JP3244272B2 - Oral products - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to oral products, and in particular, to orthopedic or orthodontic reduction products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Headaches and jaw defects are often related to the disorganization of muscles and nerves in the jaw, skull, and neck mechanism, an area called the cranial jaw tissue. A part of the tissue is a temporal mandibular joint (TMJ), which is a joint part that suspends the jaw from the skull, and forms a joint that connects the mandible or the mandible to the skull with temple muscles. The muscles are used, among other things, to talk, drink, eat and breathe, which allows the lower jaw to open and close and move back and forth.

In a fully meshed condition with the teeth properly meshed, the upper and lower jaw teeth contact each other. However, misalignment of the upper and lower jaw is a common occurrence due to underdeveloped lower jaw, which appears as a deep meshing curve between the upper and lower teeth. Joint misalignment caused by structural imbalances and other reasons can also cause many problems such as headache, neck strain, spinal curvature, muscle weakness and misalignment. Further, it has been found that no force is exerted when the joint is displaced. When the joints are squeezed due to imbalance, the body runs out of muscle strength and eventually becomes tired and painful. For athletes,
Displacement of the joints will result in reduced athletic performance. A further element underlying dysfunction in the musculature of the cranial jaw tissue is dysfunction of the tongue or its displacement.

TMJ alignment dramatically improves athletic performance, especially muscle strength. To relieve strain on the temple muscles, a custom-made plastic bed, known as the lower jaw orthopedic reduction product (MORA), has been proposed. With it, the muscles are relieved of the constant tension, which eases headaches and neck tension and, in the case of athletes, improves athletic performance. However, the above articles need to be tailored to the user and are made according to the procedure of first taking the impression of the chin and then shaping the bite. Such articles have been found to be relatively expensive and unsuitable.

Other mouth devices have also been used for various other purposes. For example, mouth guards are commonly used when playing sports to protect a user's teeth from damage. The above mouth guard is a cheap (and not very effective) device that allows the user to adjust his or her own jaw and teeth shapes.
There are even more expensive devices that dentists and orthodontists fit. Conventional mouthguards, from inexpensive to expensive, are focused on protection and are not intended to have other features.

Further, in the prior art, there is also known an oral product mainly used for cleaning teeth. The above items are
It has the general shape of a mouthguard, but is made of a relatively flexible material and has a number of protrusions that exert its power when applied to remove food debris from between teeth . The above items have also been used for a short time for cleaning purposes and have not been used for any other purpose.

Another form of well-known mouthpiece comes in a variety of shapes, including pacifiers, which are used primarily to calm babies and infants. However, in general, pacifiers can have a detrimental effect on tooth shape and fit.

Many dental supplies have been used to improve the alignment of teeth. The devices described above differ from custom removable orthodontic brackets and orthodontic reducers, some of which may or may not be practical. An example of such a device that has been filed is U.S. Pat.
No. 3,874,742, U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,946, U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,335, and U.S. Pat. Generally, the devices are custom made in the lab to the size of the mouth with specific indentations to fit or fasten to the teeth. In addition, some of the above devices need to be fitted directly to the teeth.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide, from an initial point of view, an oral article which has the effect of reducing the joint of the temporal mandible and can be easily handled by a user. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mouthpiece that is relatively inexpensive, sized to fit most adults, regardless of race, and does not require a mold or adjustment.

The present invention is embodied in one form in oral products that can be used to relieve symptoms of muscle tension headaches. The present invention is further embodied in a mouthpiece suitable for enhancing performance in special sports. The present invention is further embodied in an oral appliance suitable for use as a child's pacifier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece which is used, in particular, for orthodontic and orthopedic correction of the child's face and which overcomes or at least alleviates the inconvenience of conventional devices. Is to provide. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

For the above and other purposes described below, the present invention is, as a first step, suitable for reduction of the temporomandibular joint, such that it is sandwiched between the upper and lower teeth of the user. And the outer and inner collars extending along the front and rear edges of the toothbed, along the front and rear edges, to form upper and lower grooves for receiving upper and lower jaw teeth. Suitable for substantially occupying the space between the upper and lower jaw teeth to support the user's jaw, and the inner collar portion recessed to receive the user's tongue. The toothbed portion having a cross-section and having a groove or diagonal portion on its upper side located at or near the centerline of the article, whereby the article can be adjusted horizontally to fit the user's chin. A mouthpiece comprising the inner collar portion is provided.

