Mouthpiece-type toothbrush and method for manufacturing mouthpiece-type toothbrush

Abstract

This mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 includes a mouthpiece part 20 and a cover part 30. A brush 221 is provided on an inner surface of the mouthpiece part 20. The cover part 30 is joined to the mouthpiece part 20 so as to face an outer surface of the mouthpiece part 20 opposite the inner surface on which the brush is provided. An internal space Sa is formed between the outer surface of the mouthpiece part 20 and the inner surface of the cover part 30.

Description

Mouthpiece-type toothbrush, method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mouthpiece-type toothbrush and a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush.

[0002] Conventionally, there is a toothbrush described in Patent Document 1 below. This toothbrush has a brush base and a gripping portion. A plurality of holes into which the brush is embedded are formed in the brush base. The brush base and the gripping portion are connected to each other via a neck portion.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-198795

[0004] When brushing teeth using the toothbrush described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to move the gripping portion while pressing the brush against the teeth. In such a toothbrushing method, the brushing effect does not reach the portions where the brush cannot be properly applied among all the tooth portions. In particular, it is difficult to apply the brush to the periodontal pocket existing between the tooth and the tooth gum, so brushing of that portion is often difficult. Dental plaque (plaque) in portions where brushing is not properly performed is a major factor in causing periodontal disease, dental caries, etc.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mouthpiece-type toothbrush capable of performing brushing more appropriately and a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush.

[0006] A mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a mouthpiece-type toothbrush used by being attached to at least one tooth row of the upper jaw and the lower jaw, and includes a mouthpiece portion and a cover portion. The mouthpiece portion has a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the eruption direction of the teeth, and a brush is provided on the inner surface. The cover portion has a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the eruption direction of the teeth, and is joined to the mouthpiece portion so as to face the outer surface on the opposite side of the inner surface where the brush is provided in the mouthpiece portion. An internal space is formed between the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion and the inner surface of the cover portion facing the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion.

[0007] A method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush used by being attached to at least one of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, comprising: taking a mold of the teeth; forming a mouthpiece mold from the mold of the teeth; forming a cover mold from the mold of the teeth; forming a mouthpiece portion from the mouthpiece mold, having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption; forming a cover portion from the cover mold, having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption; attaching a brush to the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion; and joining the cover portion to the mouthpiece portion such that it faces the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion opposite to the inner surface on which the brush is provided, and an internal space is formed between the cover portion and the mouthpiece portion.

[0008] A method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush used by being attached to at least one of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, comprising: taking a mold of the teeth; forming a mouthpiece body from the mold of the teeth, having a mouthpiece portion in which the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption is formed in a concave shape; and a cover portion in which the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption is formed in a concave shape and is integrally joined to the mouthpiece portion so as to have an internal space between it and the mouthpiece portion; and attaching a brush to the portion of the mouthpiece body that is on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion.

[0009] With these configurations and methods, after inserting the mouthpiece-type toothbrush into the teeth so that the teeth fit inside the mouthpiece, biting down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush causes the mouthpiece to deform inward. This makes it easier for the brush on the inside of the mouthpiece to be inserted into, for example, periodontal pockets, allowing for more effective brushing and gum massage.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure along line II-II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the outer casing of the mouthpiece part of the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an enlarged oblique structure of the brush sheet of the first embodiment. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the cover part of the first embodiment. Figure 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of operation of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. Figure 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of operation of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of 3D data of the tooth shape of the first embodiment. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of 3D data of the mouthpiece shape of the first embodiment. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of 3D data of the cover shape of the first embodiment. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece shape of the first embodiment. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the cover shape of the first embodiment. Figure 13A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for molding the base material of the mouthpiece portion of the first embodiment. Figure 13B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for molding the base material of the mouthpiece portion of the first embodiment. Figure 14 is a plan view showing the planar structure of the brush sheet of the first embodiment. Figure 15 is a plan view showing the planar structure of the base material of the cover portion of the first embodiment. Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the cover portion of the second embodiment. Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the second embodiment. Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the third embodiment. Figure 19 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the third embodiment. Figure 20 is a diagram showing an example of 3D data of the mouthpiece body of the third embodiment. Figure 21 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of a modified mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the third embodiment. Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure along the line XXII-XXII in Figure 21. Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush of another embodiment. Figure 24 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush of another embodiment.

