Mouthpieces for oral hygiene

Abstract

A mouthpiece device that fits within a user's oral cavity carries an array of flexible, protruding cleaning elements for performing an oral cleaning function simultaneously at multiple locations around the oral cavity. The surface of the mouthpiece device that carries the cleaning elements also carries spacer elements that protrude from said surface in the same general direction as the cleaning elements. The spacer elements enforce a minimum spacing between a surface of the mouthpiece device body and oral surfaces (e.g., tooth surfaces) when the mouthpiece is received in the user's mouth.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mouthpiece having an oral cavity cleaning function. [Background technology]

[0002] A new area of ​​development in the field of oral care is mouthpiece devices, which have an arcuate body designed to be received in the oral cavity in accordance with the shape of the user's dental arch and capable of applying cleaning simultaneously to multiple locations in the oral cavity. The mouthpiece can, for example, have protruding cleaning elements (e.g., bristles) arranged along an arcuate contour that can be driven in a vibratory motion to clean the teeth and gums. The mouthpiece can have upper and lower tooth-receiving channels that receive the upper and lower teeth of the user, with the cleaning elements protruding into the channels to engage the tooth surfaces when the mouthpiece is fitted into the user's mouth. An example is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, which shows a mouthpiece device 10 comprising an arcuate body 12 for insertion into the mouth and a handle 52 attached thereto. The body 12 has upper and lower tooth-receiving channels 16 (the lower channel is not visible) bounded on either side by boundary walls 18a, 18b, respectively, from each of which protrudes an array of cleaning elements 20 (e.g., bristles) that extend into the channel 16. Such devices can clean teeth more quickly and efficiently than toothbrushes. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] One of the challenges of mouthpiece cleaning devices is achieving a proper fit of the mouthpiece to the teeth. Cleaning efficiency depends on the quality of the fit. Because dental arch dimensions and curvature profiles vary widely across the population, the quality of fit is generally not optimal with conventional devices. In particular, known mouthpiece designs are usually offered in only one size, or at most two or three standard sizes (such as small, medium, and large). In either case, the fit is relatively poor for a large portion of the population, resulting in reduced cleaning effectiveness.

[0004] Improvements in the field of mouthpiece cleaning devices where the fit quality can be improved would be generally advantageous.

[0005] One possible solution is to provide a mouthpiece device with an adjustable curvature, so that the device can be properly fitted to the curvature of each individual user's dental arch. It can, for example, be made manually deformable. For example, it can be made of a flexible material or have a flexible core. However, the inventors recognize that when manipulating the shape of the mouthpiece to fit the dental arch, some physical guidance by the teeth is still required, and it may be difficult to properly position the protruding cleaning elements relative to the teeth. In particular, if the only contact between the teeth and the mouthpiece occurs through the protruding bristles, the forces resulting from manipulating the curvature of the mouthpiece may result in localized complete bending of the bristle tufts or filaments, while in other (opposite) positions, the bristles and teeth may not contact.

[0006] This problem is illustrated in Figure 2, which shows an exemplary J-shaped mouthpiece device with a user's teeth 28 received in the channel 16. The curved profile of the channel is bent to allow the dentition to be received in the channel. However, this results in an asymmetrical spatial position of the bristles relative to the teeth and some of the bristles not contacting the teeth, while other bristles are completely flattened by the teeth, reducing or eliminating the cleaning effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0008] According to an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mouthpiece device for oral cleaning function, comprising: a body for receipt within a user's oral cavity, the body having an arcuate shape defining an arcuate contour for conforming to a shape of the user's dental arch, the arcuate contour being adjustable by a user to better fit the body to the user's dental arch; a plurality of flexible cleaning elements projecting from a surface of the body and arranged in an array extending along an arcuate contour of the body for engaging a user's teeth; and a plurality of spacer elements spaced along the arcuate contour and protruding from a surface of the body, the plurality of spacer elements maintaining a minimum spacing between the surface of the body along the arcuate contour and the teeth during adjustment of the arcuate contour of the body to a user's dental arch.