The present invention also includes placing an article of the above type in the mouth of a person suffering from a headache, closing the teeth and leaving the article in the mouth for an appropriate period of one hour. Provide a method for relieving the symptoms of muscle tension headache.

The toothbed is preferably of a normal U-shaped or parabolic planar shape, along the grooves formed on both sides of the article, from the front (or near the front) of the article, It is desirable that the taper is tapered in the direction of the leading edge toward the trailing edge. In addition, if possible, it is preferable that the tooth bed portion is tapered from the above-mentioned portion of the above-mentioned article to the rear edge thereof. Therefore, the above-mentioned tooth bed portion substantially reduces the space between the upper and lower jaws due to a deep meshing curve to relax or move the joints and muscles to exert more pressure on the posterior teeth in the back of the oral cavity. Designed to meet. By forming the bed portion asymmetrically on both sides of the article and above the generally flat bed portion, the thickness of the bed portion is varied.
The bed portion is such that the asymmetric or curved surface is below the effective bottom of the article and the widest part of the wing is at the site on both sides of the article.
Preferably, it is formed into an asymmetric airfoil.

Preferably, the inner collar has a set of symmetrically spaced cuts or cuts on either side of the centerline of the article to create a knob profile. Is desirable. If possible, use the knob
It is desirable that it be thicker than the rest of the collar to provide a junction with the user's tongue. The junction allows the tongue to assume the correct position. Preferably, the joining point between the tooth bed portion and the inner brim portions on both sides of the article is made thicker or wider according to the shape of the user's teeth.

When the article of the present invention is used for sports or other purposes, a suitably sized hole is provided in the center thereof to reach the outer brim portion and / or the tooth bed portion to facilitate breathing by the user. Alternatively, a series of holes may be drilled down to the outer collar for this purpose. When the article of the present invention is used as a pacifier, a handle that extends out of the user's mouth during use is attached to an appropriate position.

With the dental bed portion formed as described above, the lower jaw of the user in use is pushed downward and forward, so that the user's jaw is well supported and the muscles around the jaw are relaxed. , Or almost relaxed.

The articles of the present invention are suitably formed from a flexible material such as silicone or PVC material that is easily distorted to the user's mouth.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an oral appliance for orthodontic or orthopedic correction comprising: a tooth shaped to fit between a user's upper and lower teeth. Floor portion; outer and inner collar portions extending along both sides of the article to form upper and lower grooves for receiving upper and lower teeth along the front and rear edges of the tooth bed portion; Said article having a cross section adapted to substantially fill the spacing between the upper and lower teeth for supporting the user's jaw; a rib on the inner surface on each side of the tooth bed portion and away from it. The ribbed means extending substantially parallel to the toothbed portion, during use of which the user's teeth are properly engaged during use of the article.

The article may also have cuts or cuts on its inner collar to allow it to be adjusted horizontally. Also, if possible, during use,
Composite ribs or extensions are provided on the inner brim portions, on either side of the article, preferably on the inner brim so that the user's teeth are between the ribs and the rib means applied to the inner surface of the outer brim portion. Preferably, it is formed at the junction with the part.
The outer collar portion, and at least on the lower half side thereof, may be provided with a series of projections for engaging the stoma.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and show the state in which the present invention has been put into practical use, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which show illustrative embodiments provided for the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of a mouthpiece according to the present invention.

 FIG. 2 shows a side view of the article of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the front left half of the article of FIG.

 FIG. 4 is a plan view of the article half of FIG.

FIGS. 5 to 11 show AA, BB, C-C, D- of FIG.
It is sectional drawing when the said article is cut | disconnected in each line of D, EE, FF, and GG.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of FIGS. 5 to 11 described above.

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates the skull and jaw in an unbalanced state.

FIG. 15 shows how the jaw is reduced by the mouthpiece of FIG.

