WO2024080315A1

WO2024080315A1 - Mouthpiece

Info

Publication number: WO2024080315A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/036913
Authority: WO
Inventors: 馬場　聡
Original assignee: 株式会社エイトビーズ
Priority date: 2022-10-12
Filing date: 2023-10-11
Publication date: 2024-04-18

Abstract

This mouthpiece comprises: a base part which, in a state of being fitted inside an oral cavity, is formed to be curved from a front center section toward both rear end sections, and can be disposed at a position sandwiched by upper and lower gums or teeth; and a cheek stimulating part which is formed to vertically protrude at a position surrounding the outside of the base part and in which the protruding height of the center section thereof is smaller than the protruding heights of both the end sections.

Description

Mouthpiece

This disclosure relates to a mouthpiece.

JP 2010-208239 A discloses an oral training device for training a person's tongue and lips. This oral training device is formed with outer walls that are positioned on the face and cheek sides of the dental arch, thereby protecting the teeth. This oral training device also has a tongue training member that trains the tongue position. By using this oral training device, a user can learn the correct swallowing pattern.

The oral training device in JP 2010-208239 A is intended for users who have teeth that can be brought into occlusion. The development of oral function depends on whether or not infants receive training and the quality of that training, but no training device capable of developing the oral function of infants has been provided to date.

　Taking into consideration the above facts, the present disclosure is primarily intended to develop oral functions in infants and young children.

The mouthpiece of the first embodiment, when fitted in the oral cavity, is formed so as to be curved from the front center toward both rear ends, and is equipped with a base portion that can be positioned between the upper and lower gums or teeth, and a cheek stimulating portion that is formed so as to protrude in the vertical direction in a position surrounding the outside of the base portion, with the protruding height of the center portion being lower than the protruding height of the ends.

In the first embodiment of the mouthpiece, when it is worn in the oral cavity, the base portion is positioned between the upper and lower gums or teeth. The cheek stimulating portion protrudes in the vertical direction and is positioned to surround the outside of this base portion.

For this reason, when this mouthpiece is placed in the mouth of an infant, for example, the cheek stimulating section comes into contact with the inside of the infant's cheek. This stimulates the inside of the cheek, promoting cheek movement. As a result, it promotes the thinning of the fat pads found in infants, and increases the volume of the oral cavity.

In addition, the cheek stimulation section has a lower protruding height at the center than at both ends. The center of the cheek stimulation section, which surrounds the outside of the base section, is the part that interferes with the baby's lips. In general, it is more difficult for babies to move their upper lip than their lower lip. By lowering the protruding height of this center, interference between the cheek stimulation section and the upper lip is suppressed, promoting the movement of closing the upper lip and developing the muscles. This promotes the development of oral functions during growth (for example, the ability to eat with the mouth closed and the ability to pronounce words correctly). This, for example, can promote the formation of good tooth alignment.

In this way, using this mouthpiece can help develop oral function, especially in infants and young children.

The second embodiment of the mouthpiece for infants is the mouthpiece described in the first embodiment, in that the rear of the base portion is formed with a tongue rest portion that protrudes downward and rearward and has a curved upper surface that is concave downward as it extends rearward.

The second embodiment of the mouthpiece has a tongue rest formed at the rear of the base. This tongue rest is a curved surface with the top surface concaved downwards as it moves rearwards. Babies and small children often have difficulty lifting their tongues, but when the tongue comes into contact with a tongue rest shaped like this, it tends to bend upwards. This supports the tongue lifting movement. In other words, this mouthpiece promotes movement of not only the baby's cheeks, but also their tongue. This can encourage saliva secretion. It also improves the baby's ability to eat and speak.

The third embodiment of the mouthpiece for infants is the mouthpiece described in the second embodiment, with a groove formed in the widthwise center of the tongue rest portion from the rear end toward the front and penetrating in the vertical direction.

In the third embodiment of the mouthpiece, a groove is formed in the center of the tongue rest that penetrates vertically. This makes it easy for the lingual frenulum to be accommodated in this groove. By moving the tongue with the lingual frenulum in contact with the groove wall, the lingual frenulum is stretched, increasing its length and promoting its development. This increases the tongue's range of motion, and improves oral functions such as pronunciation, chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

The fourth embodiment of the mouthpiece is the mouthpiece described in the first embodiment, in which the base portion and the cheek stimulating portion are made of a flexible material.

