A dental cleaning implement such as a toothbrush, having longitudinally disposed first and second parts flexibly joined together. Between the first and second parts is a rotatable member such that when the implement bends the first parts adjacent to the member bear upon the member. The rotatable member has circumferentially disposed relatively softer and harder regions, so that as the member is rotated the parts can be caused to bear compressibly upon selected softer or harder regions.

An ergonomically designed toothbrush having an oversized handle, a shapeable stem, interchangeable, flexible heads of different sizes, bristles arrangements, and geometrical configurations. The handle is generally cylindrical in shape so as to readily fit in the palm of ones hand while having a flattened portion against which the thumb and fingertips may be rested. The handle has attached thereto a rotation means which may be selectively set in a variety of positions about the longitudinal axis of the handle. When a stem with a flexible toothbrush head is attached to the rotation means, the user of the toothbrush may bend the head and set the orientation of the bristles on the head such that they are at a 45.degree. relative to the surface of the teeth while the flat portion of the handle is generally parallel to the surface of the teeth so that the Bass brushing technique may be implemented while moving the toothbrush back and forth in short strokes in a conventional manner and so that all teeth may be effectively reached and brushed regardless of the contour of one's teeth and mouth.

A toothbrush in accordance with the invention includes a plastic brush body having a head, a neck and a handle, as well as bristle bundles fixed to the head, the free ends of the bristles of at least part of the bundles are located on an approximately conical envelope surface with a cone angle .alpha. of 30 to 90.degree. and the neck of the brush body in the case of an application force K between 500 to 1200 grams acting on the bristles resiliently to give way with the cone angle .alpha. and the application force K being approximately inversely proportional.

A brush for the cleaning of toilet bowls has a handle which consists of an upper part and a lower part. The upper part is connected to a grip, whereas the lower part is provided with a plurality of bristles arranged on its end disposed opposite to the upper part. The upper part has a recess and the lower part is provided with a journal. The lower part has an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section consists of an elastic and flexible material having memory characteristics.

A method to transform a thermoplastic novelty toothbrush into a costume jewelry piece, such as a bracelet, or a toy after it is no longer employed in service as a toothbrush. The thermoplastic material allows a user to easily remove the bristles and form the toothbrush into a costume jewelry piece or toy.