16 and 17 show the articles of the present invention applied to sports equipment and pacifiers, respectively.

FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of another form of the article according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a front view of the front left half of the article of FIG.

 FIG. 20 is an enlarged plan view of one half of the article in FIG.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 correspond to the line in FIG.
It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by A and BB.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a mouthpiece 10 according to the present invention is shown. The article 10 includes a toothbed portion 11 which is somewhat parabolically open or U-shaped in plan view to approximately match the shape and shape of a person's jaw. The tooth bed portion 11 has an outer or lip shaped collar portion 12 along its leading edge and an inner or tongue shaped collar portion 13 along its trailing edge. From the collar parts 12 and 13 and the tooth bed part 11, the upper and lower grooves 15, 16 for receiving the teeth of the upper and lower jaws are outlined. The outer and inner collar portions 12 and 13 are shaped to conform to the upper jaw lip and lower jaw tongue, respectively. On the other hand, the central front edge of the article 10 is provided with cutouts or V-shaped cuts 14 above and below the brim section 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the article 10 may also be provided with upper and lower ridges 17. It has a triangular cross-section and is located in the center of the leading edge of the article and extends into the grooves 15, 16 as shown more clearly in FIG. The ridge 17 is the center of the user's mouth, the front part 2 of the upper and lower jaws.
It is attached so that the article is placed between the teeth of the book.

2 and 3, the toothbed 11 of the article 10 is highest in a region 19 which is arranged in the direction of the trailing edge 20 of the article but which is remote from the trailing edge, Most preferably, it tapers toward the center 18 of the leading edge of the article.
The bed portion 11 also narrows from the section 19 to the leading edge of the article to form a generally asymmetrical wing with an asymmetric or curved surface 21 of the wing underneath the article 10. It is most desirable to go. The bed 11 has a thickness of approximately 1 to 3 mm near the anterior margin 18, a maximum thickness of approximately 3.5 to 5 mm at the first molar 19, and a thickness of 20 at the posterior margin 20. , Preferably about 2 to 3 mm thick.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 5 to 11, the inner and outer collar portions 12 and 13 delineate upper and lower grooves 15, 16 for receiving upper and lower jaw teeth. Also, the grooves 15, 16 for the above purpose are wider from the center 18 of the leading edge of the article 10 to 20 on the trailing edge. In addition, as is apparent from FIGS.
And 13 decrease in height from the leading edge 18 of the article 10 to the trailing edge 20.

The upper part of the tooth bed portion 11 is generally flat, while, as described above, it grows thicker from the leading edge 18 of the article to the point shown in FIG.
The part shown in Fig. 11 is thin.

It is clearer in Figure 13 that the leading edge collar 12
Is inclined vertically on both sides of the tooth bed portion 11 away from the leading edge 18 of the article 10. Above the tooth bed portion 11 (Z in FIG. 13)
The angle of inclination of the collar 12 is
It peaks at 18 (see FIG. 5) and goes to zero at trailing edge 20 shown in FIG. The maximum inclination angle is desirably about 7 degrees. Furthermore, the upper and lower parts of the collar 13 are merged together at the toothbed part 11 through the injection part 24. The radius of the above-mentioned emission part is gradually reduced to the radius shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the curve flattens and grows until it becomes a substantially vertical line as shown in FIG.

The trailing edge collar 13 has a rearwardly facing indentation 25 to enclose the user's tongue in the anatomically correct position of the mouth,
To increase the retention of the device in the oral cavity, it has a generally parabolic cross section.

9 and 10, the width of the collar 13 decreases as it approaches the trailing edge of the article 10, but it is on the same radius from the front end to the rear end of the article. Is desirable. On the trailing edge side of the collar 13, the collars are arranged on the same radius, and a depression is formed on the surface thereof. However, the width of the brim 13 on either side of the tooth bed portion 11 is gradually reduced, and eventually the concave curve is flattened at the rear edge of the device, as shown in FIG. Change the shape to a convex curve. 1 and 2, the inner collar portion 13 is formed in the form of a knob 27 formed between a pair of gaps 28 formed in the collar 13 above the rear edge. With a central tongue that is open. The set of gaps 28 are symmetrically spaced about the center line of the article 10. Clearance 28 is provided to perform the important function of moving the opposing arms of article 10 in and out without bending article 10. This allows the number of different arches to be adjusted, as many as the number of people, so that the article 10 can adapt to narrow or wide arches without radically changing the shape. In addition, the underside of knob 27 is provided with a bulge or protrusion 29 projecting below the adjacent surface of collar 13 to provide a junction with the user's tongue. Thus, when swallowing or swallowing, the tongue will engage with the bulge or projection 29, thereby placing it in the correct functional position.