[0009] By including spacer elements along the arc of the body, this enforces a minimum spacing between the surface from which the cleaning elements protrude and the surface of the user's teeth / gum. Thus, as the mouthpiece body is deformed or otherwise adjusted to fit the curvature of the user's dental arch, a minimum of spatial uniformity of the cleaning elements is maintained. For example, no cleaning element can be completely folded back or deformed beyond a level defined by the height of the spacer elements. This results in a more aligned arrangement of the cleaning elements relative to the teeth after the mouthpiece is adjusted to the user's dental arch.

[0010] In some examples, the spacer elements can be provided along bounding sidewalls of one or more tooth-receiving channels contained by the mouthpiece body, with the cleaning elements extending from the same surface.

[0011] In some embodiments, the spacer elements protrude to a shorter height from the body surface than the cleaning elements, ensuring that the cleaning elements contact the oral surfaces surrounding the dental arch and that contact is not hindered by spacing imposed by the spacer elements.

[0012] In some embodiments, each cleaning element protrudes from the body surface to a first individual height and each spacer element protrudes from the body surface to a second individual height, each of said second individual heights being at least 25% of the maximum first height. Preferably, each of said second individual heights is at least 50% of the maximum first height. Each of said second individual heights may be no more than 75% of the maximum first height.

[0013] In some embodiments, all of the cleaning elements are the same first height and all of the spacer elements are the same second height. In this case, the spacer elements may each protrude from the body surface to a second height in some embodiments, the second height being at least 25% of the first height, and preferably the second height being at least 50% of the first height. The second height may be 75% or less of the first height.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the spacer elements are less flexible than the cleaning elements. This characteristic arises because the spacer elements need to enforce a minimum spacing between the body surface and the tooth surface more firmly than the cleaning elements. Whereas, at a given force, the cleaning element itself may deform and bend, the spacer elements interleaved with the cleaning elements have sufficient structural rigidity to resist the force, preventing the cleaning element from deforming beyond a certain level.

[0015] As an example, the cleaning elements may each be resiliently bendable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction in which they extend from the body surface, and the spacer elements may be non-bendable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction in which they extend from the body surface.

[0016] In some embodiments, the cleaning elements are arranged in a field spanning at least one elongate strip along the body, and the spacer elements are interleaved within the field of cleaning elements, for example regularly or irregularly interleaved with the cleaning elements.

[0017] In some embodiments, at least a subset of the cleaning elements may have bristles. Additionally or alternatively, at least a subset of the cleaning elements may have elastomeric cleaning members, which are typically thicker than bristles.

[0018] In some embodiments, the body received in the mouth defines an arcuate tooth-receiving channel, and the cleaning elements can protrude into the channel from one or more walls of the channel, in which case the spacer elements can also protrude into the channel from said one or more walls of the channel.

[0019] In some instances, the cleaning elements and spacer elements may protrude into said channel from opposing boundary walls of the channel, i.e. from opposing boundary walls. In other words, two spatially separated arrays of cleaning elements may be provided, one on each side of the tooth-receiving channel, with the cleaning elements (and spacer elements) of each array extending across the width of the channel towards the cleaning elements of the other array.

[0020] In some embodiments, the spacer elements can be spaced at regular intervals along the arcuate contour.

[0021] In some embodiments, the arcuate profile is C-shaped or U-shaped (meaning that it can extend to surround the entire dental arch at once), in some embodiments, the arcuate profile is J-shaped (meaning that it can extend to cover less than the entire dental arch, e.g., to surround only half of the mouth at a time).

[0022] There are different options for how the arc shape of the body is adjustable. In some embodiments, the profile is adjustable by the user through physical manipulation of the body. Additionally or alternatively, the body may be adjustable by powered actuation.