The mouthpiece of the fourth embodiment has a base portion and a cheek stimulation portion that are made of a flexible material, so that the base portion and the cheek stimulation portion can elastically deform when they come into contact with the gums, teeth, or the inside of the cheek. This makes it less likely that the upper and lower gums or cheeks will become sore.

In addition, when elastically deformed, it tries to return to its original shape, stimulating the inside of the cheek and encouraging cheek movement. This enhances the promoting effect of thinning the fat bed in the cheeks.

The fifth embodiment of the mouthpiece is the mouthpiece described in the fourth embodiment, in which the base portion has an elastic force that acts outward in the width direction.

The mouthpiece of the fifth embodiment has an elastic force that acts outward in the width direction when it is attached to the oral cavity, stimulating the inside of the cheek and encouraging further movement. It can also increase the volume of the oral cavity.

The sixth embodiment of the mouthpiece is the mouthpiece described in the first embodiment, in which both ends of the base are tapered so that the width gradually decreases from the front to the rear.

The mouthpiece of the sixth embodiment has both ends of the base tapered, so it is inserted into the oral cavity from both narrow ends. Therefore, it is easier to insert into the oral cavity than when both ends are not tapered.

The seventh embodiment of the mouthpiece is the mouthpiece described in the first embodiment, in which the cheek stimulating portion is connected to a handle that protrudes outward from the center of the base portion, and a through hole is formed in the handle.

The seventh embodiment of the mouthpiece for infants has a handle attached thereto, which makes it easy to insert the mouthpiece into and remove it from the oral cavity. In addition, the handle has a through hole formed therein, which can be threaded with a string to prevent the mouthpiece from being swallowed by mistake.

The eighth embodiment of the mouthpiece for infants is the mouthpiece described in the first embodiment, in which the cheek stimulating portion protrudes downward greater than it protrudes upward.

In the eighth embodiment of the mouthpiece, the downward protrusion dimension of the cheek stimulation section is greater than the upward protrusion dimension. The lower jaw of the human body moves in a forward and downward direction. In contrast, because the downward protrusion dimension of the cheek stimulation section is greater than the upward protrusion dimension, the cheek stimulation section can maintain contact with the inside of the cheek even when the lower jaw moves in a forward and downward direction.

The ninth embodiment of the mouthpiece is the mouthpiece described in the first embodiment, in which a handle that protrudes outward from the center of the base is connected to the cheek stimulation portion, and a groove is formed on the upper surface of the handle that connects to the cheek stimulation portion and follows the outer periphery of the cheek stimulation portion.

In the ninth embodiment of the mouthpiece, a groove 54 is formed on the upper surface of the handle where it connects to the cheek stimulation section. This allows for a larger range of movement for the upper lip compared to when there is no groove. This enhances the effect of exercising the upper lip.

According to this disclosure, oral functions can be developed primarily in infants and young children.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mouthpiece according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a mouthpiece according to an embodiment. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

Below, a mouthpiece according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Components indicated with the same reference numerals in each drawing are the same components. However, unless otherwise specified in the specification, each component is not limited to one, and there may be multiple components.

Furthermore, explanations of configurations and symbols that are duplicated in each drawing may be omitted. Note that this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and may be implemented with appropriate modifications, such as omitting configurations, replacing them with different configurations, or combining one embodiment with various modified examples, within the scope of the purpose of this disclosure.

In each drawing, the directions indicated by the arrows X and Y are directions along the horizontal plane and are perpendicular to each other. The direction indicated by the arrow Z is a direction along the vertical direction (up and down direction). The directions indicated by the arrows X, Y, and Z in each drawing are assumed to be consistent with each other.

<Mouthpiece>
1A and 1B show a mouthpiece 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The mouthpiece 10 is an oral function training device intended to develop oral function in a user from about one month after birth until about five years of age (infancy) before teething. The mouthpiece 10 can also be used to develop oral function in users from about five to twelve years of age.

The X direction shown in these figures is the width direction of the mouthpiece 10, which is a direction that roughly coincides with the width direction of the face when the mouthpiece 10 is fitted in the user's mouth. The Y direction is the front-to-back direction of the mouthpiece 10, which is a direction that roughly coincides with the direction from the front to the back of the mouth when the mouthpiece 10 is fitted in the mouth. The Z direction is the up-to-down direction of the mouthpiece 10, which is a direction that roughly coincides with the up-to-down direction of the face even when the mouthpiece 10 is fitted in the mouth.

The mouthpiece 10 is made of a flexible elastic material (such as silicone) and includes a base portion 20, a cheek stimulation portion 30, a tongue rest portion 40, and a handle 50. Furthermore, each of these portions is seamlessly and integrally formed from the same material.