Also, on the inner surface of the brim portion 13 adjacent to the joint with the tooth bed portion 11, a composite rib-shaped extension is provided.
30 (shown in FIGS. 2 to 6) is added. This allows the article 10 to conform to the user's teeth in a common form. The rib-like extension 30 to be added to the upper and lower sides of the article 10 is symmetrical on each side of the article,
Extends somewhat along 16 FIG. 16 shows a further specific example of the equipment 33 applied to sports equipment. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment described above, and thus the same number of similar parts are used. However, in the above case, the thickness of the tooth bed portion 11 is thicker than the other cases described above. On the other hand, the tooth bed portion 11 is kept in a roughly wing shape,
A suitable maximum thickness is 4 to 6 mm, which is larger than the dimensions described above for normally used cases. Further, in the above example, the collar 12 is located at the center of the article.
And a hole leading to the bed portion 11, which outlines an air breathing hole 34 of the size required for sports equipment.

Referring to FIG. 17, a further embodiment of an article 35 used as a pacifier for babies and infants in accordance with the present invention is shown. As in the case of article 33, the same number of parts as in the previous embodiment are used. An indispensable handle part is included in the above-mentioned article 35
The handle portion protrudes outwardly from the central portion of the article 35, usually outside the mouth. Preferably, the handle portion 36 has a large head 37 that is grippable. The handle portion 37 may be made of a hard plastic material. Also, as described above, it may be made integral with the body of article 35, or may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. It will be clear that an article 35 of the above form is considerably smaller in size than the article described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 15, since it has to be adapted to the size of the baby's mouth. However, as with other types of articles, the article may be sized differently to fit a range of sizes. Referring to FIGS. 18-22, another form of article 40 is shown in accordance with the present invention, which is particularly suited for orthodontic and orthopedic correction of a child's face portion. The article 40 shares many features with the article 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, including a toothbed portion 41 having a generally wing-shaped cross section and outer collar portions 43 and 42, respectively. ing. The tooth bed portion 41 has a substantially parabolic shape when viewed from above so as to form an arch shape in the oral cavity of an average child. Preferably, the article is manufactured in two sizes to suit children aged 2 to 5 and 6 to 11 years. Preferably, the bed portion 41 of the two sized articles preferably has a length of 30 mm and 40 mm, respectively. The longer one, 40 mm, needs to be that long to accommodate the newly growing molars. The thickest part of the bed portion 41 is preferably a few millimeters thicker than the thickness of the front and back portions of the bed portion 41, if possible.

Upper and lower ribs 44 are attached to the outer brim portion 42 on the inner surface of the brim portion 42 adjacent to the upper and lower sides of the tooth bed portion 41, respectively. It is remote from the toothbed portion 41 and extends substantially parallel to the toothbed portion 41 towards the inside, i.e. the flange portion 43 on the opposite side. The ribs 44 are positioned so as to be in contact with the lip-shaped surfaces of the upper and lower anterior teeth for better alignment of the teeth.

The outer collar portion 42 also has a number of outwardly directed projections 45 on its outer lower half. They are,
The area close to the surface is used to act as a bumper to prevent contraction of the deglutition muscle. The muscle is associated with malocclusion of the lower front teeth. Because the outer brim is thicker and made of a flexible material, it fits many people's mouths and teeth, and has sufficient tension needed to correct teeth. ing.

