radially inner region in the direction of the axis of rotation. This can be achieved by a corresponding contour of the bristle holder. But preferably this is achieved by the bristles in the outer region being longer. The working surface defined by the free ends of the bristles may be stepped outwardly. In general, in the pre-tensioned basic position of the bristle carrier part, the working surface is concave. In order to allow easy replacement of the brush head, it is preferred that the bristle holder comprises a central shaft-like connection for connection to a drive of the toothbrush. In particular, the attachment may be integral with the bristle holder base. Preferably, the connector is a snap connector.

The proposed brush head has particular advantages in combination with the movement of the drive means oscillating in a rotational manner and additionally oscillating in a translational manner along the axis of rotation at the same time. This allows the bristles to move not only back and forth along the axis of rotation, but also in a pushing motion toward and away from the teeth. This allows for a relatively effective and thorough cleaning of the teeth, even with deep interdental spaces. The movable arrangement of the bristle seat portion prevents damage to the gums in the event of excessive pressure being applied.

Drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below by means of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, which show the following:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brush head according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the brush head including a plurality of bristle holder portions disposed on a common tilt axis;

figure 2 is a top plan view of the working surface defined by the free ends of the bristles in the head of figure 1;

figure 3 is a section of the head shown in figures 1 and 2 taken along line a-a of figure 2;

figure 4 is a view taken along line B-B of figure 2 showing the brush head portion of the previous figures;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of a brush head according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the brush head being comprised of two bristle holder portions which are tiltable about respective tilting axes;

figure 6 is the brush head portion of figure 5 perpendicular to the tilting axis of the bristle carrier portion, the bristle carrier portion being shown in its pre-tensioned, base position with the bristles facing each other;

FIG. 7 is the brush head portion of FIG. 5, shown across the tilt axis, with the bristle carrier portion shown in its hinged open position and the bristles aligned parallel to each other; and

figure 8 is a perspective view of a brush head according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising two rigid bristle mount portions and two tiltable bristle mount portions.

Detailed Description

The brush head 1 according to fig. 1 to 4 comprises a substantially disk-shaped bristle carrier 2, which bristle carrier 2 is divided into two approximately semicircular bristle carrier parts 3 and 4. The bristle holder portions 3 and 4 are constructed so as to be independent of each other. As shown in particular in fig. 3 and 4, the bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 are connected to one another tiltably on a common tilting axis 5. To achieve this, the two bristle support parts 3 and 4, respectively shaped and aligned with one another, 7 and 8 are fastened to a common shaft 9, which in turn is fastened to a bristle support base 10 (compare fig. 4).

The bristle holder base 10 includes a shaft-like attachment that can be connected to a rotary drive (not shown) of the electric toothbrush, particularly by which the base 10 is advanced. The bristle carrier base 10 defines a brush head axis of rotation 11 which is perpendicular to the tilting axis 5 of the bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 and also substantially perpendicular to the front face of the bristle carrier 2, and the bristles 12 are held in the bristle carrier 2 in a tuft-like manner.

The tilting axis 5 located below the bristle holder 2 allows only a limited tilting movement of the bristle holder parts 3 and 4. As shown in fig. 3, the tilting movement of the bristle holder parts 3 and 4 is defined in two directions by end stops 13 and 14. The end stop 13 is formed by the opposing faces of the bristle seat portions 3 and 4 themselves. An end stop 14, which partially defines the tilting of the two bristle seat parts 3 and 4, is formed by the surface of the bristle seat base 10, the surface 10 of which is opposite the bristle seat parts 3 and 4, and in which position said two parts 3 and 4 form a plane disc-shaped bristle, the underside of the bristle seat parts 3 and 4 resting on said surface of the bristle seat base 10, when said bristle seat parts 3 and 4 reach their tilted-open end position. The maximum tilting angle at which the two bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 can be tilted relative to each other is between 5 and 25 degrees, preferably between 10 and 15 degrees. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each bristle holder part 3 and 4 is tiltable through approximately 4 to 8 degrees relative to the bristle holder base 10.

A spring means 15 is connected to the two bristle holder parts 3 and 4, said spring means 15 acting as a pretensioning means and pressing the two bristle holder parts 3 and 4 in an initial state, tilting the two parts 3 and 4 towards each other. This pre-tensioning initial state is shown in fig. 3. In the initial position shown, the surface of the bristle carrier part 3 on which the bristles 12 are mounted is inclined at an angle 16 of 12 degrees towards the surface of the bristle carrier part 4 on which the bristles 12 are mounted; in other words, when the bristles 12 on the bristle holder portion 3 are inclined at an angle of 12 degrees toward the bristles 12 on the bristle holder portion 4, the surfaces of the two bristle holder portions 3 and 4 exhibit an angle of 168 degrees.

The spring means 15 can be designed in various ways, for example, it can be supported between the underside of the bristle holder parts 3 and 4 and the surface of the bristle holder base 10, which surface of the bristle holder base 10 faces said underside. In the embodiment shown, the spring means 15 is a leg spring (leg spring) which surrounds the tilting axis 5, in other words the shaft 9 (compare fig. 4).