[0023] In some embodiments, the body can have an articulated or segmented structure to allow for adjustment of the arcuate profile.

[0024] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the arcuate shaped body can be formed of a deformable material to allow for adjustment of the arcuate profile, for example, silicone is a suitable material.

[0025] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece device may comprise an actuation means operable to induce a vibratory movement of the cleaning element for tooth cleaning action.

[0026] In one aspect of the invention, the mouthpiece device provided may consist only of an arc-shaped body for reception in a user's mouth. For example, this may be a removable attachment for coupling to a main body or handle portion of an existing device. In another aspect of the invention, the mouthpiece device provided may have an arc-shaped body for reception in the mouth and a main body or handle portion. The main body or handle portion may house electronic elements such as an actuation mechanism for driving the vibrational movement of the cleaning element during use.

[0027] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates the general structure of an exemplary mouthpiece device known in the art. [Diagram 2] 13A-13C show diagrammatically the problem of over-deformation of the cleaning element when adapting the mouthpiece device to the shape of the user's mouth. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary mouthpiece device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention having spacer elements that enforce a minimum spacing between the surface of the mouthpiece and surfaces in the oral cavity. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary mouthpiece device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention having spacer elements that enforce a minimum spacing between the surface of the mouthpiece and surfaces in the oral cavity. [Diagram 5] 13A-13C are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of adjusting the arcuate contour path defined by the mouthpiece device to adapt the mouthpiece body to the dental arch of a user. [Figure 6] 13A-13C are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of adjusting the arcuate contour path defined by the mouthpiece device to adapt the mouthpiece body to the dental arch of a user. [Figure 7] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary mouthpiece device body that can be split or joined to allow for adjustment of the arcuate contour shape. [Figure 8] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams illustrating a set of exemplary shapes for spacer elements. [Figure 9] 13A-13C show spacer elements configured to guide bending of the cleaning elements preferentially in particular directions. [Figure 10] 13A-13C show spacer elements configured to guide bending of the cleaning elements preferentially in particular directions. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 shows a retractable spacer element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] For a better understanding of the present invention, and in order to more clearly show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, in which:

[0030] The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

[0031] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the devices, systems and methods, are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as limiting the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the devices, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0032] The present invention provides a mouthpiece device which fits within a user's oral cavity and carries an array of flexible, protruding cleaning elements for performing an oral cleaning function simultaneously at multiple locations around the oral cavity. The surface of the mouthpiece device which carries the cleaning elements also carries spacer elements which protrude from said surface in the same general direction as the cleaning elements. The spacer elements enforce a minimum spacing between a surface of the mouthpiece device body and oral cavity surfaces (e.g. tooth surfaces) when the mouthpiece is received in the user's mouth.

[0033] As explained earlier in this disclosure, with reference to FIG. 2, when the arcuate shape of the mouthpiece body is adapted to the shape of the user's mouth, this naturally exerts forces on the tooth surfaces, and it is the reaction forces from the tooth surfaces that guide the formation of the mouthpiece around the dental arch. However, in mouthpieces forming part of the prior art, these forces must be transmitted through flexible cleaning elements (e.g. bristles). This results in excessive bending in some places and loss of contact in others. Also, if the bristles are driven with a vibration action, the amplitude of movement of the bristles will be affected.

[0034] The present invention provides a solution that allows the mouthpiece body to fit the shape of the user's mouth without causing problematic deformation of the cleaning elements, which results in better coverage of the tooth surfaces by the bristles (covering the gum line, interdental areas, and preferably both the lingual and buccal sides of the teeth).

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary mouthpiece device 10 for oral cleaning functions.

[0036] The mouthpiece device 10 has a body 12 for placement in a user's mouth. The body 12 has an arcuate shape defining an arcuate contour 14 to conform to the shape of the user's dental arch. The arcuate contour 14 is shown diagrammatically by dashed line 14 in Figure 3. The arcuate contour which the body follows is adjustable by the user to better adapt the body to the shape of the user's dental arch. There are various mechanisms to facilitate this, which are described below.