[0011] The following describes embodiments of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush and a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush with reference to the drawings. To facilitate understanding of the explanation, the same reference numerals are used for identical components in each drawing whenever possible, and redundant explanations are omitted. <First Embodiment> First, the first embodiment of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush and a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush will be described.

[0012] (Configuration of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush) The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, shown in Figure 1, is used by being attached to the upper or lower jaw dentition. The dashed line m10 shown in Figure 1 indicates the direction of tooth eruption (arrangement) of the teeth to which the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is attached. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 comprises a mouthpiece portion 20 and a cover portion 30.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the cross-sectional structure along the line II-II in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the mouthpiece portion 20 has an outer casing 21 and a brush sheet 22. The outer casing 21 is a thin plate member formed from an elastic thermoplastic material, such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), nylon, and silicon. The cross-sectional shape of the outer casing 21 perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction (tooth alignment direction) m10 is concave. Therefore, the outer casing 21 has a bottom wall portion 210 and a pair of side wall portions 211 and 212 that are formed to stand upright from both ends of the bottom wall portion 210.

[0014] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the outer casing 21 as seen from the bottom wall portion 210 side. As shown in Figure 3, a recessed structure 210a is formed on the bottom wall portion 210. The recessed structure 210a has recessed shapes that correspond to the shape and arrangement of each tooth constituting the dental arch. In this embodiment, the recessed structure 210a corresponds to the first recessed structure.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the brush sheet 22 is provided on the inner surface of the outer casing 21, more specifically on the inner surfaces of the bottom wall 210 and the side walls 211 and 212 of the outer casing 21. The brush sheet 22 is integrally joined to the inner surface of the outer casing 21. The brush sheet 22 is formed in a film-like manner from, for example, nylon or polyester. As shown in Figure 4, one surface of the brush sheet 22 is formed to have bristle-like brushes 221 protruding from it. As shown in Figure 2, the brush sheet 22 is joined to the outer casing 21 such that the back side without the brushes 221 is in contact with the inner surface of the outer casing 21. As a result, the brushes 221 formed on the brush sheet 22 are positioned to protrude into the recesses of the outer casing 21. The brush sheet 22 is replaceable on the outer casing 21.

[0016] The cover portion 30 is formed from the same material as the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. However, the cover portion 30 may be formed from a different material than the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. As shown in Figure 2, the cross-sectional shape of the cover portion 30 perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10 is concave. Therefore, the cover portion 30 has a bottom wall portion 310 and a pair of side wall portions 311 and 312 that are formed to stand upright from both ends of the bottom wall portion 310.

[0017] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the cover portion 30 as seen from the bottom wall portion 310 side. As shown in Figure 5, a recessed structure 310a is formed on the bottom wall portion 310. The recessed structure 310a has recessed shapes that correspond to the shape and arrangement of each tooth constituting the dental arch. The recessed shape of the recessed structure 310a formed on the cover portion 30 is larger than the recessed shape of the recessed structure 210a formed on the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. For example, the size of a predetermined recess formed on the recessed structure 310a of the cover portion 30 is larger than the size of a recess formed on the recessed structure 210a of the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20, which is provided at a position corresponding to that predetermined recess. In this embodiment, the recessed structure 310a corresponds to the second recessed structure. Note that the recessed structure 310a is not required to be provided on the bottom wall portion 310 of the cover portion 30. For example, the bottom wall portion 310 of the cover portion 30 may be a flat or curved surface.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the cover portion 30 is joined to the mouthpiece portion 20 by means of heat bonding or adhesive, for example. Specifically, the tip of the side wall portion 311 of the cover portion 30 and the tip of the side wall portion 211 of the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20 are joined to each other via a joint portion 40. Also, the tip of the side wall portion 312 of the cover portion 30 and the tip of the side wall portion 212 of the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20 are joined to each other via a joint portion 41.