Like the conventional inner collar part, the inner collar part 43 is
The cross section is parabolic, with the curve increasing towards the end, but the plane and sides are complex. The upper middle portion of the inner brim portion has a knob 46 as in the conventional case. It is the brim part
It is thicker than the adjacent part of 43 and protrudes towards the tongue, which will stimulate the tongue, thereby guiding the tongue to the correct position. Knob 46
Notches 47 on both sides of not only show the outline of the knob 46, but also make the article 40 conform to a wide variety of intraoral arches and tooth sizes without central part distortion, and are thus completed. It is possible to become a product. The above structure is provided only on the top of the article 40. On the underside of the structure, a double convex curvature is applied to the surface of the inner brim, so that it hits the tooth and exerts a force pushing it forward on the tooth, causing the tooth to move further forward. Will be put in.
The above forces also affect ribs 44 projecting on the inside surface of the outer collar 42 in the opposite direction. This force allows the orthodontics of the dental appliance to be fixed or removable without the use of a custom appliance. Supplies for use with pre-school-age children
40 may be provided with a handle portion 48 (see FIG. 20).
This is for facilitating attachment and detachment of articles in the oral cavity.

With respect to FIG. 21, in particular, A,
The dimensions of B, C and D are 8, respectively from the center of the article.
6, 8, 8 mm. For elementary school children, these dimensions will generally be 12, 9, 10, and 10 mm, respectively. For preschool-age infants, the dimensions of X and Y in FIG.
It is 1.5 mm, and it is 3 mm and 2.5 mm for elementary school students. Preferably, ribs 44 have a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm. The approximate distance from the surface of the tooth bed portion 41 of the article to the upper rib is between 3 mm and 4.5 mm, and the approximate distance from the surface to the lower rib is 2 mm and 4 mm. Between.

In a more simplified form of the device, one cut or cut may be made on the center line of the inner collar.
In the example, the deleted portion is V-shaped, which allows for horizontal adjustment of the article.

The article 10 is used in the user's mouth, and its inner and outer collars 12 and 13 promote relaxation of the muscles that manage the lower jaw, thereby relaxing the mutual muscles of the head and neck. The above-mentioned effect is made easier by the shape of the tooth bed portion 11, which supports the lower jaw and ensures that the lower jaw is in anatomical correct relationship with the upper jaw. Relaxing the aforementioned muscles of the head and neck,
Most muscle tension headaches are eliminated. The above is
This can be better understood by looking at FIGS. 14 and 15.
As shown in FIG. 14, the unmatched upper jaw 31 and lower jaw 32
The lower jaw 32 does not fit properly with the teeth arranged behind the upper jaw 31 and with teeth that are not fully engaged. The misalignment places an excessive strain on the muscles and causes the cervical spine to become misaligned, causing the user to feel pain. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 15, when the article 10 of the present invention is used and the teeth are closed in contact with the article 10, the jaws 31 and 32 are reduced, and the lower jaw 32 is lowered and lowered to a position where the teeth fully mesh. Moved outwards, almost aligned with the teeth of the upper jaw 31. As a result, muscle tension does not occur, thus reducing the symptoms of muscle tension headaches.

When the article 10 is used for headache or neck pain relief, it is placed in the mouth and the teeth are lightly closed over the article. As a result, the jaws are moved to a more balanced position. If you have a headache,
For at least one hour, it is desirable to sit quietly in a relaxed place with your neck and head firmly supported. The above items can be used only when headaches are so severe that they are needed.

An aggressive use may be made, such as gently chewing the article 10 for 10 minutes to exercise the head and jaw muscles and increase the flow of oxygen to the facial muscles. Supplies 10
It can also be kept in your mouth while you sleep to reduce bruxism, morning stiffness, and headaches.

Regular use of the articles of the present invention will reduce the temporomandibular area, re-train the muscles and allow them to function as intended. In addition, the use of the article trains the tongue and muscles associated with the temporal mandible and functions properly as described above. By changing the shape of the item and its dimensions, it can fit almost any adult's mouth without being molded or adjusted. Furthermore, by using the above-mentioned article, it becomes possible to breathe through the nose by blocking the path in the mouth.

Preferably, the article is made of silicone rubber or medical grade PVC, but other flexible synthetic or natural materials will also be suitable. .