[0037] The mouthpiece device 10 further comprises a plurality of flexible cleaning elements 20 arranged in an array extending along an arcuate contour of the body protruding from one or more surfaces of the body for engaging the user's teeth 28. In this example, the cleaning elements have bristles, which are organized, for example, in an array of bristle tufts. The bristles are typically formed from plastic flexible filaments, for example nylon filaments. In another example, the flexible cleaning elements may be elastomeric protruding members, for example elastomeric elongated shafts. These may be formed, for example, from rubber or silicone.

[0038] In the example shown, each cleaning element is resiliently bendable in a lateral direction, i.e. perpendicular to the direction of extension from the body surface.

[0039] The mouthpiece device further comprises a plurality of spacer elements 32 spaced along said arcuate contour 14 and projecting from said surface of the body carrying the cleaning elements. The spacer elements are configured to maintain a minimum spacing between the surface of the body along said arcuate contour and the teeth, at least during said adjustment of the arcuate contour of the body to the user's dental arch.

[0040] This is shown in Fig. 3, which shows how the contour of the mouthpiece can be adapted to the contour of the user's teeth without excessively deforming the cleaning elements, in contrast to the arrangement of Fig. 2, where the spacer elements are included in the field of the cleaning elements. In particular, when the mouthpiece body is adjusted around the user's teeth, the force between the mouthpiece and the teeth can be applied via the spacer elements, rather than via the cleaning elements. This allows the body to be adapted to the shape of the user's mouth without excessively deforming the cleaning elements. The spacer elements further enforce a degree of uniformity in the spacing between the cleaning element walls 18a, 18b and the teeth, which provides a predictable and uniform engagement of the cleaning elements with the teeth.

[0041] In the illustrated example, the spacer elements are spaced at regular intervals along the arcuate contour 14 of the body, however, this is not required.

[0042] In the illustrated example, the body 12 of the mouthpiece device defines an arcuate tooth-receiving channel 16. The cleaning elements 20 project into the channel from opposing boundary walls 18a, 18b of the channel. The spacer elements 32 likewise project into the channel from the opposing boundary walls of the channel.

[0043] In the illustrated example, the cleaning elements 20 are arranged in a field (e.g., a bristle field) spanning at least one elongated strip along each of the side walls 18a, 18b of the tooth-receiving channel 16, and the spacer elements 32 are disposed within the field of cleaning elements. The at least one strip may extend continuously around the arcuate length of the channel 16 or may be interrupted with gaps at one or more locations. Each strip may extend some or all of the height of a wall of the channel.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view through the mouthpiece device 10. In the particular example shown, each spacer element 32 is cubic shaped and attached to a respective wall 18 of the tooth-receiving channel 16, and extends to a height from the wall (i.e., the dimension perpendicular to the wall) that is less than the height from the wall through which the cleaning elements 20 extend. For example, if the cleaning elements each protrude from the body surface to a first height and the spacer elements 32 each protrude from the body surface to a second height, the second height may be less than the first height, but may be at least 25% of the first height, or may be at least 50% of the first height. The second height may be 75% or less of the first height. For example, as a non-limiting example, if the bristle filaments extend to 5 mm, the spacer elements may extend to a height between 2.5 mm and 3 mm.

[0045] In this example, the spacer elements 32 extend a portion of the height of the wall 18 (e.g., in the dimension parallel to the wall surface, in the direction between the channel base and the open channel roof), but in other examples, they may extend the full height of the wall.

