Apparatus and method for cleaning teeth

An apparatus for cleaning surfaces and crevices of teeth, comprising:

• a brush head;
• a plurality of first tufts of filaments, each of said first tufts rotatably mounted in said brush head;
• a plurality of second tufts of filaments, each of said second tufts rotatably mounted in said brush head and shorter in length than each of said first tufts, said first tufts and said second tufts alternately arranged in two staggered rows of equal lengths;
• a plurality of driven spur gears, each of which is connected to one of said first tufts;
• a plurality of idler spur gears, each of which is connected to one of said second tufts and meshes with at least two of said driven spur gears whereby each of said first tufts is rotated in a direction opposite each of said second tufts;
• a rack meshing with at least two of said driven spur gears;
• and
• means for uniformly reciprocating said rack whereby said first tufts and said second tufts are rotated, each about its own central axis, in a controlled reciprocating manner.

An apparatus for cleaning surfaces and crevices of teeth, comprising:

• a brush head;
• a plurality of first tufts of filaments, each of said first tufts rotatably mounted in said brush head;
• a plurality of second tufts of filaments, each of said second tufts rotatably mounted in said brush head and shorter in length than each of said first tufts, said first tufts and said second tufts alternately arranged in two staggered rows of equal lengths;
• a plurality of driven spur gears, each of which is connected to one of said first tufts;
• a plurality of idler spur gears, each of which is connected to one of said second tufts and meshes with at least two of said driven spur gears whereby each of said first tufts is rotated in a direction opposite each of said second tufts;
• a rack meshing with at least two of said driven spur gears;
• and
• means for uniformly reciprocating said rack whereby said first tufts and said second tufts are rotated, each about its own central axis, in a controlled reciprocating manner, said rack reciprocating means including an electrically-powered motor having a rotatable output shaft, a pinion attached to said output shaft in rotary engagement therewith, a crown gear engaging said pinion, a crank arm pivotally and eccentrically attached at a first end to the crown gear, and a rack drive shaft pivotally attached at a first end to a second end of the crank arm, and connected to an end of said rack at a second end of said rack drive shaft.