[0019] An internal space Sa is formed between the outer surface of the outer casing 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the inner surface of the cover portion 30. The internal space Sa is connected to the external space Sb of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 through a minute gap G formed in the joint portions 40 and 41. Therefore, air present in the internal space Sa can escape to the external space Sb through the gap G in the joint portions 40 and 41.

[0020] The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment is attached to the user's upper jaw teeth 60, for example, as shown in Figure 6A. At this time, the top surface (crown) 61 of the teeth 60 faces the bottom wall 210 of the mouthpiece portion 20, and both sides 62, 63 of the teeth 60 face the pair of side walls 211, 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20, respectively. When the user moves their upper and lower jaws up and down to bite the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 in this state, the air present in the internal space Sa between the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 escapes to the external space Sb through the gap G of the joint portions 40, 41, while the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 undergo elastic deformation. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6B, the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 undergo elastic deformation such that, for example, the bottom wall 210 of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the bottom wall 310 of the cover portion 30 move closer together. As the user continues to bite down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 alternately transitions between the state shown in Figure 6A and the state shown in Figure 6B. As a result, the brushes 221 of the brush sheet 22 provided on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 repeatedly undergo relative displacement with respect to the top surface 61 and both sides 62, 63 of the dental arch 60, causing the top surface 61 and both sides 62, 63 of the dental arch 60 to be brushed by the brushes 221.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6B, when the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are deformed, the side walls 211, 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the side walls 311, 312 of the cover portion 30 elastically deform so that they bend inward, allowing the brush 221 of the brush sheet 22 to be inserted into the periodontal pocket, etc. Therefore, it becomes possible to properly apply the brush 221 to the periodontal pocket, etc.

[0022] (Method for Manufacturing a Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush) Next, the method for manufacturing the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 7, when manufacturing the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, first, the user's upper or lower jaw dentition 60 is scanned using an intraoral 3D scanner or the like at a dental clinic or the like to obtain 3D data D10 of the tooth shape, which is information about the three-dimensional external shape of the dentition 60 (step S10). Figure 8 shows an example of 3D data D10 of the tooth shape. Note that instead of intraoral 3D scanning, impression material or the like may be used to obtain the 3D data D10 of the tooth shape.

[0023] Next, as shown in Figure 7, 3D data D11 of the mouthpiece mold is created from the 3D data D10 of the tooth model using software, etc. (Step S11). The mouthpiece mold is a mold used when forming the mouthpiece part 20. The 3D data D11 of the mouthpiece mold shows information about the three-dimensional external shape of the mouthpiece mold. In the process of Step S11, for example, the 3D data D10 of the tooth model shown in Figure 8 is processed to delete data of parts that are unnecessary when forming the mouthpiece part 20, and data processing is performed to enable fabrication with a 3D printer, thereby creating the 3D data D11 of the mouthpiece mold shown in Figure 9. At that time, it is effective to perform data processing such as intentionally indenting or shaving the 3D model of parts corresponding to the space between teeth (dental teeth) and gums (gingiva) or interdental spaces. This makes it possible to increase the contact pressure of the brush 221 on the space between the teeth and gums and between the teeth when actually using the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, and to make it easier to insert the brush 221 into the space between the teeth and gums and between the teeth.

