Interdental cleaning tools

Abstract

To provide an interdental cleaning tool with excellent cleanability. [Solution] An interdental cleaning tool having a main body and a soft part, the soft part having a soft shaft part and a brush part, the soft shaft part having a peripheral wall, the main body having a base part and a shaft core part, the shaft core part extending into the peripheral wall and in close contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall, the brush part having a predetermined number of rows of brush protrusions, the rows of brush protrusions consisting of a plurality of brush protrusions, the brush protrusions protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall, wherein the radial thickness of the peripheral wall at the base end is less than or equal to the radial thickness of the peripheral wall at the tip part, the soft part having a soft shaft connecting part, the soft shaft connecting part extending from the base end of the soft shaft part along the base towards the axial base end.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool.

Background Art

[0002] As an interdental cleaning tool having a main body portion and a soft portion, the soft portion is made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body portion and has a soft shaft portion and a brush portion. The soft shaft portion extends in the axial direction and has a peripheral wall. The main body portion has a base portion and a shaft core portion. The base portion extends from the proximal end of the soft shaft portion toward the axial proximal end side. The shaft core portion extends from the tip of the base portion into the peripheral wall of the soft shaft portion and adheres to the inner surface of the peripheral wall. The brush portion has a predetermined number of rows of brush protrusions. The predetermined number of rows of brush protrusions are arranged in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction. Each row of brush protrusions consists of a plurality of brush protrusions, and the brush protrusions protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall. This is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For an interdental cleaning tool as described above, cleaning performance that can easily clean between teeth is important.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an interdental cleaning tool with excellent cleaning performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is as follows.

[0007] [1] Having a main body portion and a soft portion, The soft part is made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body, and has a soft shaft portion and a brush portion. The aforementioned soft shaft portion extends in the axial direction and has a circumferential wall. The main body portion has a base portion and an axial core portion, The base portion extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion toward the axial base end, The shaft core extends from the tip of the base into the circumferential wall of the soft shaft and is in close contact with the inner surface of the circumferential wall. The brush portion has a predetermined number of rows of brush protrusions, The predetermined number of brush protrusion rows are arranged in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction. The aforementioned row of brush protrusions consists of multiple brush protrusions, The brush projection is an interdental cleaning tool that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the peripheral wall, The radial thickness of the peripheral wall at the base end of the peripheral wall is less than or equal to the radial thickness of the peripheral wall at the tip end of the peripheral wall. The aforementioned soft part has a soft shaft connecting part, The flexible shaft connecting portion is an interdental cleaning tool that extends from the base end of the flexible shaft portion along the base towards the axial base end.

[0008] [2] The soft shaft connecting portion extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion to the axial base end side, exposed on the surface, as described in [1].

[0009] [3] The base portion has a plate-like portion, The aforementioned soft part has a gripping portion, The gripping portion covers at least partially a pair of main surfaces of the plate-like portion that face opposite each other in the thickness direction, The soft shaft connecting portion extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion to the gripping portion, exposed on the surface on the side in the thickness direction, and extending toward the axial base end side, as described in [1] or [2].

[0010] [4] The aforementioned flexible shaft connecting portion has a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, The gripping portion has a first gripping part and a second gripping part, The first gripping part at least partially covers one of the pair of main surfaces, The second gripping part at least partially covers the other of the pair of main surfaces, The first connecting part is exposed on the surface from the proximal end of the flexible shaft part on one side surface in the thickness direction and extends to the first gripping part on the proximal end side in the axial direction, The second connecting part is exposed on the surface from the proximal end of the flexible shaft part on the other side surface in the thickness direction and extends to the second gripping part on the proximal end side in the axial direction. The interdental cleaner according to [3].

[0011] [5] The plate-like part has a plate width and a plate thickness perpendicular to the axial direction. The interdental cleaner according to [3] or [4].

