Toothbrush with extendible brushing element

A toothbrush comprising in combination:

• an elongated handle portion having a first end and a second end and having a width;
• an elongated, hollow forward portion having a first extent, a second extent, and a third extent, the first extent being integral with the handle portion and having a width which is smaller than the width of the handle portion, the second extent having a first end integral with the first extent and a second end which is integral with the third extent, the second extent having a width which tapers from its first end to its second end, the width of first end of the second extent being greater than the width of the first extent, and the width of the second end of the second extent being substantially the same as the width of the first extent, an aperture formed through the third extent of the forward portion;
• an elongated, curved spring element having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spring element being fixed to and within the hollow forward portion proximate the first end of the second extent, the second end of the spring element being positioned adjacent the aperture of the hollow forward portion;
• a bristled element positioned within the aperture of the third extent of the hollow forward portion, the bristled element being fixed to the second end of the spring element, the spring element normally biasing said bristled element down into the aperture within the hollow portion;
• an elongated actuation element mounted in said elongated hollow forward portion for longitudinal sliding movement along the length of said elongated hollow forward portion, said elongated actuating element having a first end and a second end, a finger engaging surface positioned at the first end of the actuation element, the finger engaging surface being positioned within the first extent of the hollow forward portion, the second end of the actuation element engaging the spring and being adapted to ride along the spring element in contact therewith, movement of the finger engaging element serving to move the second end of the actuation element along the length of the spring, the movement of the second end of the actuation element along the spring serving to straighten the spring element and move the bristled element out through the aperture of the hollow forward portion against the action of the spring;
• a forward portion cover dimensioned to fit over the first, second and third extents of the forward portion, a slot formed within the forward portion cover, the finger engaging element extending through the slot.