[0046] The spacer elements 32 may be more rigid than the protruding cleaning elements 20. This allows the spacer elements to function to enforce a minimum spacing between the walls 18a, 18b and the user's teeth 28. As an example, the spacer elements may be formed of a hard elastomeric material, such as rubber or silicone, that is sufficiently inflexible so as not to change shape or attitude as a result of forces applied when adjusting the arcuate curvature of the mouthpiece body 12 to the curvature of the user's dental arch. In some examples, the spacer elements may be formed of a partially elastic material, such as foam. Each of the spacer elements may have a spacer element body with a minimum cross-sectional width greater than the minimum cross-sectional width of the cleaning elements, or an average cross-sectional width greater than the average cross-sectional width of the cleaning elements. The spacer elements may be imbendable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of extension from the body surface.

[0047] There are various options for the shape of the cleaning elements 32, which are further described below.

[0048] In operation, the body 12 of the mouthpiece device is inserted into a user's mouth and its curvature is adjusted so that the user's teeth are received in the tooth-receiving channels 16. In particular, the body is adjusted in shape to modify the arcuate contour 14 described by the body to better match the curvature of the user's teeth.

[0049] This process is shown diagrammatically in FIGS.

[0050] Figure 5 shows how the arcuate profile defined by a J-shaped mouthpiece device is adjusted from a first curvature to a second curvature, and Figure 6 shows how the arcuate profile defined by a C-shaped or U-shaped mouthpiece device is adjusted from a first curvature to a second curvature.

[0051] There are various ways to facilitate adjustable curvature of the body.

[0052] The arcuate contour 14 is adjustable by a user through physical manipulation of the body 12, i.e., by manually pushing and pulling the body to change the arcuate contour that the body follows. This is facilitated by forming the body from a flexible material, such as silicone. In some examples, the body may be formed from a material that is transformable from a first curvature to a second curvature through physical manipulation and that retains each new shape after transformation. In some examples, the body may have a core formed from such a material and a more elastic outer covering (skin).

[0053] In some examples, the body 12 may be articulated to allow adjustment of the arcuate profile. For example, the body may be formed of multiple segments with a pivot joint between each adjacent pair of segments. The joint may be adjustable in its pivot angle, and preferably the joint retains its pivot angle with each adjustment.

[0054] In some examples, the mouthpiece device body 12 can have different kinds of segmented structures. One example is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7. In this example, the body is formed of a flexible, deformable material such as silicone. The body can be formed of a single piece, i.e., monolithic, structure. The body has a plurality of segments, each connected to an adjacent segment by a thinned section of the body material. The structure is effectively a continuous elongated body with regularly spaced cutout sections cut into opposing elongated sides of the body, each cutout section extending at least to the central longitudinal axis of the body, with the cutout sections on one side spatially interleaved with the cutout sections on the other side. Each cutout may extend between the central axis and the opposing elongated side to a point beyond the central longitudinal axis. Each cutout defines an elongated stem section extending into the body, which terminates in a rounded section either in the middle of the longitudinal axis (as shown in FIG. 7) or, more preferably, offset from the central axis towards the opposite side of the body. This creates a flexible structure, with the cutouts providing physical space to accommodate changes in curvature.

[0055] There are various options for the shape of the spacer elements. The shape can be chosen, for example, to minimize friction. It is desirable for the spacer elements to enforce a minimum spacing when adjusting the curvature of the mouthpiece body, but not to impede the movement of the walls 18 on the teeth 28 when the curvature adjustment is made.

[0056] 8 shows a schematic set of exemplary shapes for spacer elements 32. There are shapes when the spacer element is viewed from the front, i.e. from a perspective looking towards the wall or face from which the spacer element projects.

[0057] Different shapes can encourage or facilitate movement of the wall in a particular direction. For example, the shape can have one or more length sections that encourage movement along the length sections. These include, by way of non-limiting examples, a diagonal zigzag shape, an annular shape (i.e., ring shape), a cross shape, a cube shape, or an elliptical shape. In some examples, the spacer elements can be shaped and positioned to allow the spacer elements to preferentially slide over the tooth surface in one or more selected directions to guide the fit of the mouthpiece body to the teeth. In some examples, differently shaped spacer elements can be provided at different locations around the arc of the mouthpiece body to preferentially encourage sliding of the mouthpiece inner wall in different directions based, for example, on the area of ​​the mouthpiece inner wall.