[0012] [6] The peripheral wall has a row of holes consisting of three holes arranged along the axial direction, A first outer diameter which is the outer diameter of the peripheral wall at a first position which is the axial position where the center of the hole on the most distal end side of the hole row is located is 0.6 mm or less, and a second outer diameter which is the outer diameter of the peripheral wall at a second position which is the axial position where the center of the hole on the most proximal end side of the hole row is located is 1.1 mm or less, The hole is recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall to the outer peripheral surface of the axial core part, The bottom surface of the hole is curved so as to form only one convex part protruding outward in the radial direction when viewed in the axial direction, The depth of the hole on the most proximal end side of the hole row is not more than the depth of the hole on the most distal end side of the hole row. The interdental cleaner according to any one of [1] to [5].

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, an interdental cleaner excellent in cleaning performance can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1](a) is an external view of an interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from a first radial direction, and (b) is an external view of the interdental cleaner shown in (a) as seen from a second radial direction. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1(a). [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1(a). [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 1(a). [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 1(a). [Figure 6] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of use of the interdental cleaner shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the brush part is inserted into the interdental gap shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state when starting to pull back the brush part from the state of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state when further pulling back the brush part from the state of FIG. 8.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated and described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in one embodiment of the present invention, the interdental cleaner 1 has a main body part 2 and a soft part 3. The soft part 3 is made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body part 2 and has a soft shaft part 3a and a brush part 3b. The soft shaft part 3a extends in the axial direction and has a peripheral wall 3a1. The main body part 2 has a base part 2a and a shaft core part 2b. The base part 2a extends from the proximal end of the soft shaft part 3a toward the axial proximal end side, and the shaft core part 2b extends from the tip of the base part 2a into the peripheral wall 3a1 of the soft shaft part 3a and adheres closely to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 3a1.

[0017] The core portion 2b is shaped like an axial shaft that extends elongated around the central axis O. The direction along the central axis O is called the axial direction, the direction from the base portion 2a toward the soft shaft portion 3a along the axial direction is called the axial tip side, the opposite direction is called the axial base end side, the direction perpendicular to the central axis O is called the radial direction, and the direction that circles the central axis O is called the circumferential direction. The end on the axial tip side is called the tip, and the end on the axial base end side is called the base end. A predetermined radial direction is called the first radial direction, and a predetermined radial direction perpendicular to the first radial direction is called the second radial direction.

[0018] The main body portion 2 is preferably made of a resin material. The soft portion 3 is preferably made of a resin material, an elastomer material, or a rubber material, and is more preferably made of an elastomer material.

[0019] The resin material forming the main body 2 is preferably polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or polyacetal. Among these, from the viewpoint of strength, polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, or polybutylene terephthalate is preferred, polypropylene, polyethylene, or ABS is more preferred, and polypropylene is even more preferred.

[0020] The elastomer material forming the soft portion 3 is preferably a styrene-based elastomer, silicone, olefin-based elastomer, or polyester-based elastomer. Among these, from the viewpoint of not damaging the gums, styrene-based elastomer, silicone, or olefin-based elastomer is preferred, styrene-based elastomer or olefin-based elastomer is more preferred, and styrene-based elastomer is even more preferred.

[0021] The hardness of the soft portion 3 is preferably 10 to 50 on the durometer hardness type A (JIS K6253), and more preferably 10 to 40. In this embodiment, the durometer hardness type A is 35.

[0022] The brush portion 3b has a predetermined number of rows of brush protrusions 3c, which are arranged circumferentially when viewed in the axial direction, and each row of brush protrusions 3c consists of a plurality of brush protrusions 3c1, which protrude radially outward from the outer surface of the peripheral wall 3a1.

[0023] The radial thickness t2 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the base end of the peripheral wall 3a1 is less than or equal to the radial thickness t1 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the tip end of the peripheral wall 3a1, and the soft portion 3 has a soft shaft connecting portion 3d, which extends axially from the base end of the soft shaft portion 3a along the base portion 2a toward the base end.

[0024] The radial thickness t1 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the tip of the peripheral wall 3a1 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 to 0.20 mm. From the viewpoint of the strength of the soft part 3, it is preferably 0.08 to 0.18 mm, and more preferably 0.10 to 0.15 mm.