Preferably, the resilient properties of the spring means 15 are such that the bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 start a self-resonant, or at least a half-resonant tilting movement under the influence of the toothbrush rotary drive on the axis of rotation 11.

The bristles 12 may be arranged on the bristle holder 2 in a variety of configurations and in a variety of arrangements. A preferred embodiment of the bristles 12 is that the brush head 12 projects substantially perpendicularly from the flat surfaces of the bristle carrier parts 3 and 4, so that in the pre-tensioned initial position of the bristle carrier parts according to fig. 3 the bristles are inclined to one another, while during the tilted-open position of the bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 the bristle carrier parts form a flat disk, the bristles 12 being parallel to the axis of rotation 11. As shown in fig. 2, the bristle bundles located at the inner side may be additionally inclined inward from each other.

Preferably, the rigidity of the radially outer bristles 12a is greater than the rigidity of the radially inner bristles 12i (compare fig. 3). This may be controlled, for example, by selecting parameters including: flexural modulus, diameter, material, and/or bristle configuration.

It is also preferred that the length of the peripheral bristles 12a is greater than the length of the inner bristles 12i, i.e. the free ends of the bristles 12a fixed to the periphery in the direction of the axis of rotation 11 are higher than the bristles located at the inner periphery. Thus, the working surface defined by the free ends is stepped concave so that the free ends of the bristles match the curved surfaces of the teeth, while the peripherally located stiffer bristles can pass through the interdental spaces for interdental cleaning.

Fig. 5 to 7 show a second preferred embodiment of the invention. In this second embodiment, the brush head assembly corresponds to the assembly in the previous embodiment, and these assemblies are designated with the same reference numerals.

As in the case of the previous embodiments, the brush head 1 comprises a brush holder 2, which brush holder 2 is divided into two brush holder parts 3 and 4, which brush holder parts 3 and 4 are arranged to be tiltable relative to each other. However, in contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment, the two bristle support sections 3 and 4 are not tilted about a common tilting axis, but about two separate tilting axes 17 and 18, which are spaced apart and parallel to one another. As shown in fig. 6, the tilting axes 17 and 18 lie in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis 11 of the brush head 1. The spacing between each of the tilting axes 17 and 18 and the rotational axis 11 is approximately three-quarters of the bristle field radius r fixed to the bristle holder 2 (see fig. 7).

As in the previous embodiment, the bristle holder 2 comprises a bristle holder base 10 located below the bristle holder parts 3 and 4, and the surface of said bristle holder base 10 facing the bristle holder parts 3 and 4 becomes larger, thereby forming a support disc 19 to form the respective tilting axes 17 and 18. The bearing portions 7 and 8 of the bristle carrier portions 3 and 4 are located on a shaft 9, which shaft 9 defines the tilting axis 5 and is arranged in a respective recess in a bearing plate 19 of the bristle carrier base 10.

The two bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 are pretensioned in an initial position, in which the two bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 are inclined towards each other, while the bristles 12 are inclined towards a middle plane containing the axis of rotation 11, by means of two spring devices 15 as pretensioning means (see fig. 6).

The ability of the bristle holder parts 3 and 4 to rotate is limited. In the embodiment shown, the surface of the support disk 19 facing the bristle seat parts 3 and 4 comprises an end stop against which the underside of the bristle seat parts 3 and 4 rests, the bristle seat parts 3 and 4 reach their extreme tilting position.

Other movements are also possible via the shown device with two separate tilting axes. The two tilting axes are oppositely arranged, so that when the bristles 12i positioned in the middle are pressed in the process of lightly pressing the molar teeth, the bristle areas are folded; in other words, the bristle holder portions 3 and 4 assume the state shown in fig. 6, while the bristles 12 are looped around the teeth in a V-shape. As a result, the bristles 12a located on the outer side can pass through the gaps between the teeth. If the pressure continues to increase, the bristles 12 flex outwardly, with the bristle field tilting open; this will result in less resistance to the teeth by the bristles, and the outer bristles 12a will penetrate deeper into the interdental spaces. When pressure is applied to the incisors, pressure is applied mainly by the outer bristles 12a, while the bristle field is pressed against the pretensioning force of the spring, flattening the bristle field. At this point, the bristles assume the configuration shown in FIG. 7.

As in the previous embodiment, the free ends of the bristles 12 form a stepped and generally concave working surface 20. The free ends of the outer bristles 12a are higher than the more inner bristles 12i in the direction of the axis of rotation 11.

In the manner already described, it is preferred that the peripheral bristles 12a have a bristle stiffness that exceeds the stiffness of the bristles 12i in the inner region.

In the embodiment according to fig. 5 to 7, the maximum tilting angle is slightly larger than in the previously described embodiment. In the maximum closed state shown in fig. 6, the angle of the bristles 12 with respect to a mid-plane containing the axis of rotation 11 is between 10 and 25 degrees; preferably, the angle is approximately 16 degrees. As shown in fig. 7, the bristle holder portions 3 and 4 may be tilted so that they are separated from each other far enough that the bristles 12 are parallel to the axis of rotation 11. If desired, the bristle holder portion can be tilted further apart so that the bristles 12 will spread apart in a V-shape.

