Scanning electron microscopic study of bristle heads of 8 toothbrush brands commercially available in the Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland has shown qualitative variations in the rounding of bristle ends. The percentage of acceptable end rounding of the bristles was for 4 brands above 75% and for 2 brands 55-56%. For 2 products, the percentage was below 40%. The new method of welding bristle bundles at their base into the head of the toothbrush was used only by one producer.