[0025] The radial thickness t2 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the base end of the peripheral wall 3a1 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 to 0.20 mm. From the viewpoint of the strength of the soft part 3, it is preferably 0.08 to 0.18 mm, and more preferably 0.10 to 0.15 mm.

[0026] The ratio (t1:t2) of the radial thickness t2 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the base end to the radial thickness t1 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the tip end of the peripheral wall 3a1 is not particularly limited, but is for example 1:0.5 to 1. From the viewpoint of reducing frictional resistance with the teeth T, it is preferably 1:0.7 to 0.95, and more preferably 1:0.8 to 0.93.

[0027] According to the above configuration, the radial thickness t2 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the base end is less than or equal to the radial thickness t1 of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the tip end, so the displacement range that allows the peripheral wall 3a1 to elastically deform radially at the base end can be suppressed. Therefore, when the brush portion 3b is inserted deeply between the teeth, deformation of the peripheral wall 3a1 at the base end conforming to the surface shape of the tooth T (see dashed line in Figure 2) is suppressed, and the frictional resistance with the tooth T is reduced. However, because the deformation of the peripheral wall 3a1 is suppressed at the base end, when the brush portion 3b is pulled back after being inserted deeply between the teeth, as shown in Figures 7-8, the brush projection 3c1 at the base end of the peripheral wall 3a1 may be compressed radially between the tooth T and the peripheral wall 3a1, potentially increasing the resistance when pulling it back. In this regard, since the soft part 3 has a soft shaft connecting part 3d, as shown in Figure 9, the base of the brush projection 3c1 can be easily pulled in the retraction direction via the soft shaft part 3a, making it easier to tilt the brush projection 3c1 to the opposite side, and thus preventing the aforementioned resistance from becoming excessive. Therefore, an interdental cleaning tool 1 with excellent cleaning performance can be realized.

[0028] The interdental cleaning tool 1 has the following configuration to facilitate obtaining the above-mentioned effect. However, it may also have a configuration that includes only some of the following components.

[0029] The flexible shaft connecting portion 3d is exposed on the surface from the base end of the flexible shaft portion 3a and extends axially toward the base end. With this configuration, force can be easily transmitted from the flexible shaft connecting portion 3d to the brush portion 3b via the flexible shaft portion 3a. The thickness of the flexible shaft connecting portion 3d (length in the first radial direction, described later) is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 to 0.20 mm. From the viewpoint of the strength of the flexible portion 3, it is preferably 0.08 to 0.18 mm, and more preferably 0.10 to 0.15 mm.

[0030] The base portion 2a has a plate-like portion 2a1, and the soft portion 3 has a gripping portion 3e, the gripping portion 3e at least partially covering a pair of main surfaces of the plate-like portion 2a1 that face opposite each other in the thickness direction, and the soft shaft connecting portion 3d extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion 3a, exposed on the side in the thickness direction, to the gripping portion 3e on the axial base end side. The flexible shaft connecting portion 3d has a first connecting portion 3d1 and a second connecting portion 3d2, and the gripping portion 3e has a first gripping portion 3e1 and a second gripping portion 3e2, the first gripping portion 3e1 at least partially covers one of the pair of main surfaces, the second gripping portion 3e2 at least partially covers the other of the pair of main surfaces, the first connecting portion 3d1 is exposed on one side in the thickness direction from the base end of the flexible shaft portion 3a and extends axially toward the base end to the first gripping portion 3e1, and the second connecting portion 3d2 is exposed on the other side in the thickness direction from the base end of the flexible shaft portion 3a and extends axially toward the base end to the second gripping portion 3e2. With this configuration, when inserting the brush portion 3b between teeth and pulling it back, the base of the brush projection 3c1 can be pulled further in the pulling direction. In other words, the tensile force can be effectively transmitted from the gripping portion 3e (first gripping portion 3e1 and second gripping portion 3e2) held by the user, via the flexible shaft connecting portion 3d (first connecting portion 3d1 and second connecting portion 3d2) and the flexible shaft portion 3a (circumferential wall 3a1).