[0024] Next, as shown in Figure 7, 3D data D12 of the cover mold is further created from the 3D data D10 of the tooth model shown in Figure 8 using software (step S12). The cover mold is a mold used when forming the cover portion 30. The 3D data D12 of the cover mold indicates information about the three-dimensional external shape of the cover mold. In the process of step S12, for example, the 3D data D12 of the cover mold shown in Figure 10 is created by performing a process to solidify the tooth model model to about the length of the brush 221 of the brush sheet 22, i.e., a process to add thickness to the mesh surface, on the 3D data D10 of the tooth model shown in Figure 8. Note that the 3D data D12 of the cover mold may be adjusted based on information such as the user's bite obtained in step S10.

[0025] Next, as shown in Figure 7, a mouthpiece mold 80, as shown in Figure 11, is 3D printed from the mouthpiece mold 3D data D11 using a 3D printer (step S13). Similarly, a cover mold 90, as shown in Figure 12, is 3D printed from the cover mold 3D data D12 using a 3D printer (step S14).

[0026] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the base material of the mouthpiece portion 20 is formed from the mouthpiece mold 80 shown in Figure 11 (step S15). Specifically, as shown in Figure 13A, the brush sheet 22 and the sheet material 100 are placed on the mouthpiece mold 80 in order. The sheet material 100 is a sheet-like member formed from the same material as the outer casing 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. Then, by creating a vacuum in the surrounding environment using a vacuum forming machine in the state shown in Figure 13A, the brush sheet 22 and the sheet material 100 are brought into close contact with the mouthpiece mold 80, as shown in Figure 13B. At this time, the brush sheet 22 and the sheet material 100 are vacuum-heat-pressed together and integrated. In order to facilitate the close contact of the sheet material 100 with the mouthpiece mold 80, notches 222 may be formed in the sheet material 100, for example, as shown in Figure 14. Afterward, the mouthpiece mold 80, with the brush sheet 22 and sheet material 100 in close contact, is cooled, and then the integrated brush sheet 22 and sheet material 100 are peeled off from the mouthpiece mold 80, thereby forming the base material of the mouthpiece portion 20.

[0027] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the base material for the cover portion 30 is formed from the cover mold 90 shown in Figure 12 (step S16). Specifically, a sheet-like material made of the same material as the cover portion 30 is placed on the cover mold 90, and then the surrounding environment is made into a vacuum using a vacuum forming machine, thereby vacuum-heat-pressing the sheet material onto the cover mold 90 to form the base material for the cover portion 30. Figure 15 shows an example of the perspective view structure of the base material 110 of the cover portion 30.

[0028] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is formed from the base material of the mouthpiece portion 20 formed in step S15 and the base material of the cover portion 30 formed in step S16 (step S17). In step S17, first, the necessary parts are cut out from the base material of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the base material of the cover portion 30. For example, with respect to the base material 110 of the cover portion 30 shown in Figure 15, the part that will become the mouthpiece portion 20 is cut out from the base material 110, leaving the joint portion with the mouthpiece portion 20. Also, with respect to the base material of the mouthpiece portion 20, although not shown in the figure, the mouthpiece portion 20 is cut out by cutting the base material of the mouthpiece portion 20 on the gum side of the boundary between the teeth and gums. After that, the cut-out mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are brought into contact and then bonded together using a glue gun or the like to form the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment is created based on 3D data D10 of the tooth shape obtained by 3D scanning of the oral cavity. This makes it possible to produce a personalized and calculated mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10.

[0029] (Operation and Effects of the Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush of the First Embodiment) As described above, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment comprises a mouthpiece portion 20 and a cover portion 30. The mouthpiece portion 20 has a concave cross-sectional shape in the tooth eruption direction m10, and a brush 221 is provided inside. The cover portion 30 has a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10, and is joined to the mouthpiece portion 20 so as to face the outer surface opposite to the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 on which the brush 221 is provided. An internal space Sa is formed between the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the inner surface of the cover portion 30.

[0030] With this configuration, after attaching the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 to the teeth 60 so that the teeth 60 fit inside the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20, biting down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 causes the mouthpiece portion 20 to deform inward. This makes it easier for the brush 221 formed on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 to be inserted into, for example, periodontal pockets, thus enabling more appropriate brushing and gum massage.