[0058] In some examples, the spacer elements 32 can be configured to perform a cleaning function. For example, the spacer elements can be configured to engage the surfaces of the teeth in addition to the protruding cleaning elements when the mouthpiece device is fitted in the user's mouth. They can be formed of or coated with a semi-abrasive material.

[0059] The body can be formed from a number of segments, as previously described. In some instances, the segments may be mechanically insulated or separated from one another to allow for selective coupling of the vibratory motion generated by an optional actuation means (described below) to only a subset of the segments. For example, instead of the spacer elements 32 being nested within the field of the cleaning elements 20, the spacer elements can be provided in separate segments from the cleaning elements, so that they are not subjected to the same vibratory motion as the cleaning elements.

[0060] For example, the mouthpiece body is composed of a number of connected segments, the cleaning elements being carried on the segments that are actuated during the cleaning operation, and between the actuated cleaning segments, segments are provided that carry the spacer elements and are stationary during the cleaning operation. In an alternative set of examples, both the cleaning elements and the spacer elements may be configured to be oscillated by the actuation means during the cleaning operation. They may be arranged together on the same segment (if the body is segmented) or else in a mixed arrangement where the spacers are nested between the cleaning elements. In this case, the (stiffer) spacer elements may have a damping effect on the vibrations of the body, and thus of the cleaning elements. In some examples, the actuation means may be configured to apply a different vibration pattern to the spacer elements compared to the cleaning elements. For example, it may be configured to couple another vibrational motion to the segments carrying the spacer elements. For example, if the spacer elements also perform a cleaning function, this vibration facilitates the cleaning function and allows vibrations at a frequency that resonates with the (stiffer) spacer elements.

[0061] In some examples, at least a subset of the spacer elements 32 may be adapted to provide a function for guiding the bending direction of the bristles, e.g., to allow bristles in a particular area or patch to bend in only one direction, or to prevent bending in one or more directions, e.g., to guide the bristles into a predetermined position relative to the teeth. For example, bristles can be guided to bend to reach the gum line or interdental areas, thereby ensuring that these areas are not missed.

[0062] An example is shown, for example, in FIGS.

[0063] Since the height of the spacer elements 32 is typically less than the height of the cleaning elements 20, some bending cannot be prevented. However, bending of the cleaning elements can be restricted by locating a spacer directly adjacent to the cleaning elements or tufts of the cleaning elements to which the bending direction is to be guided. This is shown, for example, diagrammatically in Figure 10, which shows a set of tufts of a cleaning element 20 flanked on either side by spacer elements 32, thereby constraining the bending behavior of the cleaning elements. In the example of Figure 10, the cleaning elements or tufts are essentially free to bend in the left-right direction, but are constrained in the up-down direction due to the spacer elements 32 next to the bristle tufts.

[0064] In some examples, the spacer elements 32 are at least partially retractable to store the spacer elements after molding the mouthpiece to the user's dental arch, for example, they may be collapsible, foldable, or attached at their base to a deformable structure that can be controllably deformed to change the height that the spacer elements extend from the surface to which they are attached.

[0065] An example is shown in FIG. 11, which shows a spacer element 32 with an actuatable structure 42 at its base by which the spacer element 32 is connected to the mouthpiece body surface. The actuatable structure is controllable to deform between at least a first actuation state and a second actuation state, in which the spacer element is retracted closer to the surface of the mouthpiece body 12 and in which the spacer element is pushed further out from the mouthpiece body surface in the first actuation state. In effect, the height from the surface of the mouthpiece body is adjustable. During actuation, this type of spacer element can be extended outward to the second actuation state while fitting the mouthpiece body to the contours of the user's mouth, so that the spacer element helps guide the fitting. When the mouthpiece is fitted, the spacer elements are retracted in the first operating state so that in the extended (second) operating state the spacer elements do not interfere with or block areas of the teeth where they may rest, and therefore do not prevent those areas from being cleaned by the cleaning elements.