[0031] The plate-like portion 2a1 has a plate width and thickness perpendicular to the axial direction. The plate width direction is the second radial direction, and the thickness direction of the plate-like portion 2a1 is the first radial direction perpendicular to the second radial direction. The base portion 2a has a tapered portion 2a2 from the tip of the plate-like portion 2a1 to the tip of the base portion 2a, where the width in the plate width direction gradually decreases toward the axial tip side. The thickness of the plate-like portion 2a1 is, for example, 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably 1.0 to 8.0 mm, and more preferably 3.0 to 6.0 mm.

[0032] The circumferential wall 3a1 has a row of holes 6 (see Figure 1) consisting of three holes 4 arranged along the axial direction. The first outer diameter d1 of the circumferential wall 3a1 at the first position, which is the axial position where the center of the furthest leading hole 4 of the row of holes 6 is located, is 0.6 mm or less, and the second outer diameter d2 of the circumferential wall 3a1 at the second position, which is the axial position where the center of the furthest proximal hole 4 of the row of holes 6 is located, is 1.1 mm or less. The holes 4 are recessed from the outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 3a1 to the outer circumferential surface of the axial core portion 2b, and the bottom surface 4a of the holes 4 is curved to form a single convex portion that protrudes radially outward when viewed in the axial direction (see Figure 3). The bottom surface 4a of the holes 4 is curved in an arc shape when viewed in the axial direction, but is not limited to this. The depth D2 of the furthest proximal hole 4 of the row of holes 6 (see Figure 3) is less than or equal to the depth D1 of the furthest leading hole 4 of the row of holes 6 (see Figure 5).

[0033] According to the above configuration, the peripheral wall 3a1 has a row of holes 6 consisting of three holes 4, the first outer diameter d1 is 0.6 mm or less, and the second outer diameter d2 is 1.1 mm or less, so the brush part 3b can be easily inserted into the interdental spaces of the molars, and the row of holes 6 of the soft shaft part 3a makes it easy to scrape plaque from the surface of the teeth T (see the dashed line in Figure 2).

[0034] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, the bottom surface 4a of the hole 4 is curved to form only one convex portion that protrudes radially outward when viewed in the axial direction, and the depth D2 of the most proximal hole 4 in the hole row 6 is less than or equal to the depth D1 of the most distal hole 4 in the hole row 6. Therefore, plaque that is received into the hole 4 from between the teeth and scraped out is prevented from sticking to the bottom of the hole 4, especially in the most proximal hole 4 of the hole row 6, making it impossible to remove from the hole 4.

[0035] The depth D1 of the outermost hole 4 in the row of holes 6 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 to 0.20 mm. From the viewpoint of excellent cleanability and plaque removal, it is preferably 0.08 to 0.18 mm, and more preferably 0.10 to 0.15 mm.

[0036] The depth D2 of the most proximal hole 4 in the row of holes 6 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 to 0.20 mm. From the viewpoint of excellent cleanability and plaque removal, it is preferably 0.08 to 0.18 mm, and more preferably 0.10 to 0.15 mm.

[0037] The ratio (D1:D2) of the depth D2 of the most proximal hole 4 in the hole row 6 to the depth D1 of the most distal hole 4 in the hole row 6 is not particularly limited, but is for example 1:0.5 to 1. From the viewpoint of excellent cleanability and plaque removal, it is preferably 1:0.7 to 0.95, and more preferably 1:0.8 to 0.93.

