What is ISO 20126-Requirements and test methods for manual toothbrushes about?
ISO 20126 is an international standard on dentistry that discusses the requirements and test methods for manual toothbrushes to ensure all the toothbrush components are safe for use in the mouth.
ISO 20126 specifies requirements and test methods for the physical properties of manual toothbrushes to promote the safety of these products for their intended use.
Note1: ISO 20126 does not specify any requirements and test methods for the physical properties of toothbrushes for which all the cleaning elements in the head are elastomer.
Note2: ISO 20126 does not apply to manual single tuft toothbrushes or single-use, interdental and powered oral hygiene devices. These types of oral hygiene products are evaluated for their safety in-use by appropriate test methods or clinical trials.
Note3: For the filament, manual toothbrushes are evaluated for their safety in use by appropriate test methods or clinical trials end-rounding requirements, ISO 20126 does not apply to filament types that are very thin (less than 0,1 mm outside diameter) or have no sharp edges (e.g., tapered, feathered, with split tips, or spherical cap) or non-synthetic filaments, where applying end-rounding process is inappropriate or impossible. These manual toothbrushes are evaluated for their safety in-use by appropriate test methods or clinical trials appropriately.
Who is ISO 20126-Requirements and test methods for manual toothbrushes for?
ISO 20126 on the requirements and test methods for manual toothbrushes is useful for:
- Manual toothbrushes manufacturers
- Manual toothbrushes test personnel
- Health and safety departments
- Quality assurance departments
Why should you use ISO 20126-Requirements and test methods for manual toothbrushes?
A manual toothbrush is a hand-powered device, the working end of which carries filaments primarily for cleaning surfaces within the oral cavity.
ISO 20126 provides you with guidance on requirements for physical inspection, handle impact strength, fatigue resistance, filament end-rounding, test methods for tuft retention test, fatigue resistance test, apparatus, test procedures, test report, marking and labelling, packaging, etc.
The requirements and test methods provided by ISO 20126 assist you in improving the performance, strength, and quality of the manual toothbrush, which can be used for removing dental plaque and oral debris to facilitate oral hygiene and ensure brushing does not hurt enamel gums.
With obedience and compliance to ISO 20126, you can enhance manual toothbrushes’ effectiveness and efficacy and manufacture a standardized high-quality product.
What is changed since the last update?
BS EN ISO 20126:2022 supersedes ISO 20126:2012, which is withdrawn. BS EN ISO 20126:2022 also incorporates the Amendment ISO 20126:2012/Amd.1:2018. BS EN ISO 20126:2022 has made some technical changes compared to the previous editions ISO 20126:2012. These include:
- A requirement and a test method for filament end-rounding have been added
- The scope has been contracted to exclude specific types of manual toothbrushes from the application of BS EN ISO 20126:2022