(Base part)
The base portion 20 is curved from the front central portion 20A toward both rear end portions 20B to be "C-shaped" in plan view. The base portion 20 is formed in a plate shape along the XY plane and can be positioned between the upper and lower gums or teeth when worn in the oral cavity of the user. The "gums" include the gums, alveolar ridge (only in infants) and alveolar crest.

As shown in FIG. 2, both ends 20B of the base portion 20 have a tapered shape in which the width W1 gradually decreases from the front to the rear (in other words, from the rear side toward the tip side in the direction of insertion into the oral cavity).

In addition, the base portion 20 has an elastic force that acts outward in the width direction (X direction) when the mouthpiece 10 is attached to the oral cavity. In other words, when the mouthpiece 10 is attached to the oral cavity, the base portion 20 is pressed from the inside of the user's cheek and elastically deforms. At that time, an elastic force (restoring force indicated by arrow F1) that acts outward in the width direction of the mouthpiece 10 is generated in an attempt to return to its original shape.

Whether or not such an elastic force occurs depends on the width of the user's mouth. If the width of the user's mouth is smaller than the width W2 of the mouthpiece 10, such an elastic force occurs. From this perspective, the width W2 of the mouthpiece 10 is set to a dimension that is larger than the average width of the mouth of infants and children aged 0 to 12 years or younger.

The target age group for users of the mouthpiece 10 can also be subdivided. In this case, for example, the width W2 may be a dimension larger than the average intraoral width of infants aged 0 to 1 year or smaller, a dimension larger than the average intraoral width of children aged 3 to 5 years or larger, or a dimension larger than the average intraoral width of children aged 5 to 12 years or larger. Furthermore, if users are expected to be from a specific country or race, the intraoral width of infants and children of that country or race can be referenced.

The "average value" may be the average value of the width of the oral cavity of typically developing infants, but may also be an average value including the width of the oral cavity of non-typically developing infants. In other words, the method of determining the width W2 of the mouthpiece 10 is not particularly limited, and may be determined as appropriate according to demand.

(Cheek stimulation area)
As shown in FIG. 1, the cheek stimulating portion 30 is formed at a position surrounding the outside of the base portion 20 and protruding in the vertical direction (i.e., both upward and downward directions).

Specifically, the cheek stimulation section 30 is shaped like a half cylinder with its axis extending vertically, and is disposed so as to surround the outside of the base section 20. The outer peripheral surface of the base section 20 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the cheek stimulation section 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion 20 is connected to a portion of the cheek stimulation portion 30 above the vertical center line CL. This causes the cheek stimulation portion 30 to be formed so as to protrude in the vertical direction of the base portion 20. The cheek stimulation portion 30 is also formed so that its downward protrusion dimension H1 (protrusion dimension from the bottom surface of the base portion 20) is greater than its upward protrusion dimension H2 (protrusion dimension from the top surface of the base portion 20).

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the protruding height of the central portion 30A of the cheek stimulation section 30 is lower than the protruding height of both end portions 30B. Specifically, the protruding height of both end portions 30B of the cheek stimulation section 30 in the up-down direction is approximately constant. On the other hand, the central portion 30A, which is the portion sandwiched between both end portions 30B, has a shape in which the protruding height gradually decreases from both end portions 30B toward the front end portion of the cheek stimulation section 30. Furthermore, the protruding height of the front end portion of the central portion 30A is approximately zero.

The ends 20B of the base 20 and the ends 30B of the cheek stimulation section 30 can be cut using scissors or a cutter, for example. This allows the size of the base 20 and the cheek stimulation section 30 to be adjusted according to individual differences in the volume of the oral cavity of each infant and the infant's preferences.

(Tongue rest)
The tongue rest portion 40 is a protrusion connected to the rear of the base portion 20. The tongue rest portion 40 protrudes downward and rearward from the base portion 20, and an upper surface 40A is a curved surface that is recessed downward toward the rear.

A groove 42 is formed in the widthwise center of the tongue rest portion 40. The groove 42 is formed from the rear end (the innermost end) of the tongue rest portion 40 toward the front and penetrates in the vertical direction. The tip 42A of the groove wall of the groove 42 is formed in a curved shape and is smoothly connected to the other portions.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the tongue rest portion 40 has a tapered shape in which the width dimension W3 gradually narrows from the front to the rear.