[0038] The peripheral wall 3a1 has a pair of hole rows 7 consisting of a pair of hole rows 6 (see Figure 2). The pair of holes 4 at the outermost tip of the hole row pair 7 are positioned on a straight line L perpendicular to the central axis O of the axial core portion 2b, with the holes themselves flanking the central axis O. The pair of holes 4 at the base of the hole row pair 7 are positioned on a straight line L perpendicular to the central axis O, with the periphery of the holes 4 flanking the central axis O. The remaining pair of holes 4 at the hole row pair 7 are positioned on a straight line L perpendicular to the central axis O, with the holes themselves flanking the central axis O. Each straight line L extends in the first radial direction. The pair of holes 4 at the outermost tip of the hole row pair 7 may be configured so that the periphery of the holes 4 is positioned on the straight line L flanking the central axis O. The pair of holes 4 at the base of the hole row pair 7 may be configured so that the holes themselves are positioned on the straight line L flanking the central axis O. The remaining pair of holes 4 in the hole row pair 7 may be configured such that the peripheral edges of the holes 4 are positioned on a straight line L, straddling the central axis O. When the holes of the pair of holes 4 are positioned on a straight line L, straddling the central axis O, the pair of holes 4 are on opposite sides of each other, allowing for efficient removal of plaque. When the peripheral edges of the pair of holes 4 are positioned on a straight line L, straddling the central axis O, the parts of the holes themselves of the pair of holes 4 that would otherwise have their core portion 2b exposed and reduced in strength are offset from each other in the axial direction, thus preventing the core portion 2b from breaking, especially when cleaning molars.

[0039] The peripheral wall 3a1 has a pair of holes 5, each consisting of a pair of holes 4, where the holes themselves or their peripheral edges are located on a straight line L perpendicular to the central axis O of the axial core portion 2b, with the holes flanking the central axis O. The peripheral wall 3a1 has a plurality of pairs of holes 5 arranged along the axial direction.

[0040] Hole 4 is a round hole. The depth direction of each hole 4 coincides with the first radial direction. The circumferential surface 4b of each hole 4 extends along the first radial direction.

[0041] The outer surface of the circumferential wall 3a1 gradually expands in diameter toward the axial base end. The inner surface of the circumferential wall 3a1 gradually expands in diameter toward the axial base end. The soft shaft portion 3a has a tip wall 3a2, which closes the tip of the circumferential wall 3a1. The circumferential wall 3a1 has a tapered cylindrical shape that narrows toward the axial tip end. The outer surface of the shaft core portion 2b gradually expands in diameter toward the axial base end. The shaft core portion 2b has a tapered cylindrical shape that narrows toward the axial tip end.

[0042] It is preferable that the first outer diameter d1 be 0.50 to 0.60 mm and the second outer diameter d2 be 1.00 to 1.10 mm, more preferably that the first outer diameter d1 be 0.53 to 0.60 mm and the second outer diameter d2 be 1.05 to 1.10 mm, and even more preferably that the first outer diameter d1 be 0.53 to 0.60 mm and the second outer diameter d2 be 1.05 to 1.08 mm.

[0043] Multiple brush protrusions 3c1 are arranged along the axial direction. Multiple brush protrusions 3c1 are arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction. The radial length of the brush protrusions 3c1 constituting the brush protrusion row 3c gradually increases toward the axial base end. A predetermined number of brush protrusion rows 3c are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction. The brush protrusions 3c1 constituting the predetermined number of brush protrusion rows 3c are arranged on a helical track along the outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 3a1.

[0044] The predetermined number is 6 columns. However, the predetermined number may be more than 6 columns. For example, the predetermined number may be 8, 10, 12, 16, or 18 columns.

[0045] The predetermined number of brush protrusion rows 3c have predetermined brush protrusion rows 3c, and when viewed in the axial direction, the predetermined brush protrusion rows 3c protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the soft shaft portion 3a along the width direction of the plate. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 6, when a user grips the plate-shaped portion 2a1 (gripping portion 3e) and cleans the gap G between teeth, with the tooth T protruding from the gingiva M in the upward direction and the opposite side downward, the predetermined brush protrusion row 3c protrudes upward, and the soft portion 3 moves axially in the gap G, so that the predetermined brush protrusion row 3c slides and is guided by the adjacent teeth T at the upper end of the gap G, while the sides of the teeth T facing the gap G can be cleaned by the brush protrusion rows 3c other than the predetermined brush protrusion row 3c.