Preferably, also in the embodiment according to fig. 5 to 7, the spring properties of the spring means 15 are such that under the action of the rotary oscillation of the toothbrush drive, the bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 each start a tilting movement from resonance, or at least half resonance.

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the brush head assembly shown corresponds to the assembly in the previous embodiment, and these assemblies are identified with the same reference numerals.

As in the case of the embodiment according to fig. 1 to 4, the two diametrically opposed bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 are tiltably located on a common tilting axis perpendicular to the brush head rotation axis. However, the two bristle carrier parts 3 and 4 can also be arranged on two separate tilting axes, so that they can be tilted about the bristle carrier base 10 as in the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 5 to 7.

In contrast to the previous embodiments, the bristle holder 2 does not comprise only the movable bristle holder parts 3 and 4. In addition to the latter, the brush head 1 comprises two rigid bristle holder parts 21 and 22, while the movable bristle holder parts 3 and 4 are located between said rigid bristle holder parts 21 and 22. The rigid bristle mount portions 21 and 22 together with the movable bristle mount portions 3 and 4 form a substantially disc-shaped bristle mount 2.

Claims (23)

1. A brush head for a toothbrush with a drive for the rotational movement of the brush head, which brush head comprises a multiplicity of bristles (12) and a bristle holder (2) for holding the bristles (12), wherein the bristle holder (2) is essentially plate-shaped or disc-shaped and comprises a movement axis or rotation axis (11) about which the bristle holder (2) can be driven, wherein the bristle holder (2) is divided into several bristle holder parts (3, 4, 21, 22) which can be moved relative to one another, characterized in that the bristle holder (2) further comprises a connecting device for connection to the drive of the toothbrush, wherein at least one bristle holder part (3, 4, 21, 22) is located on a shaft (9) via a bearing part (7, 8), which shaft is supported on a bristle holder base (10), the bristle holder base (10) is connectable to a drive of the toothbrush.

2. Brush head according to claim 1, characterized in that the bristle seat parts (3, 4) are mutually tiltable about at least one tilting axis (5, 17, 18) extending transversely to the movement axis or the rotation axis (11).

3. A brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that pre-tensioning means (15) are provided for mutually tensioning the bristle seat parts (3, 4) in a basic position.

4. Brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable bristle carrier parts (3, 4) are movable or tiltable in relation to each other without any drive means.

5. A brush head according to claim 3, characterized in that the pretensioning device (15) and/or the movable bristle carrier part (3, 4) are designed such that the movable bristle carrier part (3, 4) is subjected to a resonant tilting movement by means of the drive device of the toothbrush.

6. Brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristle holder (2) comprises two diametrically opposite tilting parts (3, 4) which are tiltable relative to each other about a common tilting axis (5).

7. Brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristle holder (2) comprises two diametrically opposite tilting portions (3, 4) which can be tilted relative to each other about two mutually spaced tilting axes (17, 18), respectively.

8. A brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristle carrier (2) comprises at least one rigid bristle carrier part (21, 22).

9. A brush head according to claim 3, characterized in that the movable bristle carrier parts (3, 4) are pretensioned in a position in which they are tilted towards each other.

10. The brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the bristles (12) and the axis of rotation (11) and a median plane containing the axis of rotation (11) each form an angle of less than 30 degrees.

11. A brush head according to claim 3, characterized in that in the pre-tensioned basic position of the respective bristle carrier part the bristles (12) situated on the movable bristle carrier part (3, 4) are inclined relative to the axis of rotation (11) and a median plane containing the axis of rotation (11) by an acute angle of less than 15 °.

12. A brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristles (12) of the movable bristle carrier part (3, 4) are tiltable in a range of more than 0 degrees and less than 15 degrees.

13. A head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristles (12a) in the radially outer region have a greater rigidity than the bristles (12i) in the radially inner region.

14. A brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the free ends of the bristles (12a) in the radially peripheral region are higher than the free ends of the bristles (12i) in the radially inner region in the direction of the axis of rotation (11).

15. Brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristles (12) have a working face (20) which is substantially planar and/or concave.

16. A brush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a centrally located shaft-like connection is provided for connecting the bristle holder (2) to the drive means, wherein the shaft-like connection is integrally molded on the bristle holder base (10).

17. A brush head according to claim 3, characterised in that the pre-tensioning means (15) is a spring means.

18. A brush head according to claim 7, characterized in that the tilting axes (17, 18) are parallel to each other.

19. The brush head according to claim 10 characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the bristles (12) and the axis of rotation (11) and the median plane containing the axis of rotation (11) each form an angle of less than 15 degrees.

20. A brush head according to claim 11, characterized in that the bristles (12) located on the movable bristle carrier parts (3, 4) are inclined at an angle of between 4 and 8 degrees with respect to the axis of rotation (11) and a middle plane containing the axis of rotation (11).

21. A brush head according to claim 16, characterized in that the shaft-like connection (10) is a snap connection.

22. A toothbrush comprising a motor drive and a brush head (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

23. A toothbrush according to claim 22, characterised in that the drive means are designed to oscillate in a rotary and/or translatory manner.