[0031] An uneven surface structure 210a is formed on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20. An uneven surface structure 310a is also formed on the inner surface of the cover portion 30. The uneven surface structure 210a of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the uneven surface structure 310a of the cover portion 30 have different shapes. Specifically, the uneven shape formed on the uneven surface structure 310a of the cover portion 30 is larger than the uneven shape formed on the uneven surface structure 210a of the mouthpiece portion 20.

[0032] With this configuration, when the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is used for biting, the teeth 60 are more easily inserted into the uneven structure 210a of the mouthpiece portion 20. Furthermore, when the mouthpiece portion 20 undergoes elastic deformation, the uneven structure 210a of the mouthpiece portion 20 is inserted into the uneven structure 310a of the cover portion 30, thereby improving the bite of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 with respect to the teeth 60.

[0033] The mouthpiece portion 20 comprises an outer casing 21 and a brush sheet 22. The outer casing 21 has a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10. The brush sheet 22 is a sheet-like member that is joined to the inner surface of the outer casing 21 and on which a brush 221 is provided. This configuration makes it possible to easily form a mouthpiece portion 20 having a brush 221 on its inner surface.

[0034] A gap G is formed at the joints 40 and 41 between the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30. The gap G connects the internal space Sa formed between the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the inner surface of the cover portion 30 to the external space Sb of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30. With this configuration, when the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is used for biting, the space present in the internal space Sa escapes to the external space Sb through the gap G, making the mouthpiece portion 20 more elastically deformable, and thus making it easier for the brush 221 to be inserted further into, for example, the periodontal pocket.

[0035] (Modification) Next, a modification of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment will be described. The mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 may be mechanically detachably joined. For example, grooves or other engaging portions may be formed on the side walls 311 and 312 of the cover portion 30. Also, engaging portions such as protrusions that can engage with the engaging portions may be formed on the side walls 211 and 212 of the outer casing portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. By engaging the engaging portions of the mouthpiece portion 20 with the engaging portions of the cover portion 30, the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are detachably joined. Furthermore, a mechanism such as a button or a hook can be used as the mechanical attachment / detachment mechanism.

[0036] With this configuration, the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 can be separated, so for example, the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 can be cleaned separately. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 will be described. The following will mainly describe the differences from the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment.

[0037] (Configuration of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush) As shown in Figure 16, the cover portion 30 of this embodiment is separated from the mouthpiece portion 20. Note that the shape of the mouthpiece portion 20 of this embodiment is the same as or similar to the mouthpiece portion 20 of the first embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, etc., so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0038] As shown in Figure 16, the cross-sectional shape of the cover portion 30 perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10 is concave. The mouthpiece portion 20 can be inserted into the inside of the cover portion 30. The cover portion 30 is made of a harder material than the mouthpiece portion 20, such as polypropylene.

[0039] A rod-shaped handle portion 32 is formed on the cover portion 30 so as to extend from its outer surface. In the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 17, after placing the mouthpiece portion 20 inside the cover portion 30, the user can attach the mouthpiece portion 20 to the teeth 60 by grasping the handle portion 32 with their hand and putting the mouthpiece portion 20 into their mouth.

[0040] (Operation and Effects of the Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush of the Second Embodiment) As described above, in the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, a handle portion 32 is formed on the cover portion 30. With this configuration, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 becomes easier to hold, thereby improving convenience. It is also possible to prevent accidental ingestion or aspiration of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 by children and the elderly.

[0041] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 will be described. The following description will focus on the differences from the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 18, in the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are integrated. Hereinafter, the molded product in which the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are integrally joined will be referred to as the mouthpiece body 120. The mouthpiece body 120 is formed of a flexible resin or rubber resin that has flexibility. A brush sheet 22 is attached to the part of the mouthpiece body 120 that is on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20. Note that the brush sheet 22 is not shown in Figure 18. Openings 121 and 122 are formed at both ends of the mouthpiece body 120. Air present in the internal space Sa can escape to the external space through the openings 121 and 122.