[0046] The predetermined number of brush projection rows 3c each consist of a pair of brush projection rows 3c, and when viewed in the axial direction, the pair of brush projection rows 3c protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the soft shaft portion 3a along the width direction of the plate toward opposite sides. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 6, when the user grasps the plate-shaped portion 2a1 and cleans the gap G, one of the pair of brush projection rows 3c protrudes upward and the other brush projection row 3c protrudes downward. Therefore, the upwardly protruding brush projection row 3c slides and is guided by the adjacent teeth T at the upper end of the gap G, while the downwardly protruding brush projection row 3c can clean the upper surface of the gingiva M facing the gap G, thereby further improving cleaning efficiency.

[0047] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the embodiments described above can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1. Interdental cleaning tools 2 Main body 2a base 2a1 Plate-like part 2a2 Tapered section 2b Axis center 3 Soft part 3a Soft shaft part 3a1 Surrounding wall 3a2 Tip wall 3b Brush part 3c Brush protrusion row 3c1 Brush protrusion 3d Soft shaft connection part 3d1 First connection part 3d2 Second connection part 3e Gripping part 3e1 First gripping part 3e2 Second gripping part 4 Hole 4a Bottom surface 4b Peripheral surface 5 Hole pair 6 Hole row 7 Hole row pair D1, D2 Depth G Gap L Straight line M Gingiva O Central axis T Tooth d1 First outer diameter d2 Second outer diameter t1, t2 Radial thickness

Claims

1. It has a main body and a soft part, The soft part is made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body, and has a soft shaft portion and a brush portion. The aforementioned soft shaft portion extends in the axial direction and has a circumferential wall. The main body portion has a base portion and an axial core portion, The base portion extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion toward the axial base end, The shaft core extends from the tip of the base into the circumferential wall of the soft shaft and is in close contact with the inner surface of the circumferential wall. The brush portion has a predetermined number of rows of brush protrusions, The predetermined number of brush protrusion rows are arranged in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction. The aforementioned row of brush protrusions consists of multiple brush protrusions, The brush projection is an interdental cleaning tool that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the peripheral wall, The radial thickness of the peripheral wall at the base end of the peripheral wall is less than or equal to the radial thickness of the peripheral wall at the tip end of the peripheral wall. The aforementioned soft part has a soft shaft connecting part, The flexible shaft connecting portion is an interdental cleaning tool that extends from the base end of the flexible shaft portion along the base towards the axial base end.

2. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft connecting portion extends from the base end of the flexible shaft portion to the axial base end side, exposed on the surface.

3. The base portion has a plate-like portion, The aforementioned soft part has a gripping portion, The gripping portion covers at least partially a pair of main surfaces of the plate-like portion that face opposite each other in the thickness direction, The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft connecting portion extends from the base end of the flexible shaft portion to the gripping portion, exposed on the side surface in the thickness direction, and extending toward the axial base end.

4. The aforementioned flexible shaft connecting portion has a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The gripping portion has a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion. The first gripping portion covers at least partially one of the pair of main surfaces, The second gripping portion covers at least partially the other of the pair of main surfaces, The first connecting portion extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion to the first gripping portion, exposed on one side in the thickness direction, and extending toward the axial base end. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 3, wherein the second connecting portion extends from the base end of the soft shaft portion to the second gripping portion, exposed on the other side in the thickness direction, and extending toward the axial base end.

5. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 3, wherein the plate-like portion has a plate width and plate thickness perpendicular to the axial direction.

6. The peripheral wall has a row of holes consisting of three holes arranged along the axial direction, The first outer diameter, which is the outer diameter of the peripheral wall at the first position, which is the axial position where the center of the hole at the very front of the row of holes is located, is 0.6 mm or less, and the second outer diameter, which is the outer diameter of the peripheral wall at the second position, which is the axial position where the center of the hole at the very base of the row of holes is located, is 1.1 mm or less. The aforementioned hole is recessed from the outer surface of the peripheral wall to the outer surface of the axial core, The bottom surface of the hole is curved to form a single protrusion that projects radially outward when viewed in the axial direction. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the hole at the most proximal end of the row of holes is less than or equal to the depth of the hole at the most distal end of the row of holes.

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