Patent ID: 8225797
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for swallow control that results in increased jaw strength comprising: providing an oral apparatus adapted to be worn by a patient during a swallowing exercise, the oral apparatus having both a top trough and a bottom trough to receive said patient's teeth, the top trough extending front-wise from an upper left third molar to an upper right third molar, the bottom trough below said upper trough extending from a lower left third molar to a lower right third molar, said oral apparatus also including a tongue positioner of around 20 mm length at front center of said apparatus slanting upward around five degrees, wherein, with said oral apparatus in place, upper canine teeth are held lower by around ½ mm from central and lateral incisors, and lower canine teeth are held higher by around ½ mm from the central and lateral incisors; providing a swallowing exercise to said patient to be practiced while wearing said oral apparatus, the oral apparatus having both a top trough and a bottom trough to receive said patient's teeth, said oral apparatus also including a tongue positioner at front center of said apparatus slanting upward around five degrees, wherein the patient bites the oral apparatus and practices the swallowing exercise, the swallowing exercise having the steps of: pressing a point from around ¼ to around ½ inch rearward of the tip of the tongue to the flex point of the palate; holding around ⅓ of the tongue against the roof of the mouth; swallowing without releasing the tongue from the roof of the mouth; holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth after said swallowing.