[0042] Next, with reference to Figure 19, the manufacturing method of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment will be described. In the process shown in Figure 19, the same reference numerals are used for the same steps as those shown in Figure 7 to minimize redundant explanations. As shown in Figure 19, when manufacturing the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, 3D data D10 of the tooth shape is obtained by scanning the user's upper or lower jaw teeth 60 with an intraoral 3D scanner or the like (step S10), and then 3D data D13 of the mouthpiece body 120 is created using software or the like (step S21). Figure 20 shows an example of 3D data D13 of the mouthpiece body 120. In the process of step 21, for example, after designing the 3D data of the mouthpiece part 20 and the cover part 30 while considering the bite, the 3D data of the mouthpiece body D13 is created by joining these 3D data so that the inside is hollow. It is desirable that the 3D data D13 of the mouthpiece body 120 be manufactured such that the mouthpiece portion 20 elastically deforms inward due to the user's biting motion, thereby providing a brushing effect.

[0043] Next, the 3D data D13 of the mouthpiece body is input into the 3D printer. This causes the 3D printer to mold the base material of the mouthpiece body 120 using flexible resin, rubber resin, etc. (Step S22). Subsequently, various processes such as washing, secondary hardening, and polishing are performed on the base material of the mouthpiece body 120 molded by the 3D printer to form the mouthpiece body 120 shown in Figure 18 (Step S23). Furthermore, the brush sheet 22 is attached to the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 of the mouthpiece body 120 by a surface treatment including adhesive or Velcro (registered trademark), thereby forming the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 (Step S24). The process of attaching the brush sheet 22 to the mouthpiece body 120 may be performed by machine or by a person. Alternatively, the process of attaching the brush sheet 22 to the mouthpiece body 120 may be performed by the user of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10.

[0044] (Function and Effect of the Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush of the Third Embodiment) In the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the present embodiment, the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are integrated. Even with such a configuration, the same or similar functions and effects as those of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0045] (Modification Example) Next, a modification example of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the third embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 21, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this modification example is manufactured by a 3D printer. A plurality of hook portions 213 are formed on the mouthpiece portion 20 of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10. In FIG. 21, the illustration of the brush sheet 22 is omitted.

[0046] FIG. 22 shows a cross-sectional structure along the XXII-XXII line of FIG. 21. As shown in FIG. 22, the hook portion 213 is formed so as to extend from the top of each of the side wall portions 211 and 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20 toward the inside of the recess of the outer portion 21. The hook portion 213 is provided so as to grip the brush sheet 22 between it and the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20. The brush sheet 22 is attached to the mouthpiece portion 20 by the hook portion 213. According to this configuration, the brush sheet 22 can be attached to the mouthpiece portion 20 without using an adhesive or magic tape, etc., so that the structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 can be simplified.

[0047] <Other Embodiments> The present disclosure is not limited to the above specific examples. For example, the shapes of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 can be appropriately changed.

[0048] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the 3D data D10 of the tooth shape was created by using the data scanned by the intraoral 3D scanner (step S10). Instead of this, for example, after taking the mold of the user's dentition 60 with an impression material, a model mold of the dentition 60 is formed from the impression material, and 3D data D10 of the tooth shape may be created from the model mold.

[0049] Furthermore, regarding the manufacturing methods of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30, a method other than the one shown in Figure 7 can be employed. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the above embodiment may be used by simultaneously attaching it to the teeth of the upper and lower jaws, for example. Figure 23 shows an example of such a mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10. In Figure 23, reference numeral 60a indicates the teeth of the upper jaw, and reference numeral 60b indicates the teeth of the lower jaw. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 shown in Figure 23 is composed of a first portion 130 corresponding to the teeth of the upper jaw 60a and a second portion 131 corresponding to the teeth of the lower jaw 60b. Each portion 130, 131 has a mouthpiece portion 20 and a cover portion 30. The internal space Sa10 of the first portion 130 and the internal space Sa11 of the second portion 131 are separated by a partition wall 70. The partition wall 70 is not required.