(handle)
1, the handle 50 is connected to the outside of the cheek stimulation unit 30 and is a portion that protrudes outward (forward) from the center in the width direction of the base unit 20. The protruding dimension of the handle 50 from the cheek stimulation unit 30 is the dimension that protrudes from the oral cavity when the mouthpiece 10 is worn in the oral cavity of a user.

The handle 50, like the base 20, is formed in a plate shape that follows the XY plane, and has through holes 52 that run through the top and bottom surfaces. A groove 54 is formed on the top surface of the handle 50, where it is connected to the cheek stimulation unit 30, and runs along the outer periphery of the cheek stimulation unit 30. The back side of the groove 54 on the handle 50 is a flat surface, and the lower lip is fixed to this flat surface.

<Action and Effects>
In the mouthpiece 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the mouthpiece 10 is worn in the oral cavity of an infant or child who is the user, the base portion 20 is disposed in a position sandwiched between the upper and lower gums. The cheek stimulating portion 30 protruding in the vertical direction is disposed in a position surrounding the outside of the base portion 20.

As a result, the cheek stimulating section 30 comes into contact with the inside of the baby's cheek. This stimulates the inside of the cheek and promotes cheek movement. As a result, it promotes the thinning of the fat pads found in babies and increases the volume of the oral cavity.

In contrast, if the oral cavity volume is small (in other words, if the oral cavity volume cannot be increased appropriately), the amount of food that can be placed in the mouth is relatively small, and it is also difficult to retain the food once it has been placed. In this case, it becomes difficult to acquire the ability to chew and swallow, and it may become difficult for the baby to consume solid food, for example, from 6 months to around 2 and a half years of age.

In addition, if the oral cavity volume is small, it may be difficult to pronounce sounds correctly. In this case, special measures may be required to pronounce the sound correctly, such as opening the mouth to the sides, which is not desirable.

Furthermore, when the oral cavity volume is small, the molars are more likely to be tilted lingually, which may affect the acquisition of chewing and swallowing in adulthood.

Furthermore, the cheek stimulation section 30 has a lower protruding height of the central section 30A than the protruding height of both end sections 30B. In the cheek stimulation section 30 that surrounds the outside of the base section 20, the central section 30A is the section that interferes with the lips of an infant. In infants, it is generally more difficult to move the upper lip than the lower lip. By lowering the upward protruding height of this central section 30A, interference between the cheek stimulation section 30 and the upper lip is suppressed, and the movement of closing the upper lip is promoted, resulting in muscle development. As a result, the development of oral functions during growth (for example, the ability to eat with the mouth closed, the ability to pronounce words correctly) can be promoted. This can promote, for example, the formation of good tooth alignment.

In addition, by reducing the downward protrusion height of the central portion 30A, the lower lip is prevented from being pressed downward more than necessary, and can be kept in a natural position without applying unnecessary stress to the lower lip.

In this way, using this mouthpiece can help develop oral function in infants and young children.

The central portion 30A is shaped so that the protruding height gradually decreases from both ends 30B toward the frontmost portion of the cheek stimulation portion 30. Therefore, compared to a shape in which the protruding height changes suddenly, corners are less likely to form and discomfort is less likely to occur in the oral cavity.

Moreover, the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment has a tongue rest 40 formed at the rear of the base 20. This tongue rest 40 has a curved surface with an upper surface 40A that is concave downwards as it moves rearwards. Infants often have difficulty lifting their tongues, but when the tongue comes into contact with a tongue rest 40 shaped like this, it tends to bend upwards. This supports the tongue lifting movement. In other words, this mouthpiece 10 promotes movement of not only the baby's cheeks, but also their tongue. This promotes saliva secretion. It also improves the baby's ability to eat and speak.

In addition, in the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment, a groove 42 is formed in the widthwise center of the tongue rest portion 40, extending from the rear end toward the front. This makes it easy for the lingual frenulum to be accommodated in this groove 42. By moving the tongue with the lingual frenulum in contact with the groove wall, the lingual frenulum is stretched, increasing its length and promoting its development. As a result, the range of motion of the tongue increases, and oral functions such as pronunciation, chewing, swallowing, and breathing are improved.

The groove wall of the groove 42 has a curved tip 42A that is smoothly connected to the other parts. This reduces the irritation felt when the tip of the lingual frenulum comes into contact with the tip 42A of the groove wall.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the tongue rest portion 40 has a tapered shape in which the width W3 gradually narrows from the front to the rear. This reduces the discomfort felt when the tongue rest portion 40 is placed on the back of the tongue.