The above-mentioned article, which can be mass-produced in several sizes, as shown in FIG. 16, is designed so that the power of the sportsman is enhanced by squeezing the jaw with maximum force. Medical PV
Goods made in C include sports, especially golf,
Ideal for tennis, weightlifting and athletic.

The article of FIG. 17 is conventionally used as a pacifier, but the inner and outer collar parts 12, 13 help the child to be ridden, and the shape of the collar promotes correct tongue positioning and tooth growth. You. Furthermore, the bite of the baby does not have the orthopedic adverse effect as in a conventional pacifier.

If a growing child puts the articles of FIGS. 18 to 22 in his mouth and continues to chew or keep them in his mouth, the alignment of the teeth will improve. Moreover, regular use of the article daily for at least six months builds the functional adaptability necessary to stop malocclusion and normalize the bite.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── (5) References US Pat. No. 3,247,844 (US, A) US Pat. No. 3,889,736 (US, A) International Publication No. 91/3215 (WO, A1) (58) Fields Investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷⁾ , DB name) A61C 7/08

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. An oral appliance suitable for reduction of a temporomandibular joint, comprising: a tooth bed portion formed between teeth of upper and lower jaws of a user; and a front and a back of the tooth bed portion. Outer and inner collar portions arranged along an edge and extending on opposite sides of the root portion to form upper and lower grooves for receiving upper and lower jaw teeth, the inner collar portion The part forms the contour of a concave recess for receiving the user's tongue,
The bed portion supports the user's jaw and therefore has a cross-section suitable to occupy approximately the space between the upper and lower teeth, with the inner collar portion above it, on or near the centerline of the article. Suitable for reduction of the temporomandibular joint, characterized in that the article is literally adjustable to fit the user's jaw by means of an incision or resection cut into the jaw. Oral supplies. 2. The toothbed portion has a generally U-shaped or parabolic plane, along the grooves on both sides of the article, from the front or adjacent part of the article to the trailing edge, and the front edge of the article. The article of claim 1, wherein the article tapers in a direction. 3. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein said toothbed portion tapers from the front to the trailing edge of the article for the purpose of substantially filling the gap between the upper and lower jaws. Supplies. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bed portion is formed on both sides of the article asymmetrically with respect to the upper side of the generally flat bed portion, so that the thickness of the bed portion changes as described above.
The article according to claim 3. 5. The asymmetric or curved surface according to claim 1,
The tooth is formed in an asymmetrical wing shape, in which the location below the effective part of the article and where the thickness of the wing is greatest is the above-mentioned part on both sides of the article. The article of claim 4, wherein a floor portion is formed. 6. A set of spaced apart cuts or cuts symmetrically spaced on either side of a centerline of the article to delineate a knob, are included in the inner collar. The article according to any one of ranges 1 to 5. 7. The knob according to claim 1, wherein the knob has a greater thickness than the rest of the collar to provide a junction with the tongue so that the user's tongue is in the correct position. The article according to 6. 8. The joint of the toothbed portion and the inner brim portions on either side of the superior product is thickened or spread so that the product conforms to the shape of the user's teeth. 7
Supplies described in. 9. An oral appliance for orthodontic or orthopedic correction, comprising: a bed portion shaped between the upper and lower teeth of a user; Along the trailing edge, outer and inner brim portions extending on opposite sides thereof to form upper and lower grooves for receiving upper and lower teeth, wherein the toothbed portion comprises a user's jaw. A cross section suitable for substantially filling the gap between the upper and lower teeth in order to support A mouth for orthodontic or orthopedic correction, characterized in that it comprises rib means, said rib means extending substantially parallel to the tooth bed portion and suitable for biting a user's teeth. Part supplies. 10. The article of claim 9, wherein said inner collar is provided with a cut or notch which allows said article to be adjusted horizontally. 11. In use of the article, the user's teeth are on both sides of the article, such that the user's teeth are between the augment described below and the rib means applied to the inside surface of the outer collar portion. 11. The article of claim 10, wherein a composite extension is formed at the junction of the brim portion and the bed portion. 12. A series of projections according to claim 9, wherein at least a lower half side of said outer collar portion is provided with a series of projections for engaging a stoop in use. The article according to item 1.