[0050] As shown in Figure 24, the second embodiment of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 may be provided with a vibration device 50 on the handle portion 32. This allows the vibration device 50 to vibrate the mouthpiece portion 20 via the handle portion 32 and the cover portion 30, making it possible to brush the user's teeth more efficiently. The same effect can be achieved with the first embodiment of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 by similarly providing the handle portion 32 and the vibration device 50. The internal spaces Sa, Sa10, Sa11 of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of each embodiment may contain not only air, but also, for example, a fluid, a soft material, or a cushioning mechanism.

[0051] The positional relationship of the upper and lower jaws may be recorded in advance so that force is applied evenly to the molars and front teeth when biting down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10. Based on the recorded bite, the thickness of the bottom wall portion 310 of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 may be varied between the molar and front tooth portions. Furthermore, when using upper and lower mouthpiece-type toothbrushes 10 together, the thickness of the bottom wall portion 310 of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 may also be adjusted based on the results of the bite registration.

[0052] Even the above-mentioned examples, with appropriate design modifications by those skilled in the art, are included within the scope of this disclosure, as long as they possess the features of this disclosure. The elements, their arrangement, conditions, shapes, etc., of each of the above-mentioned examples are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. The elements of each of the above-mentioned examples can be combined in different ways as appropriate, as long as no technical inconsistencies arise.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece-type toothbrush used by being attached to at least one of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, comprising: a mouthpiece portion having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption and having a brush provided on its inner surface; and a cover portion having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption and being joined to the mouthpiece portion so as to face the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion opposite to the inner surface on which the brush is provided, wherein an internal space is formed between the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion and the inner surface of the cover portion facing the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion.

2. The mouthpiece toothbrush according to claim 1, comprising: an outer casing formed in a concave shape with a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption; and a sheet-like brush sheet joined to the inner surface of the outer casing and on which the brush is provided.

3. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece portion has a hook portion formed thereon for attaching the brush sheet to the mouthpiece portion.

4. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed at the joint between the mouthpiece portion and the cover portion, allowing the internal space to communicate with the space outside the mouthpiece portion and the cover portion.

5. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece portion and the cover portion are detachably joined to each other.

6. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is formed such that a handle portion that can be grasped by the user extends from the outer surface of the cover portion.

7. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece portion and the cover portion are integrated.

8. A method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush used by being attached to at least one of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, comprising: taking a mold of the teeth; forming a mouthpiece mold from the mold of the teeth; forming a cover mold from the mold of the teeth; forming a mouthpiece portion from the mouthpiece mold, the mouthpiece portion having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption; forming a cover portion from the cover mold, the cover portion having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption; attaching a brush to the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion; and joining the cover portion to the mouthpiece portion such that it faces the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion opposite to the inner surface on which the brush is provided, and an internal space is formed between the cover portion and the mouthpiece portion.

9. The method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises an outer casing formed in a concave shape with a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction, and a sheet-like brush sheet joined to the inner surface of the outer casing portion and on which the brush is provided, wherein when forming the mouthpiece portion, the brush sheet is joined to the inner surface of the outer casing portion by vacuum heat compression bonding.

10. A method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush used by being attached to at least one of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, comprising: taking a mold of the teeth; forming a mouthpiece body from the mold of the teeth, having a mouthpiece portion whose cross-sectional shape is concave in the direction of tooth eruption perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption, and a cover portion which is integrally joined to the mouthpiece portion and whose cross-sectional shape is concave in the direction of tooth eruption perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption, and which has an internal space between itself and the mouthpiece portion; and attaching a brush to the portion of the mouthpiece body that is on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion.

11. The method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the mouthpiece body is formed by a 3D printer.

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