Furthermore, in the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment, the base portion 20 and the cheek stimulation portion 30 are formed from a flexible material. Therefore, the base portion 20 and the cheek stimulation portion 30 can elastically deform when they come into contact with the upper and lower gums, or the inside of the teeth or cheeks. This makes it less likely that the gums or cheeks will become sore.

Also, as shown by the arrow F1 in Figure 2, when elastically deformed, it tries to return to its original shape, stimulating the inside of the cheek and promoting cheek movement. This enhances the effect of promoting the thinning of the fat bed in the cheek. It can also increase the volume of the oral cavity.

In addition, in the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment, both ends 20B of the base portion 20 are tapered. Therefore, the mouthpiece 10 is inserted into the oral cavity from both narrow ends 20B. Therefore, it is easier to insert into the oral cavity compared to a mouthpiece in which both ends 20B are not tapered.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, a handle 50 is connected to the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment. This makes it easy to insert the mouthpiece 10 into the oral cavity and remove it from the oral cavity. In addition, a through hole 52 is formed in the handle 50, so that a string can be passed through to prevent the mouthpiece 10 from being swallowed accidentally.

Furthermore, a groove 54 is formed on the upper surface of the part of the handle 50 that connects to the cheek stimulation unit 30, and runs along the outer periphery of the cheek stimulation unit 30. By forming this groove 54, the range of movement of the upper lip can be increased compared to when the groove 54 is not present. This enhances the exercise effect of the upper lip.

It is preferable that the depth of the groove 54 be as deep as possible while still ensuring sufficient strength to prevent the handle 50 from coming off the mouthpiece 10.

In the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the downward protruding dimension H1 of the cheek stimulating portion 30 is larger than the upward protruding dimension H2.
On the other hand, since the downward protrusion dimension of the cheek stimulation portion is greater than the upward protrusion dimension, the cheek stimulation portion can maintain contact with the inside of the cheek even if the mandible moves forward and downward.

<Other Examples>
In the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the tongue resting portion 40 is formed behind the base portion 20, but the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the tongue resting portion 40 may not be provided. Even if the lower resting portion 40 is not provided, if the protruding height of the central portion 30A in the cheek stimulation portion 30 is lower than the protruding height of both end portions 30B, the movement of closing the upper lip is promoted, thereby developing the oral cavity function of the infant.

Even if a tongue rest 40 is provided, it is not necessary to provide a groove 42. Furthermore, the tongue rest 40 does not have to have a tapered shape that gradually becomes narrower from the front to the rear. Even without these configurations, the effect of promoting tongue movement in infants can be obtained.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the mouthpiece 10 is made of a flexible elastic material (such as silicone), and the base portion 20, cheek stimulation portion 30, tongue rest portion 40, and handle 50 are seamlessly and integrally formed from the same material, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this.

For example, depending on manufacturing requirements, the base portion 20, cheek stimulation portion 30, tongue rest portion 40, and handle 50 may be formed as "separate components" of the same or different materials, and these may be joined by various methods such as adhesives, heat welding, two-color molding, etc. In other words, the mouthpiece 10 may be formed as a single unit with a seam.

The flexibility of the materials forming the base 20, cheek stimulation portion 30, tongue rest portion 40, and handle 50 can be adjusted as appropriate according to the infant's preferences and the functions to be developed. For example, they may be formed using a resin material such as a resin that is not flexible (or has less flexibility compared to silicone, etc.).

In addition, in the above embodiment, both ends 20B of the base portion 20 are tapered so that the width gradually decreases from the front to the rear, but the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, even if both ends 20B are not tapered, the oral function of infants can still be developed.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the cheek stimulation portion 30 is formed with a handle 50, and the handle 50 is formed with a through hole 52, but the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, even if the through hole 52 is not formed, the mouthpiece 10 can be easily inserted into the oral cavity and easily removed from the oral cavity. Furthermore, even if the handle 50 is not formed, the oral function of infants and young children can be developed.

When forming the handle 50, the protruding dimension of the handle 50 from the cheek stimulation section 30 is arbitrary. In the above embodiment, the protruding dimension of the handle 50 from the cheek stimulation section 30 is set to a dimension that protrudes from the oral cavity when the mouthpiece 10 is attached to the user's oral cavity, but it can also be set to a dimension that does not protrude from the oral cavity.