[0066] The actuatable structure 42 may be a mechanical / electrical actuator, or more preferably, may be formed of an electroactive shape-changing material, such as an electroactive polymer, that is capable of transforming between two defined shapes based on the application of a voltage or current.

[0067] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece device comprises actuation means operable to induce a vibratory movement of the cleaning elements for tooth cleaning action.

[0068] In one aspect of the invention, the mouthpiece device provided consists only of an arcuate body 12 for reception in the mouth of a user. For example, this can be a removable attachment for coupling to a main body or handle portion of an existing device. In another aspect of the invention, the mouthpiece device provided may have an arcuate body for reception in the mouth and a main body or handle portion to which the mouthpiece body is coupled. Both can be releasably coupled. The main body or handle section can house electronic elements such as the aforementioned actuation means having an actuation mechanism for driving the vibrational movement of the cleaning element during use. It can also house a power source for providing power to the actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism comprises an electronically driven vibration actuator.

[0069] As mentioned above, the mouthpiece device can be C-shaped, used to clean the teeth around the user's entire dental arch at once, or J-shaped, to clean a portion of the dental arch at once, e.g., half of the teeth. In each case (C-shaped or J-shaped), the mouthpiece device body can have cleaning elements 20 arranged to clean only one row of teeth at a time (only upper or only lower), or may have cleaning elements 20 arranged to clean both rows of teeth at once (upper and lower). This can be facilitated by using tooth-receiving channels as described above, or alternatively, for example, by using an arc-shaped platen with cleaning elements and spacer elements extending therefrom.

[0070] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0071] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0072] When the term "adapted for" is used in the claims or specification, it is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured for."

[0073] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece device for oral cleaning function, a body to be received in a user's mouth, the body having an arcuate shape defining an arcuate contour to follow the shape of the user's dental arch, the curvature of the arcuate contour being adjustable by a user to better fit the body to the user's dental arch; and a plurality of flexible cleaning elements arranged in an array projecting from a surface of the body and extending along an arcuate contour of the body for engaging the user's teeth; a plurality of spacer elements spaced along the arcuate contour and protruding from a surface of the body for maintaining a minimum spacing between the surface of the body along the arcuate contour and the teeth during adjustment of the arcuate contour of the body to the dental arch of the user; The device wherein the body defines an arcuate tooth-receiving channel, the cleaning element protruding into the channel from one or more walls of the channel, and the spacer element protruding into the channel from the one or more walls of the channel.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer elements protrude a shorter height from the body surface than the cleaning elements.

3. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the cleaning elements protrudes from the body surface to a first height and each of the spacer elements protrudes from the body surface to a second height, the second height being at least 25% of the first height.

4. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the spacer elements are less flexible than the cleaning elements.

5. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cleaning elements is resiliently bendable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of extension from the body surface, and the spacer elements are non-bendable in the lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of extension from the body surface.

6. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning elements are arranged in a field spanning at least one elongated strip along the body, and the spacer elements are disposed within the field of cleaning elements.

7. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning element comprises bristles.

8. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning elements and the spacer elements protrude into the channel from opposite boundary walls of the channel.

9. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the spacer elements are spaced at regular intervals along the arcuate contour.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arcuate profile is C-shaped or the arcuate profile is J-shaped.

11. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the arcuate profile is user adjustable through physical manipulation of the body.

12. 12. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the body is connected to allow adjustment of the arcuate profile.

13. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body having the arcuate shape is formed from a deformable material that allows adjustment of the arcuate profile.

14. the device having an actuation means; 14. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means is operable to induce a vibratory movement of the cleaning element for the tooth cleaning action.

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