<Appendix 1>
The present disclosure may include the following aspects.
[Tenth Aspect]
An oral cavity function training method using the mouthpiece according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.
[Eleventh aspect]
An oral function training method using a mouthpiece to be worn in the oral cavity,
By inserting the mouthpiece into the oral cavity of the training subject,
The base portion of the mouthpiece is curved from the front center to both rear ends, and is sandwiched between the upper and lower gums or teeth.
An oral function training method, characterized in that the cheek is stimulated from within the oral cavity by a cheek stimulating section that is formed to protrude in the vertical direction at a position surrounding the outside of the base section and has a protruding height at the center that is lower than the protruding height at both ends.
[Twelfth Aspect]
An oral function training method as described in an eleventh aspect, in which the tongue of the person to be trained is placed on a tongue rest portion which is formed at the rear of the base portion, protrudes downward and backward, and has a curved upper surface which is concave downward as it extends backward, and the tongue is curved upward.
[Thirteenth aspect]
An oral function training method as described in the eleventh or twelfth aspect, in which the lingual frenulum of the person to be trained is accommodated in a groove formed from the rear end toward the front in the widthwise center of the tongue rest portion and penetrating in the vertical direction, thereby moving the tongue.

<Appendix 2>
The present disclosure may include the following aspects.
(((1)))
When placed in the oral cavity,
A base portion that is curved from a front center portion toward both rear ends and can be disposed between the upper and lower gums or teeth;
The mouthpiece comprises a cheek stimulation portion formed to protrude in the vertical direction at a position surrounding the outside of the base portion, the protruding height of the central portion being lower than the protruding height of both ends.
(((2)))
The mouthpiece described in (((1))) has a tongue rest portion formed at the rear of the base portion, the tongue rest portion protruding downward and rearward and having an upper surface that is curved so as to be concave downward as it extends rearward.
(((3)))
The mouthpiece described in (((2)))), wherein a groove is formed in a widthwise central portion of the tongue rest portion from the rear end toward the front and penetrates in the up-down direction.
(((Four)))
The mouthpiece according to any one of aspects (((1))) to (((3))), wherein the base portion and the cheek stimulating portion are formed of a flexible material.
(((Five)))
The mouthpiece according to (((4))), wherein the base portion has an elastic force acting outward in the width direction.
(((6)))
13. The mouthpiece of any one of aspects (((1))) to (((5))), wherein both ends of the base portion are tapered such that the width gradually decreases from the front to the rear.
(((7)))
A handle protruding outward from the center of the base is connected to the cheek stimulation portion,
The mouthpiece according to any one of aspects (((1))) to (((6))), wherein the handle has a through hole formed therein.
(((8)))
13. The mouthpiece according to any one of aspects ((1))) to ((7)) above), wherein the cheek stimulating portion has a downward protruding dimension greater than an upward protruding dimension.
(((9)))
A handle protruding outward from the center of the base is connected to the cheek stimulation portion,
A mouthpiece according to any one of aspects (((1))) to (((8))), wherein a groove is formed on the upper surface of the part of the handle that is connected to the cheek stimulation portion, the groove running along the outer circumferential surface of the cheek stimulation portion.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-164322, filed on October 12, 2022, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. All documents, patent applications, and technical standards described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Claims

When placed in the oral cavity,
A base portion that is curved from a front center portion toward both rear ends and can be disposed between the upper and lower gums or teeth;
A cheek stimulation part is formed at a position surrounding the outside of the base part so as to protrude in the vertical direction, and the protruding height of the center part is lower than the protruding height of both ends;
A mouthpiece equipped with
A tongue rest portion is formed at the rear of the base portion, the tongue rest portion protruding downward and rearward and having an upper surface that is a curved surface that is recessed downward as it extends rearward.
The mouthpiece according to claim 1.
The mouthpiece according to claim 2, wherein the tongue rest portion has a groove formed in the widthwise center thereof from the rear end toward the front and penetrating in the vertical direction.
The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the base portion and the cheek stimulating portion are formed from a flexible material.
The mouthpiece according to claim 4, wherein the base portion has elasticity directed outward in the width direction.
The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein both ends of the base are tapered so that the width gradually decreases from the front to the rear.
A handle protruding outward from the center of the base is connected to the cheek stimulation portion,
The handle has a through hole formed therein.
The mouthpiece according to claim 1.
The cheek stimulating portion has a downward protruding dimension larger than an upward protruding dimension.
The mouthpiece according to claim 1.
A handle protruding outward from the center of the base is connected to the cheek stimulation portion,
2. The mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein a groove is formed on an upper surface of the handle at a portion connected to the cheek stimulation portion, the groove extending along an outer circumferential surface of the cheek stimulation portion.